Introduction
About this Handbook:
To ensure that students are fully aware of the university’s academic expectations, we have prepared this comprehensive handbook to guide them in adhering to the honor code when completing assignments, preparing for examinations and other coursework requirements. After reading this handbook, students will gain a thorough understanding of the Honor Council’s official policies, tips on how to do work with integrity, types of academic misconduct, and the possible consequences of such actions.
Purpose of the Honor Council:
As a Jesuit, Catholic university, committed to the education of the whole person, Georgetown expects all members of the academic community, students and faculty, to strive for excellence in scholarship and in character.
To uphold this tradition, the University community established an Honor System for its undergraduate and graduate programs (with the exception of the MD and JD programs), which are subscribed within the Honor System policies and procedures.
The Honor Council is the principal administrative body of this system. In seeking the highest level of academic integrity, the Honor Council ensures fair university-wide policies are applied to all students. The Honor Council has two primary responsibilities: to administer the policies and procedures of the Honor System and to educate the faculty and student body about the standards of conduct and procedures of the System.
Honor Pledge
Upon application to any of the academic divisions of Georgetown University subject to the jurisdiction of the Honor System, all students will agree to uphold the Honor Pledge. Upon matriculation, the student will state the pledge as follows:
In pursuit of the high ideals and rigorous standards of academic life I commit myself to respect and to uphold the Georgetown University honor system:
To be honest in every academic endeavor, and
To conduct myself honorably, as a responsible member of the Georgetown community as we live and work together.
Standards of Conduct for Students
1. Cheating on Exams and Other Assignments
Cheating involves using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, study aids, or information, as well collaborating without permission on exams or other academic work. Assisting other students to cheat on assignments and exams is also considered academic fraud. Students should consult their professors to clarify which forms of collaboration are allowed.
| DO | DO NOT |
|---|---|
| – Study thoroughly: Make sure you understand the material and are well-prepared for exams and assignments. – Use allowed resources: Only use materials and resources that are permitted by your instructor. – Follow guidelines: Adhere strictly to the instructions and rules provided for exams and assignments. – Manage your time: Plan and allocate sufficient time for studying, completing assignments, and preparing for exams to avoid last-minute stress and ensure a thorough understanding of the material. | – Copy answers: Do not copy answers from other students or use unauthorized aids during exams. – Share answers: Do not share your answers with others during exams or on individual assignments. – Use unauthorized devices: Do not use mobile phones, smartwatches, or other electronic devices to gain an unfair advantage. |
2. Committing Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of passing off the ideas or writings of another as one’s own work.
Note: The Honor System requires that any AI-generated intellectual work must be used with the same integrity as other forms of secondary resources. If you didn’t generate the words yourself, indicate this by quoting and citing the source. If you generated the words but not the content and ideas, indicate this by citing the source.
To learn more about what constitutes plagiarism, take a look at the “what is plagiarism?” page on the honor council website.
| DO | DO NOT |
|---|---|
| – Give credit: Always credit the original authors for their ideas and writings. – Use citations: Properly cite all sources used in your work according to the required citation style. – Paraphrase correctly: When paraphrasing, ensure that you rephrase the original text entirely and cite the source. | – Submit others’ work: Do not submit another person’s work as your own, whether it’s an entire paper or parts of it. – Neglect citations: Do not fail to provide citations for any ideas, data, or text that is not your own. – Paraphrase poorly: Do not simply change a few words of the original text without proper paraphrasing and citation. |
3. Contract Cheating
Paying another student, individual, or entity to do your coursework, or arranging for someone else to complete your work violates standards of academic integrity. Moreover, offering or providing such assistance is considered academic fraud and violates the Georgetown Honor System.
| DO | DO NOT |
|---|---|
| – Complete your own work: Ensure that all coursework and assignments are completed by yourself. – Seek help appropriately: If you need assistance, seek help from authorized resources such as tutors or instructors, but do the work yourself. | – Pay others for coursework: Do not pay another student, individual, or entity to complete your coursework. – Offer to do others’ work: Do not offer or provide assistance in completing coursework for others. |
4. Using False Citations
False citations occur when an incorrect or fabricated source is used to deceive. It undermines academic integrity by breaking the connection of ideas which should be traceable link by link.
| DO | DO NOT |
|---|---|
| – Verify sources: Always verify the authenticity and accuracy of the sources you cite in your work. – Use credible sources: Ensure that all sources used are credible and reliable. – Provide accurate citations: Accurately cite all sources to maintain the integrity and traceability of ideas. | – Fabricate citations: Do not use incorrect or fabricated sources to deceive. – Misrepresent sources: Do not misrepresent the information from a source to fit your argument. – Break the chain of traceability: Do not undermine academic integrity by breaking the connection of ideas which should be traceable link by link. |
5. Submitting False Data
False data refers to information that has been fabricated, altered, or contrived to intentionally mislead. The submission of false data is considered academic fraud.
| DO | DO NOT |
|---|---|
| – Use accurate data: Ensure that all data used in your work is accurate and truthful. – Verify information: Always verify the authenticity of the data before including it in your work. – Report honestly: Present data and findings honestly without alteration or fabrication. | – Fabricate data: Do not create or use fabricated, altered, or contrived data to intentionally mislead. – Alter data: Do not alter data to fit your desired outcome or hypothesis. – Engage in academic fraud: Do not engage in any activities that involve the submission of false data, as it is considered academic fraud. |
6. Falsifying Academic Documentation
Any attempt to forge or change academic documents (such as transcripts, recommendation letters, enrollment certificates, registration forms, or medical absence certificates) for oneself or others is considered academic fraud.
| DO | DO NOT |
|---|---|
| – Submit authentic documents: Ensure that all academic documents submitted are genuine and unaltered. – Verify document authenticity: Always verify the authenticity of academic documents before submission. – Follow proper channels: Use proper channels and procedures for obtaining and submitting academic documents. | – Forge documents: Do not attempt to forge or alter academic documents such as transcripts, recommendation letters, enrollment certificates, registration forms, or medical absence certificates. – Change information: Do not change any information on academic documents to mislead or deceive. – Engage in academic fraud: Do not engage in any activities that involve the forgery or alteration of academic documents, as it is considered academic fraud. |
7. Submitting Work for Multiple Purposes
Students are not permitted to submit the same work (in identical or similar form) for multiple purposes without prior explicit approval from all faculty members who will receive the work. Doing so is in violation of academic integrity standards.
| DO | DO NOT |
|---|---|
| – Seek approval: Always obtain explicit approval from all faculty members before submitting the same work for multiple purposes. – Clarify expectations: Clearly understand and follow the expectations and guidelines set by each faculty member regarding submissions. – Create original work: Ensure that each submission is unique and tailored to the specific requirements of the assignment. | – Submit the same work multiple times: Do not submit the same work (in identical or similar form) for multiple purposes without prior explicit approval from all faculty members involved. – Assume approval: Do not assume that it is acceptable to reuse work without explicit permission from all relevant faculty members. – Violate academic integrity: Do not engage in practices that violate academic integrity standards by recycling work without proper authorization. |
Honor System Procedure
1. Report an allegation
Any member of the Georgetown community, including faculty members, TAs, or students (regardless of whether they are in the same class as the accused student), can report a case if they believe a student has violated the honor system. The accused student will receive a formal email notification from the Honor Council detailing the accusation.
2. Investigation
An experienced and qualified professor will be assigned as the Investigating Officer (IO) to handle the case. The IO will conduct interviews, communicate with the accused student, faculty members, reporting individual, and any other witnesses involved to facilitate the investigation. The IO will submit a formal investigation report to the Honor Council upon completing the investigation. The Executive Board, composed of the Executive Director, Faculty Chair, and Student Viewer, will thoroughly review the IO’s report and decide on the sanction to impose on the student.
Note: The student subjected to an investigation must communicate with the IO in a timely manner. This will help ensure the investigating process runs smoothly and does not take an excessive amount of time.
3. Expedited sanction
The expedited sanctioning process creates an alternative path, allowing an IO who has found sufficient evidence of a violation to recommend that, in certain circumstances when the student takes full responsibility for the violation, the student be offered the opportunity to accept an expedited sanction, in lieu of having a hearing. Whether a case enters the expedited sanction process depends on multiple factors. This is not a choice that the accused student can make, but rather a decision made by the Investigating Officer and the Executive Board based on the facts of the case and the sufficiency of the available evidence.
4. Hearing
When a case is complex, or the current evidence and facts do not support the IO and Executive Board in making an appropriate sanction decision, the case will be forwarded to a hearing. If a student’s case proceeds to a hearing, they will receive a formal letter detailing the list of the hearing board members and a copy of the hearing procedures. The purpose of a hearing is to serve as a forum to discuss the facts of the case, consider any special circumstances affecting the accused student, and evaluate the student’s behavior based on the University’s rules for honesty and integrity in academics. The hearing board will decide if the accused student is in violation of the University Honor System. If found in violation, the hearing board will recommend an appropriate sanction for the student.
5. Post hearing: Appeals
Under the Honor Council system, students have the right to appeal their case. If the
accused student has new evidence or believes there was a significant violation of Honor
System procedures after the hearing, they may send the Honor Council Executive
Director or Faculty Chair a letter of appeal. The Honor Council Executive Committee
can grant the student a new hearing if the majority of the committee agrees with the
grounds for the appeal. If no appeal is filed, the sanction becomes final.
Sanctions for Violating the Honor Code
If an accused student is found in violation of the Honor System, there are seven possible sanctions:
1. Letter of Reprimand
This is the least severe sanction, which is retained in the student’s Honor Council file until they receive either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from Georgetown University, at which point the Letter of Reprimand is destroyed. The Letter of Reprimand is available only to authorized Honor Council personnel who have access to the student’s Honor Council file.
2. Letter of Censure Level I
A Letter of Censure is a formal notice that specifies which conduct standard was violated and whether the sanction was determined by the executive or hearing board. In certain cases, with the student’s consent, the instance of a violation resulting in a Letter of Censure may be disclosed to external parties such as law schools and professional graduate programs, and may be reduced to a Letter of Reprimand through a Sanction Reduction plan.
3. Letter of Censure Level II
A Letter of Censure Level II provides identical information as the Level I Letter of Censure, however, it does not qualify for sanction reduction.
4. Transcript Notation Level I:
A mid-level sanction, noted as “Censure: Violation of Honor System,” appears on the student’s official transcript and can be removed after completing a sanction reduction plan, but remains until the Honor Council is notified by the Sanction Reduction Board for its removal.
5. Transcript Notation Level II:
A mid-level but permanent sanction, noted as “Censure: Violation of Honor System,” is recorded on the student’s official transcript, and cannot be reduced.
6. Suspension:
A mandatory temporary break from the University, usually 1-2 semesters depending on the situation. A suspension will be included on the student’s transcript
7. Dismissal:
Permanent dismissal from the University. A dismissal will be included on the student’s transcript
Sanction Reduction
As an integral part of the Honor Council, the Sanction Reduction Board assists students found in violation of the Honor System. They guide students through a process to help them understand and learn from their violations. Board members work individually with students to create personalized plans aimed at reflection and growth. Successful completion of a Sanction Reduction plan results in a sanction reduction to a Letter of Reprimand, which is removed upon graduation or immediately if the student has already graduated, two years after the violation semester.
Students who are found in violation of the Honor System and sanctioned with a letter of
censure (level I) or a transcript notation (level I) may apply to enter the Sanction
Reduction process. The student has thirty days to submit an application after the final sanction has been applied.
In order to be considered for the Sanction Reduction Program, you must submit an unsigned copy of your application as an e-mail attachment to the Sanction Reduction Co-Chairs at sanctionreduction@georgetown.edu. A template for the Sanction Reduction Application can be found on the honor council website. If your application is approved, you will be contacted by a student member of the Sanction Reduction Committee. The two of you will formulate a plan that will be evaluated by the Sanction Reduction Committee for approval.
Additional Resources
Academic Resources:
To help students thrive within the Georgetown academic community and adhere to the University Honor System, a wide range of valuable academic assistance resources are available. Students can also inquire within their departments about available tutoring services.
- The Academic Resource Center (ARC): The ARC supports students by providing academic accommodations through disability support services as well as general academic assistance.
- The Writing Center: The Writing Center provides free peer tutoring by trained undergraduate and graduate students, dedicated to helping students improve and refine their writing process for coursework.
- Economics Tutoring: The Economic Department, joined with the SFS, holds free weekly tutoring sessions for students taking ECON-1001, 1002, and 1003.
- Chemistry Drop-In Tutoring: The ARC offers chemistry tutoring provided by undergraduate students who have completed the course themselves.
- Math Assistance Center: The Math Assistance Center offers free tutoring service for students in Mathematics in Society (MATH-1004), Calculus with Review A (MATH-1310), Calculus with Review B (MATH-1320), Calculus I (MATH-1350), Calculus II (MATH-1360), Probability and Statistics (MATH-1040).
- McDonough School of Business Peer Tutoring: McDonough Peer Tutors offer individual, one-on-one academic support to fellow classmates within the McDonough School of Business.
- Foreign Language Tutoring: The Academic Resource Center offers free drop-in tutoring sessions in Arabic, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish
For International Students:
Students from international educational backgrounds may have varying perspectives on academic integrity compared to what is outlined in the Georgetown Honor System. International students are encouraged to seek assistance from the Office of Global Services (OGS) for guidance. The OGS consultant for international students is also available as a valuable resource to help ensure adherence to the honor system.
HC Student Consultants:
It can be emotionally stressful to be accused of an Honor System Violation. Throughout this process, students will automatically be assigned to a HC student consultant who will serve as a confidential support system throughout the investigation. What you tell these students will not be shared with the Investigating Officer, the Hearing Board, or anyone else connected with the Honor Council.
Studying and Working Away:
Studying Abroad: While studying abroad, students must adhere to the Georgetown Honor Code. It is important to consult professors at their host university to ensure compliance with their honor system. Off-Campus Internships: Students are expected to uphold the Georgetown Honor Code when completing work for academic credit during internships. This entails approaching their internship responsibilities with integrity and abiding by the same rules as outlined in the honor system.
