The Honor Code: Philosophy

History | Philosophy

Students' Commitment
Carolina students pledge to maintain ideals of academic honesty, personal integrity, and responsible citizenship. These ideals are embodied in the Honor Code set forth in the Instrument, with the support of students, faculty, and staff. When a student applies to Carolina, he undertakes a commitment to the principles embodied in the Honor Code

University Interests
The University endeavors to instill in each student a love of learning, a commitment to fair and honorable conduct, and respect for the safety and welfare of others. It also strives to protect the community from those who, for whatever reason, do not embody these values in their conduct, and to protect the integrity of the University and its property for the benefit of all.

Educational and Other Activities
The activities of students outside the classroom influence the educational process and learning environment, just as the intellectual atmosphere of the campus contributes to students' growth and development. Many forms of nonacademic conduct, as well as all facets of the academic process, are therefore areas of proper concern and regulation by the University community.

Responsible Exercise of Freedom
The guiding principle of University regulation of conduct is that of the responsible exercise of freedom. Students should be accorded the greatest possible degree of self-determination correlative with the acceptance of the full responsibility for their conduct and the consequences of their actions.

Chancellor's Responsibilities
The Chancellor remains solely responsible for all matters of student discipline. Nevertheless, the Chancellor has traditionally shared the responsibility of setting basic policy concerning student conduct and applying overarching requirements in individual cases with students and the faculty in order to achieve the University's underlying goals.

University and Broader Community
The University has a special interest in assuring that students refrain from academic misconduct, respect the safety and welfare of members of the University community, and protect its institutional integrity and resources. The standards for student conduct and the means of enforcement set forth in the Instrument are adopted in furtherance of University interests and serve to supplement, rather than substitute for the enforcement of the civil and criminal law applicable at large. Therefore it is not double jeopardy for the University to sanction conduct that is also sanctioned under local, state, or federal law.

For more information, see the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance