University Honor Code
High Point University > Office of Community Standards > University Honor Code

Preamble

We, the students of High Point University, believe that honesty and integrity are essential to student development, whether personal, social, or academic. Therefore, we assert that:

Every student is honor-bound to refrain from conduct which is unbecoming of a High Point University student and which brings discredit to the student and/or to the University;

Every student is honor-bound to abstain from cheating;

Every student is honor-bound to abstain from collusion;

Every student is honor-bound to abstain from plagiarism;

Every student is honor-bound to confront a violation of the University Honor Code;

Every student is honor-bound to report a violation of the University Honor Code.

I promise to be civil in all my relationships and to respect others as I uphold the values of High Point University.

I will strive to be extraordinary in my academic studies and all other personal and professional pursuits.

History and Authority:

The High Point University Honor Code originated in the Senate of the Student Government Association and was adopted by students through a general referendum. It was approved by the faculty on April 17, 1997, and subsequently by the Administrative Council and the Board of Trustees. The Honor Code is maintained and enforced by the Judicial Board of the Student Government Association, with faculty and staff involvement.

Pledge:

Upon accepting admission to High Point University, students agree to abide by the Honor Code. Professors may require students to sign an oath affirming this commitment at the beginning of semesters or for specific assignments. Students should carefully read the syllabus designed for each class by the professor for specific permissions.

Definitions and Purpose:

The purpose of these definitions is to provide clarity on what constitutes violations of the Honor Code, ensuring all community members understand their responsibilities and the boundaries of acceptable behavior.

  • Cheating: Unauthorized use of information during tests, submitting another’s work as one’s own, completing work for another student, or resubmitting similar work for different classes without permission.
  • Collusion: Conspiring for fraudulent purposes, discussing test content with peers who haven’t taken it, or forgery for deception.
  • Property Violations: Misappropriation of intellectual property, unauthorized acquisition of information, and destruction of shared technologies or resources.
  • Plagiarism: Using others’ ideas or words without proper acknowledgment, including quoting or paraphrasing without citing the source.

Acknowledgment:

Proper acknowledgment involves clearly identifying the author and source of any quoted or paraphrased material, using quotation marks or indentation as needed.

Community Responsibility:

  • Academic Integrity: Students should practice honesty, properly cite sources, and refrain from using unauthorized materials during tests, and from communicating with others during assessments.
  • Confrontation: Students are expected to address suspected violations directly or indirectly, either by speaking with the person involved or reporting to instructors or authorities.
  • Notification and Reporting: Students should inform instructors of suspected violations to help prevent further incidents, although identifying violators is not mandatory.

Right to Report:

Members of the University community, including students, faculty, and staff, are encouraged to report suspected violations to instructors or the Office of Community Standards. If a case is course-related, the instructor investigates; if not, the Senior Director of Community Standards handles it.

Special Notices:

  • Academic Forgiveness: If a student repeats a failed course due to an Honor Code violation, both grades are factored into the GPA.
  • Appeals: Disciplinary sanctions can be appealed following procedures detailed in the Student Guide to Campus Life.
  • Records: Incident reports for violations are filed in the Office of Community Standards and shared with involved parties. Retention policies are outlined in the Student Guide to Campus Life.
  • Refunds: If a student is excluded from the university or specific courses for violations, the regular refund policy applies, with no refunds for course exclusions.

DISCLAIMER: All students should read the syllabus for each course to know the expectations of each individual instructor.