College Honor Systems

[marting]

At the start of my freshman year, we were all indoctrinated in the college culture and especially the honor system and the importance of never taking unfair advantage of anyone else in the community. The upside is that tests, whether open or closed book and time limited or not, were never proctored. The most restricted case was where tests were handed out in class and collected 1 to 3 hours later. You did not have to remain in the classroom but could go over to the library or a quiet area to do them. But most tests, even time limited ones, were handed out then collected the next day. This applied even to midterms and final exams. But it was nice to be able to study the material in your room and when you felt ready, just take the test.

There were other areas it applied. An example is I was working on an EE project and needed a few ICs. It was after hours so I picked the lock to the supply room, got the parts I needed, and left a list and payment. Not paying for them would have been an honor code violation. Picking the lock wasn't and was a common practice when needed. But doing so and violating someone else's privacy would be a violation.

I really liked it. The burden was on your own sense of self-respect not to cheat.

 

[Planigale]

At the start of my freshman year, we were all indoctrinated in the college culture and especially the honor system and the importance of never taking unfair advantage of anyone else in the community. The upside is that tests, whether open or closed book and time limited or not, were never proctored. The most restricted case was where tests were handed out in class and collected 1 to 3 hours later. You did not have to remain in the classroom but could go over to the library or a quiet area to do them. But most tests, even time limited ones, were handed out then collected the next day. This applied even to midterms and final exams. But it was nice to be able to study the material in your room and when you felt ready, just take the test.

There were other areas it applied. An example is I was working on an EE project and needed a few ICs. It was after hours so I picked the lock to the supply room, got the parts I needed, and left a list and payment. Not paying for them would have been an honor code violation. Picking the lock wasn't and was a common practice when needed. But doing so and violating someone else's privacy would be a violation.

I really liked it. The burden was on your own sense of self-respect not to cheat.

But did it include not using other peoples stuff in the dorm fridge? Did you mark the level of the milk / juice each time you put it back in the fridge?

Honor codes are bizarre, at college they seemed honoured for the bar, people would leave IOUs when they needed emergency gin. But you (I) had to smother stuff in biohazard stickers in the dorm fridge to discourage stealing. For my US readers since the age to drink alcohol legally n the UK is variably* 14 - 18, college dorms might have their own bar.

*Depending on drink and situation.

At Barts (St Bartholomew's Hospital a teaching hospital in the city of London) The entrance to the student bar was in London - policed by the Met. but the bar was across the border in the City of London a completely different jurisdiction, but the city police didn't come in because it would involve leaving their jurisdiction. So the Barts student bar ignored licensing hours. In fact because some bars in the city had odd hours to cater for night workers from markets you could do a 24 hour pub crawl. Which despite being a non-drinker I did; put me off ginger beer and rugger buggers for ages.

 

[marting]

But did it include not using other peoples stuff in the dorm fridge? Did you mark the level of the milk / juice each time you put it back in the fridge?

Honor codes are bizarre, at college they seemed honoured for the bar, people would leave IOUs when they needed emergency gin. But you (I) had to smother stuff in biohazard stickers in the dorm fridge to discourage stealing. For my US readers since the age to drink alcohol legally n the UK is variably* 14 - 18, college dorms might have their own bar.

*Depending on drink and situation.

At Barts (St Bartholomew's Hospital a teaching hospital in the city of London) The entrance to the student bar was in London - policed by the Met. but the bar was across the border in the City of London a completely different jurisdiction, but the city police didn't come in because it would involve leaving their jurisdiction. So the Barts student bar ignored licensing hours. In fact because some bars in the city had odd hours to cater for night workers from markets you could do a 24 hour pub crawl. Which despite being a non-drinker I did; put me off ginger beer and rugger buggers for ages.

In California at the time, drinking age was 21. Students that were over 21 would often make liquor runs to the corner store to pick up things for their friends/other students. And we had weekly beer keg events. But few got plastered. People used the fridge for a lot of things and didn't worry about theft. We had campus security and student picture IDs but I don't think they were ever checked in the entire time I was there. And that was in the late 60's.

On reflection, I believe the honor code, and its actual reality that people trusted each other, really made for a great environment.

 

[theprestige]

The social contract writ large.

 

[arthwollipot]

American unis are weird.

 

[Chris_Halkides]

Covid-19 and the honor code

The measures taken during Covid-19 convinced me that a few students did not take the Honor code seriously.

 

[Trebuchet]

At the start of my freshman year, we were all indoctrinated in the college culture and especially the honor system and the importance of never taking unfair advantage of anyone else in the community. The upside is that tests, whether open or closed book and time limited or not, were never proctored. The most restricted case was where tests were handed out in class and collected 1 to 3 hours later. You did not have to remain in the classroom but could go over to the library or a quiet area to do them. But most tests, even time limited ones, were handed out then collected the next day. This applied even to midterms and final exams. But it was nice to be able to study the material in your room and when you felt ready, just take the test.

There were other areas it applied. An example is I was working on an EE project and needed a few ICs. It was after hours so I picked the lock to the supply room, got the parts I needed, and left a list and payment. Not paying for them would have been an honor code violation. Picking the lock wasn't and was a common practice when needed. But doing so and violating someone else's privacy would be a violation.

I really liked it. The burden was on your own sense of self-respect not to cheat.

When and where was this? Certainly nothing of the sort in my college.

 

[marting]

When and where was this? Certainly nothing of the sort in my college.

I'll pass. But there are lots of colleges with similar and not so similar codes. BYU, for example, applies it to lots of behaviors like prohibitions on smoking/ drinking, sex, etc. Yuck.

Here's a wiki that lists military and liberal arts colleges with codes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_honor_code

 

[Reformed Offlian]

When and where was this? Certainly nothing of the sort in my college.

My alma mater, the College of William & Mary, certainly had one when I attended in the '80s. As did the University of Virginia.

 

[stevea]

... An example is I was working on an EE project and needed a few ICs. It was after hours so I picked the lock to the supply room, got the parts I needed, and left a list and payment. Not paying for them would have been an honor code violation. Picking the lock wasn't and was a common practice when needed. ....

You committed several chargeable crimes. Concepts of honor and ethics are lost on you.
I am quite certain that you entirely missed the point of any honor code

Locks on doors exist to prevent unauthorized access. Your access was precisely as unauthorized and unlawful as anyone committing breaking & entering In terms of "honor" it matters very little that you left payment. If your UNI wanted you to have access they would have given you a key. The claim that this sort of breaking&entering is common speaks to a systemic problem - both of ethics and accessibility; that does not justify this sort of taking..

In some jurisdictions there are "in extremis" laws - If you pump-out your neighbors coy pond to arrest a fire in your house, if you take a car to get someone to an ER, you *may* not be held criminally liable, but you absolutely owe full compensation. NOTHING about your EE test/lock-picking escapade meets a standard for 'in extremis'

Study Plato, then EE.

 

[marting]

You committed several chargeable crimes. Concepts of honor and ethics are lost on you.
I am quite certain that you entirely missed the point of any honor code

Locks on doors exist to prevent unauthorized access. Your access was precisely as unauthorized and unlawful as anyone committing breaking & entering In terms of "honor" it matters very little that you left payment. If your UNI wanted you to have access they would have given you a key. The claim that this sort of breaking&entering is common speaks to a systemic problem - both of ethics and accessibility; that does not justify this sort of taking..
...

I hate to break it to you but the Honor Code at my university allowed this. And accessing the stockroom after hours and on weekends was common practice for all of us when working on lab projects and needing some random op-amp or other. And we were introduced to how locks worked in the first day as Frosh. We came back from class and all the Frosh dorm rooms had been opened. The locks were completely dissassembled with pins and tumblers laid out neatly just inside the door. So we learned how locks worked. Aside from that, our locked rooms were respected the entire time we were students. Out of bounds were professor's private offices, the Coop store, and anywhere there was an expectation of privacy.

Specifically, the Code prohibited "Taking unfair advantage of other students or any member of the university community" Hence cheating, taking longer on tests than allowed for take-home tests fell clearly into that category. It did not include State criminal codes. But we were not only allowed to take tests anywhere we wished, the faculty could not impose restrictions other than open or closed book and time to take the tests.

I believe the vast majority of students did not take advantage. Sure, we could have taken 5 hours instead of the allotted 3 hours to do the finals without anyone knowing. But we would know as individuals. And hence we didn't do that.

As for the EE stockroom, while it was "locked" after hours, they also left a tray and tablet to put your money in and record the parts you needed. Quite convenient.

 

[dudalb]

About the only American Univesities that really try to enforce the honor code are the service academies...West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, and New London.

 

[marting]

About the only American Univesities that really try to enforce the honor code are the service academies...West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, and New London.

At my college the honor code was enforced. Violators were expelled, not just suspended. I think the trick is that if people are treated as if they are honest,they tend to be honest. Worked with me. I flunked out at the end of my second year. And I deserved it. I was lazy and had been, up to then, able to do ok from prior knowledge. Tests were takehome, 3 hours limit, but due the next day. i knew I'd failed and was tempted to take more time. But I didn't. So I had to repeat that term the next year. It was a wakeup call and I did well after that.

 

[AlaskaBushPilot]

At the start of my freshman year, we were all indoctrinated in the college culture and especially the honor system and the importance of never taking unfair advantage of anyone else in the community.

I don't know what college you went to, but it is certainly not the situation in either University I taught at, and not our sons'.

The propensity of cheating is pervasive:

https://academicintegrity.org/resources/facts-and-statistics

95% of high school students admitted cheating. 32% of Undergraduates admitted so. We know these self-reports are going to be underestimates, and when proctoring is removed the consequences of cheating are gone. So the incentive to cheat is magnified.

At my sons' University they take proctored exams and have tight restrictions on what they can bring to the room. No calculators or phones for example. Crib sheets are allowed in their higher math courses, but it's one index card.

 

[marting]

I don't know what college you went to, but it is certainly not the situation in either University I taught at, and not our sons'.

The propensity of cheating is pervasive:

Interesting. Googling, my alma mater has seen a significant increase in honor code violations in the last 10 years to the point that students that adhere to the code feel they are being harmed as grades are on a curve.

One consequence is that take home exams are becoming less common and in some cases in class tests are now proctored. The latter used to be non-existant.

This is quite sad. I really valued being treated like an honest adult and treating others the same.