Kellogg Honor Code Committee

Frequently Asked Questions About the Kellogg Honor Code

The Honor Code itself was written by Kellogg students. Rather than being a formal codification, the Code is intended to be a living document, a framework around which to discuss issues and behaviors that concern us all. The Code attempts to represent the fundamental values and ideals that underlie Kellogg community interaction. The role of the Honor Code Committee is to help communicate and promote the Code, and to administer its procedures, as required from time to time.

Can I report a violation anonymously?
Yes and no. Per tenet four, students must report all material violations. Tenet four also protects the confidentiality of the Honor Code process. You must make your identity known to the Honor Code Committee, there is nothing we can do with an “anonymous tip.” However, the Honor Code Committee will not share your name with the accused without your permission.

Can I report a violation to my professor instead?
You can report a violation to your professor. It is up to him or her to report it to the committee, however, as the professor can take whatever action he or she deems necessary.

Why are the apology letters anonymous?
The Honor Code Committee recognizes a signed letter of apology is a far more effective deterrent than an anonymous letter of apology. However, the Northwestern University Office of General Counsel will not support the enforcement of a signed letter of apology to the student body, and therefore, any signed letter of apology to the student body must be voluntary in nature. The NUOGC does support the enforcement of signed letters of apology to faculty members, which have been imposed in the past.

Where can I find out more about issues related to academic integrity and plagiarism?
1.) The Northwestern Undergraduate Academic Conduct Committee provides a description of some standard violations of academic integrity. These are not meant to be exhaustive but do give an idea of the scope. The desciption is available at:

http://www.northwestern.edu/uacc/defines.html

2.) The Northwestern Undergraduate Academic Conduct Committee has a very detailed discussion on plagiarism. This is an important issue that Kellogg students should also be cognizant of at all times. The description is available at:

http://www.northwestern.edu/uacc/plagiar.html

Myths about the Kellogg Honor Code

I have an obligation to report all violations:
This is NOT a myth. You signed a contract with your peers agreeing to uphold all aspects of the Honor Code. More importantly however, we hope you will view your obligation to report violations as an integral part of your duty to the Kellogg community and to preserving the Honor Code that embodies this sense of responsibility.

The process will take all my time:
Investigating and hearing a suspected violation does take a lot of time. Because the consequences for the people involved and for the Kellogg community can be significant, the process warrants considerable care. However, most of the time requirements are borne by members of the Honor Code Committee and the KSA VP of Student Affairs. Students who report suspected violations can expect to be asked for one to three interviews and possibly a statement at a hearing.

I may make a mistake and harm an innocent person:
Not every reported violation proceeds to a formal hearing. When a suspected violation is reported, the first priority is on gathering facts. An investigation will ensue to collect all related primary and secondary information. Once complete, the facts will be presented to the Honor Code Committee by a neutral party. Three members, selected at random from the Committee, will then make a determination about whether there is a reasonable possibility that a violation took place and that the accused person could have been involved. If the facts support this possibility, the issue is taken to hearing. Otherwise, the issue is dropped.

I risk embarrassment:
The entire investigation and hearing process is conducted in the strictest possible confidentiality for the protection of everyone involved. The identities of the parties involved are not even shared with most members of the Honor Code Committee until after a determination is made to proceed to a hearing. Only if a suspected violation goes to a hearing will anyone, beyond those people directly involved, know that an investigation took place.

The punishment may be too severe:
Expulsion and suspension from Kellogg are among the many possible sanctions that can be recommended by a student hearing panel. However, since the student panels are instructed to consider the degree and the intent of violations, it is more common for sanctions to be directly proportional to the violation.

This one event isn't that significant:
It is important that you report every suspected violation. If unreported, these 'small' violations chip away at the integrity of the Honor Code and degrade trust within the Kellogg community. The Honor Code is designed to scale up or down in relation to the materiality of violations. Very small violations or misunderstandings may be dealt with through education and informal discussions, while more serious violations will be dealt with more formally.

Reporting could mean betraying a friend:
The Honor Code is an explicit agreement we all make when we join the Kellogg community. It is every student's promise to other students about how they will respect and behave toward each other. If someone violates this Code, they have violated your trust. If you do not report violations, you further erode this trust by not upholding your promise to your peers. We are all obliged to actively contribute to the fabric of the Kellogg community, or we risk its unravel.