Undergraduates, you may find information that pertains to your obligation to the Honor Code in this section.

Report a suspected violation online

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens if I’m accused of a violation of the Honor Code? / What if I witness a violation or suspect a violation has occurred? / Who can I ask to ensure I am not committing a violation? / What are the possible penalties for a violation of the Honor Code? / Will a violation affect my financial aid or scholarship? / If accused, can I talk to my professor or accuser about the case? / If found guilty, who is informed of a violation? / If found guilty, what will appear on my transcript? / If accused, how should I plead? / Who can report me to the Honor Council? / Who forms the Honor Council? / How do I join?

What happens if I’m accused of a violation of the Honor Code? What will happen?

First, the Administrative Vice President will assign an investigator to conduct a full investigation into the matter. This investigator will take no part in any decision that will eventually be made. His or her task is simply to gather all the relevant evidence and talk to relevant professors and students. The investigator will present the report to the President of the Council. If there is no substance to the complaint, the President will dismiss it. If it is possible that the student did violate the Honor Code, the President will request a full hearing of the Honor Council. During an Honor Council investigation, the accused student is not alone. The Honor Council trains a group of student advisors for the purpose of assisting the student during all stages of the Honor Council proceedings. The accused student will be assigned an advisor from a group of trained student advisors, although, if the student prefers, he or she may seek the help and advice of any non-legal adviser. The advisor will also be present with the accused throughout the hearing.  It is also important to note that throughout the process, the accused student is presumed to be not guilty.

An Honor Council hearing begins when the investigator reads the full report to the six members of the hearing panel. The Council then makes a decision whether or not to proceed on the basis of the investigator’s report. If they decide to continue, then testimony is heard. Professors and all material witnesses will provide the Council with their accounts of what has occurred. The accused student may also bring a character witness to speak on his or her behalf. After the testimony of the material and character witnesses, the accused student is asked to enter a
plea to the allegation (guilty or not guilty), and then to give his or her testimony. The Council then deliberates and makes a decision. For the student to be found guilty there must be at least four out of six “guilty” votes. A finding of not guilty will bring the matter to an end.

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What if I witness a violation or suspect a violation has occurred?

As stated in the Chapter 2 of the Student Handbook:

• Issue a personal warning to the suspected student, or
• Report the incident to the Honor Council for action by the president, or
• Inform the instructor in the course of the suspicions and identify, if possible, the person(s) suspected.

You may report a violation report to the President online here.

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Who can I ask to ensure I am not committing a violation?

For questions pertaining to a particular class, it is always best to ask the professor. The professor understands the situation and will be able to clarify what he or she considers a violation.

For more general questions about insight into the code, you may ask any Honor Council member, or the President. Again, however, questions pertaining to a particular assignment should be directed to the professor.

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What are the possible penalties for a violation of the Honor Code?

If the student is found guilty, the Council determines the penalty by considering three questions.
First, how truthful and honest was the student in the matter? Second, how flagrant was the violation? And third, to what degree was the violation premeditated? The presumptive penalty for a first offense is failure in the course, although potential penalties include a reprimand, recommned failure on the assignment or exam at issue, susepnsion for one or more semesters, and expulsion. A panel does have the power to increase the punishment from the presumptive penalty for poor ratings. The minimum penalty for a second offense is failure in the course plus suspension for a semester. Depending upon the severity of the violation, the penalty for a second offense may be suspension for multiple semesters or expulsion. The penalty for a third offense is expulsion. The accused student can appeal a decision to the University Appellate Review Board if he or she feels that there was a procedural error or the penalty is too harsh.

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Will a violation affect my financial aid or scholarship?

It depends. If a violation results in suspension, then your financial aid or scholarship will likely be affected.  Moreover, a case resulting in failure in the course will affect your GPA, and if your GPA drops low enough, your scholarship might be affected if there is a minimum GPA requirement or you are put on academic probation.

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If accused, can I talk to my professor or accuser about the case?

Once a case is turned in to the Honor Council, we must complete the investigation and the matter is strictly in our hands. While the Honor Council is doing its job, the accuser and the accused student should not speak about the incident. Everyone should give their honest testimony to the investigators and trust the correct outcome to come out of the Honor Council’s process.

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If found guilty, who is informed of a violation?

Your Assistant Dean and your academic adviser will be informed, as will your professor and teaching assistant. Your parents will not be informed directly in the case of a failure in course or reprimand, but will be informed if you are suspended or expelled.

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If found guilty, what appears on my transcript?

Your transcript will not show that you have an Honor Council violation. However, if your case were to result in failure in the course, then that F will appear. The class can be retaken, and the F will no longer factor into your Vanderbilt GPA, but the F still remains on the transcript, alongside the new grade. However, most graduate and professional schools do check with Vanderbilt to determine whether a student ever had an Honor Council violation.

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If accused, how should I plead?

Honesty is always the best policy, and the Honor Council typically finds the truth in the matter regardless of your plea. If you are guilty, choosing to be honorable and take responsibility for your actions will show the Honor Council that you are learning from the process. The goal for any penalty given by the Honor Council is to be lenient enough to show mercy and understanding, but also severe enough so that the student learns from his or her actions and will hopefully not encounter the Honor Council again. If you show that you are learning and regret your actions, often the Council will be more lenient.

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Who can report me to the Honor Council?

Anyone can report you the Council, including another student, a professor, or a teaching assistant.

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Who forms the Honor Council?

The Honor Council is run by students, but is supported by faculty advisors. The Executive Board and the general body, consisting of around 80 members, is entirely composed of students.

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How do I join?

Applications to join the Honor Council are released towards the end of the first semester every year. Only freshmen and sophomores are eligible to apply. There are three rounds in the application process: an application, interview, and finally, an election. New members are elected by students in the same grade and school. Applications can be found online on the Honor Council website, and a reminder will be emailed to the entire freshman class.

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