The 2003-2004 Kellogg Honor
Code Committee commissioned a
research project to measure both the students’ and faculty’s perceptions of the
Honor Code to gain better insight into the code’s efficacy (see Honor Code Research
Report on Important Information page). One
particular section of the project focused on actions students believe do and
do
not constitute Honor Code violations. The findings included:
Unlike other schools that codify
their Honor Codes or Community Standards
(i.e., listing all the potential infractions and the associated sanctions),
Kellogg’s Honor Code offers four basic tenets
under which students’ actions should be governed. With the Honor Code
Committee facilitating the process, 8 randomly selected Kellogg students
determine whether an honor violation occurred and the potential sanctions. Without
detailed rules to guide every possible infraction, some might then ask: what universal
ideals does the Kellogg Honor Code truly stand
for?
To me, the Kellogg Honor
Code stands for:
- Creating
basic ground rules governing academic, placement and
extracurricular activities at Kellogg. The spirit of the Honor
Code affords every student the opportunity to operate on
a level playing field and in a free environment (e.g. take-home and
unsupervised exams);
- Promoting
honesty in all aspects of student life. From creating resumes to completing
exams within set time limits, the Honor Code
instills a sense of higher standards in all we do at Kellogg;
- Valuing
trust. Trusting one another
to not seek unfair advantages or misrepresent one’s actions empowers a
stronger sense of community at Kellogg;
- Showing
respect. Respecting the property
and personal rights of all members of the diverse Kellogg community affords
greater flexibility in daily student life.
In today’s environment of well-publicized
corporate and ethical scandals, members of the Kellogg community can point to
its Honor Code with pride. It is a
reflection of the culture which has helped to instill in our community the
values of tomorrow’s business leaders while enhancing the reputation of
Kellogg.