Kellogg Honor Code Mission and Evolution
Mission:
The students of the Kellogg
School of Management regard honesty and integrity as qualities essential
to the practice and profession of
management. The purpose of the Kellogg Honor Code is to promote these
qualities so that each student can fully develop his or her individual potential.
Upon admission, each student makes an agreement with his or her fellow
students to abide by the Kellogg Honor Code. Students who violate the
Kellogg
Honor Code violate this agreement and must accept the sanction imposed
by the Kellogg community.
The Kellogg Honor Code is administered and enforced, when necessary,
by students. The efficacy of such a student-administered honor code is
dependent upon a high degree of dedication to the ideals of honesty,
integrity and equal opportunity reflected by the code. The Kellogg Honor
Code requires that each student act with integrity in all Kellogg activities
and that each student hold his or her peers to the same standard. As
the actions of every student affect the entire community, it is the responsibility
of each individual to support the Honor Code by being mindful of potentially
compromising situations and by reporting suspected violations. By not
tolerating lapses in honesty and integrity, the Kellogg community affirms
the importance of these values.
The intent of the Kellogg Honor Code is to express the ethical standards
of the Kellogg community. It does not attempt to be a list of rules and
sanctions.
Evolution: Selected excerpts from public memos and letters, 1988-present
November 28, 1988
Dear Kellogg Student:
On September 28, 1988 the Kellogg faculty voted to ratify the Honor Code. Please be advised that the Code governs any violations of the honor principle arising after September 28, 1988.
The ratification of the new Honor Code is a significant event for the Kellogg community. Heretofore, there was no pre-established written procedure to be followed in the event of an alleged honor violation. Instead, alleged honor violations were handled by the administration and faculty on an ad hoc basis. The new Code establishes, for the first time, a system of confidential peer review by other Kellogg students. Equally important, the Code sets forth detailed procedures to be followed in the event of an alleged violation of the honor principle.
You should also be aware that Kellogg students had a great deal of input into the Honor Code. Last year, in an informal referendum, students overwhelmingly supported the notion of peer review. Open forums were held concerning the proposed Honor Code, and many of the suggestions generated by students at these meetings were ultimately incorporated in this new Honor Code. We believe that the procedures that have been established fairly balance the interests of the students, faculty and administration.
We urge you to read the Code and understand its provisions. Finally, we request your cooperation in enforcing and in upholding the honor principle at Kellogg.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Edmund J. Wilson, Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Andy Kantor, Honor Code Chairman
Jay Luther, GMA Academic Vice President
February 19, 1992
To: All Students
From: Edmund Wilson, Dean of Students
Subject: 1992 Kellogg Honor Code Reevaluation
Honesty and integrity are corner stones on which much of Kellogg is built. Without them, our success as an institution would no be possible. Honesty and integrity in academics and placement is embodied in the Kellogg Honor Code.
The current Honor Code, established in 1988, is a substantial revision from the previous code. A committee of students has been formed to evaluate this code. Their charge in evaluating the Honor Code is (1) to seek input from students, faculty and administration regarding the effectiveness of the Code, (2) to incorporate appropriate changes into a new Code based on such inputs, and (3) to administer the student and faculty ratification of a new Honor Code this Spring.
This Spring all students will be asked to review the proposed Honor Code and to vote on its adoption. We are seeking a code which represents the needs and views of the students and faculty, and your input is important in meeting this objective.
May 18, 1992
To: All Faculty Members
From: Dean Edmund Wilson
Subject: Honor Code vote -- May 27 Faculty Meeting
The Honor Code Reevaluation Committee (HCRC) has concluded its review of the Kellogg Honor Code. At the May 27 faculty meeting you will be asked to vote for an improved Honor Code. At [the May 6] meeting the deans and department chairs voted to support the proposed code. On May 14 and 15, the students also voted to support the proposed Code.
The members of HCRC have performed a complete review of the Honor Code. The committee's research affirmed the efficacy of a student-administered Honor Code. Students indicated a need for additional guidance on complying with the Honor Code.
Honesty and integrity are qualities essential to the practice and profession of management. The purpose of the Kellogg Honor Code, among other things, is to promote an environment where these qualities can be developed. The code is undermined however, if its purposed or principles are not upheld. During the committee's review, they noted dissatisfaction among the students with the stature of the Honor Code at Kellogg. In endorsing the [proposed changes], the students have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the Honor Code is respected and upheld.
You are asked to make the same commitment. Because you play such an important role in creating the trust and respect necessary for the code to succeed, you are asked to help the students establish the Honor Code as a more important aspect of the Kellogg environment. This involves demonstrating your trust in the students and actively working to increase the role the Code plays in academic activities. Such a commitment also includes enforcing the Code when necessary by reporting suspected violations to the Honor Code Chair.
The revisions to the Honor Code, made primarily in response to student requests for additional guidance on compliance, are as follows:
* The students subject to the code have been clarified. All students enrolled in a Kellogg class are subject to the Honor Code.
* The scope of the code has been clarified. The Code covers all academic, placement and extracurricular activities associated with Kellogg.
* Failure to report a material violation has explicitly been made a violation.
June 5, 1992
To: All Students
From: Edmund Wilson, Dean of Students
Subject: Kellogg Honor Code
Congratulations! On May 27, the faculty voted to support your new Honor Code.
I hope each of you shares my pride in the new Honor Code. It reflects a significant commitment by you to building a Kellogg community where honesty and integrity are more important. The new Code is further evidence that the student administered honor system adopted three years ago is working effectively.
June 5, 1992
Mr. David H. Cohen, Provost
Northwestern University
Dear David:
The deans, faculty and students at Kellogg have voted to adopt a new Honor Code. The new Honor Code is the first step in a better system. Additional steps, primarily enhanced education of students and faculty about the Code and its importance, will begin with the new class in the Fall.
Kellogg is proud of the degree to which its student body values honor and integrity. Should you have any questions, call either me or Hudson LaForce, student Chairman of the review committee.
Sincerely,
Edmund J. Wilson, Associate Dean
April 23, 2007
To: All Students
From: Charles H. Carol, Honor Code Committee Co-Chair
Subject: Honor Code Vote Results
The Honor Code Committee and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote and make their voices heard on the recent Honor Code referendum. Over 1/3 of the full-time student population voted and, in a very close vote, defeated the proposed wording change. As a result, the minimum number of student panelists necessary to find an accused student responsible of an Honor Code violation remains 7 out of 8.
Based on comments and feedback we received during this process, we will ensure that all future student panelists are clear about their roles and responsibilities as laid out in the Honor Code procedures before a panel meets.
We will also be documenting the amendment voting process for future Honor Code Committees. This will ensure that any subsequent amendment proposals will unfold smoothly. Thank you again, and enjoy the rest of your Spring Quarters
-Chas Carol, Co-Chair
March - April, 2007
Background on Proposed Changes to the Honor Code for Student Body's Vote