The Honor System
The Basis Of the Honor System
Founded on the premise that dishonesty has no place at Meredith, the Honor System demands personal integrity of each student. The Honor System is operated by the student body. Students are personally responsible for their own conduct and obligations to the Meredith Community. For more information on the Honor System at Meredith, contact the Dean of Students Office.
Statement of Honor:
We, the Meredith Community, are committed to developing and affirming in each student a sense of personal honor and responsibility. Uncompromising honesty and forthrightness are essential elements of the commitment. The Honor System is a method by which individual honors are protected and maintained. Any dishonorable action will be regarded as a violation of this commitment, and corrective action will be taken.
If I am in violation of the Honor Code, to prevent jeopardizing the Honor System or weakening our system of self-government, I have an obligation to report myself to the proper authorities. If I am aware of a violation of the Honor System by another student, I shall call this matter to the attention of that student as a violation of responsibility to the community.
In choosing Meredith College, I am accepting the Honor System as a way of life. As a Meredith student, I am responsible for insuring that the Honor System is at all times carried out.
Organizations | Violations | Penalties & Appeals
Organizations
Honor Council
The Honor Council is composed of the chair; the secretary; two representatives from the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes; the solicitor general; the support counselor, two commuter representatives, and four faculty members, who are appointed for a two-year term by the academic dean. The dean of students and/or her designee shall serve as a non-voting member and as adviser.
In addition to the solicitor general and support counselor, eight board members are present at any hearing. These include the chair, the secretary, and the adviser as non-voting members, as well as five voting members, who shall consist of one faculty representative and four student representatives, all to be appointed on a rotating basis by the chair. The accused can waive her right to a full board when the unavailability of a board member would delay her case.
The Honor Council shall not convene during exam weeks except for those cases involving graduating seniors.
NOTE: A summer Honor Council composed of the chair (when possible), one or two student representatives to Honor Council (either new or retiring members), one faculty representative to Honor Council, the summer residence director, and the dean of students or her designee, shall hear cases occurring after the final day of classes of the spring semester through the final day of classes of summer school except for those cases deferred until the beginning of the fall semester. The services of a support counselor and solicitor general may not be available, and the appeal process will not include a Review Board.
Residence Hall Hearings Committee
The Residence Hall Hearings Committee is a branch of the Honor Council coordinated by the Residence Hall Board. The Residence Hall Hearings Committee shall hear appeals of residence hall fines and minor residence hall cases referred by the Honor Council solicitor general.
Present at each hearing are the vice chair of the Residence Hall Board, two residence hall presidents, a clerk, and a residence director adviser. The vice chair of the Residence Hall Board shall preside over all hearings and shall not vote except in the case of a tie. The residence director adviser shall serve as a non-voting member. The hearings shall be on Monday nights.
The decision of the Residence Hall Hearings Committee concerning fine appeals shall be final. Students may request a retrial with the Honor Council for other cases by contacting the solicitor general of the Honor Council within 48 hours of the original hearing.
The Residence Hall Hearings Committee will not meet in the summer. Summer fine appeals should be directed to the summer Honor Council.
Honor Council : Officers and Members (2008-2009)
Chairperson - Emily Harper
Secretary - Kiran Subramaniam and Amber Stoehr
Solicitor General - Julie Spruill
Support Counselor - Katie Nagel
Senior Representatives - Margaret Armstrong; Alyssa Nelson
Junior Representatives - Madison Byrd; Katie Mae Parker
Sophomore Representatives - Beth Howard; Carver Morrow
Freshman Representatives - TBA
AMC Representatives - Lachelle Pulliam; TBA
WINGS Representatives - TBA
Administrative Adviser - Ann Gleason, Dean of Students
Adviser Designees - Emily Harkey; Allison van den Berg
Honor Council Faculty Representatives:
Karthik Aghorham, Jane Crowley, Jack Huber, Jackie Myers
Review Board:
Chair - Jessi Oatsvall
Secretary - Hailey Phillips
Members - Laura Kachmarik, Annelise Rogers, Taryn Scarborough
Adviser - Jean Jackson, Vice President for College Programs
Review Board Faculty Representatives:
Janice Swab (fall), Kent Lyman (spring)
Kristin Watkins
Residence Hall Hearings Committee Officers
Residence Hall Board Vice Chairs - Beth Howard and Anna Beavon
Gravely
Clerk - TBA
Residence Hall President Members - All Residence Hall Presidents
Adviser - Lauren Cooper
NOTE: For further information related to the Honor System refer to the SGA Constitution (Article XI) and By-Laws.
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Violations
The Honor Council acts on violations of the Honor Code. Violations of the Honor Code include, among others
- Academic dishonesty, including, but not limited to:
1. Unauthorized copying, collaboration, or acceptance of assistance in the preparation of written work or laboratory work
2. Plagiarism—which is defined as the intentional representation of another person's words, thoughts, or ideas as one's own;
3. The use of notes, books, or other unauthorized aids on examinations;
4. Stating that assignments are completed when they are not (i.e., parallel readings);
5. Aiding and abetting a dishonest action of another student. - Theft or misuse of, or damage to any personal property on institutional premises, any academically related personal property wherever located, or any college property.
- Violation of any college policies as set forth in this Student Handbook.
- Alteration, forgery, falsification, abuse, or fraudulent misuse of college documents, records, or identification cards.
- Violation of rules governing the residence halls, the health center, the library, the dining hall, and other college owned, operated or regulated property.
- Conduct resulting in physical or psychological harm to another or which otherwise threatens or endangers the health or safety of any such person.
- Intentional disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other college activities, operation or functions, including the failure to appear before college officials or disciplinary bodies when directed to do so.
- Disorderly conduct on College-owned, -operated, or -controlled property or at college-sponsored functions.
- Disorderly conduct shall include acts which violate the rights of others, which tend to breach the peace, or which are deemed lewd, indecent, or obscene.
- Possession of firearms or other weapons on College property or at College-sponsored functions.
- Unauthorized entry into or occupation of, or trespass upon college facilities or property.
- Unauthorized use of the name of the College or the names of member organizations in the College community.
- Intentional abuse of a position of trust or responsibility within the College community.
- Furnishing of false information, with intent to deceive, to members of the College community who are acting in the exercise of their official duties.
- Failure to follow directions given by College officials or staff members in the exercise of their official duties.
- Any violation of federal, state, or local law if such directly affects the College's pursuit of its proper educational purposes.
- Failure to abide by sanctions or penalties properly imposed by the College or disciplinary bodies.
- Aiding or abetting any violation of the Honor Code.Any other conduct which is undesirable or unacceptable, or interferes with or threatens the College's ability to fulfill its educational purposes.
NOTE: A student may be accused of more than one violation as a result of a single incident.
Ignorance of a rule or regulation shall not be accepted as a defense by the Honor Council.
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Reporting a Violation of the Honor Code
Self-referral
If a student realizes that she has violated the Honor Code, she is encouraged and expected to report herself to the solicitor general.
Report by another student
If a student witnesses or suspects that an infraction has occurred, she has two paths she may follow. She may confront the suspected student, or she may refer her suspicion directly to the solicitor general or residence life staff.
Report by a member of the faculty or the administrative staff
If a teacher suspects a student of academic dishonesty and is able to ascertain the facts of the case, it is the teacher's responsibility to inform the student and request that she report herself to the solicitor general or the dean of students. Should the student not make the report, the faculty member should do so.
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Penalties & Appeals
One or more of the following penalties or others deemed appropriate by the Honor Council may be imposed upon students for violations of the Honor Code, depending upon the gravity of the offense:
Papers
A student may be required to write a paper, so she can examine critically her behavior and decision-making process. The length and due date of the paper will be determined by the Honor Council.
Presentations
A student may be required to design an educational presentation or program. The Honor Council will determine the topic, time, and location of the presentation.
Community Service
A student may be required to render a specified number of hours of community service to be performed on campus as designated by the Honor Council.
Important -- Please note that if at any time a student who is on probation is found guilty of another violation of the Honor Code, she may be suspended for a minimum of one semester or expelled from the College. Components of probation are as follows:
Restitution
Reimbursement for damages to or misappropriation of property and/or reimbursement for medical expenses for injury.
Fines
A student may be charged a fine for an Honor Code offense. The amount of the fine may be determined by the Honor Council and used for the benefit of the Meredith College community.
Warning
Written notice that continuation or repetition of the cited conduct found wrongful, within a period of time stated in the warning, may be cause for more severe disciplinary action.
Reprimand
A written censure including the possibility of more severe disciplinary penalties in the event of the finding of another violation of the Honor Code within a stated period of time. Other components are as follows:
Notification of parents of traditional age students to be considered by the vice president for student development. If she deems notification necessary, the vice president for student development will write to the parents and may ask the chair of Honor Council to write a letter as well.
Students while on reprimand are ineligible to run or be appointed to SGA offices (See SGA Bylaws - Article I, Section 4). Duration of the period of reprimand will be specified for each case.
Probation
Probation is a set period of time during which the student is to give exceedingly careful attention to her behavior in order to affirm her ability to abide by the Meredith College rules and regulations.
Notification of parents of traditional age students
Within two weeks following the final hearing, a copy of the written notification of penalty shall be sent to the parents by the chair of the Honor Council accompanied by a letter from the vice president for student development.
Statement of offense
To be placed in a confidential file in the Office of the Dean of Students.
Notification of academic adviser
Students while on probation are ineligible to run or be appointed to SGA offices (See SGA Bylaws - Article I, Section 4).
Delay of Graduation
Delay of graduation ceremony and receipt of diploma as set forth in the Notice of Delay of Graduation. Other components are as follows:
- If after a 48-hour period following her notification of delay of graduation the student has not appealed, the sanction will be submitted for final approval by the vice president for college programs to the president of the College.
- Parents of traditional-aged students will be notified by the president of the College.
- The academic adviser, Office of Financial Assistance, and Office of the Registrar will be notified.
- Action will be recorded on official records in the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of the Registrar.
- A student may not participate in commencement ceremonies until sanctions have been completed.
- A student whose graduation has been delayed may take classes to complete her degree.
- Students while on delay of graduation are ineligible to serve as an officer within any recognized campus organization.
Suspension
Exclusion from classes and other privileges or activities related to the College for a minimum of one semester as set forth in the Notice of Suspension. Exclusion has five major components:
- If after a 72-hour period following her notification of suspension the student has not appealed, the decision will be submitted by the vice president for college programs to the president of the College for final approval.
- In the case of immediate suspension, the student must vacate the campus within 24 hours following the final decision of the president.
- The student may apply for readmission to Meredith after the specified period of suspension.
- Parents of traditional age students will be notified by the president of the College.
- Action will be recorded on official records in the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of the Registrar. A student who chooses to appeal shall continue attending classes during the appeal process. Continued class attendance, however, shall have no effect upon the outcome of the appeal.
Expulsion
Termination of student status. Expulsion also has five major components:
- If after a 72-hour period following her notification of expulsion the student has not appealed, the decision will be submitted by the vice president for college programs to the president of the College for final approval.
- In the case of immediate expulsion, the student must vacate the campus within 24 hours following the decision of the president.
- The student shall not have the privilege to apply for readmission to the College. Expulsion shall be recorded on official college records in the Office of the Registrar and the Office of the Dean of Students.
- A student who chooses to appeal shall continue attending classes during the appeal process; continued class attendance, however, shall have no effect on the outcome of the appeal.
- Parents of traditional aged students will be notified by the president of the College.
Note: Penalties resulting from cases involving academic dishonesty shall include the right of the professor to levy any additional academic penalty he or she shall deem appropriate.
Appeals of Honor Council Action
A student may appeal Honor Council action to the Review Board by presenting in person written notice of her appeal to the vice president for college programs within 48 hours of her Honor Council hearing. The Notice of Appeal must state clearly the reason for the appeal. The Review Board Hearing shall occur on the Friday following the Notice of Appeal (unless another hearing has been scheduled; in which case, the hearing shall be scheduled by Wednesday of the following week).
The appellant shall have a maximum of five minutes to present her appeal to the Review Board.
The action of the Review Board is final except for the right of the student charged to appeal to the president of the College in cases of suspension or expulsion. A student may appeal a Review Board decision by presenting her written appeal to the vice president for college programs within 48 hours of the Review Board Hearing. The vice president for college programs will then present the appeal accompanied with relevant case documents to the president for his review and decision.
Following consultation with an advisory committee made up of the vice president for academic programs, the chair of the faculty council, and the chair of the student life committee, the president shall reach a decision and give formal, written notice to the accused and to the chair of the Honor Council within ten days after receiving the notice of appeal. The action of the president is final.
Appeals from an Honor Council hearing presented during fall exam week will be heard at the beginning of the following semester unless the case involves a graduating senior. Appeals presented during spring semester exam week will be heard if possible.
Appeals of Residence Hall Fines
A student may appeal a residence hall fine to the Residence Hall Hearings Committee by giving written notice of her appeal to the clerk of the Residence Hall Hearings Committee within 48 hours of receipt of the notification of the fine. The written notice must identify what fine is being appealed and why the fine is being appealed. The clerk will notify the appellant of the date and time of the appeals hearing.
At the appeals hearing, the clerk will introduce any material witnesses. The appellant shall have a maximum of five minutes to present her appeal. Members of the Committee sitting on an appeal may ask questions of the material witnesses and appellant. The decision of the Residence Hall Hearings Committee on fine appeals is final.
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