What happens when I see the Honor Council

Each student who is accused of an Honor Code violation has the right to an Honor Council hearing, or forgoⁱ that hearing if they so wish. It is the intent of the Honor Council to take a fair and unbiased approach when hearing cases.

If you are accused of a violation, the investigator assigned to your case will meet with you to ask questions. The role of the investigator is to gain a broad picture of the situation. The investigator will answer any questions you have regarding the violation. The investigator may meet with the accuserⁱⁱ, and anyone else involved. When the investigation is complete, the investigator will schedule an Honor Council hearing. If you choose not to be present for the hearing, the case will be heard without you. Hearings generally take 20 minutes to a half hour, however, they can take longer.

During the hearing, you will be asked to state your side of the story to the council. The council members will then have the chance to ask any questions they may have so that they can have all the facts necessary to make a decision.

In most cases, the council will make a decision the same evening. First, the council will decide whether there is enough evidence to find you guilty of the stated violation. If you are found not-guilty, the process will end. If you are found guilty, the council will decide on an appropriate sanction.

The decisionsⁱⁱⁱ made by the Honor Council are passed to the Faculty Committee on Discipline (FCD) as recommendations. An FCD hearing will be scheduled within the week.

Tips for the accused:

• Be honest and forthcoming
• It is important that the investigator and the council have all the facts of the case. It is in your best interest to tell the truth, and tell the truth early. Tell your investigator anything that you may think is important.
• You are allowed to bring someone to the hearing for emotional support. This person will not be allowed to talk.

ⁱ If the student wishes to forgo the Honor Council hearing, a Faculty Committee on Discipline hearing will be arranged.
ⁱⁱ Normally, the "accuser" is the professor, if the alleged violation occurred in a class.
ⁱⁱⁱ If the accused is found not-guilty, this stage in the process won't occur.