The Honor and Ethics Council (HEC): Purpose and Process

The Honor Code

The Honor Code embodies a spirit of trust pervading all aspects of student life. It is the responsibility of every student to act honorably in all phases of student life and to protect the integrity of the Honor Code. Each student agrees not to deceive any member of the community; not to steal, cheat, or plagiarize on academic work; and not to engage in any other form of academic misconduct. Living within the Honor Code means we can trust each other and we accept responsibility for out own behaviors and actions.academic work, and not to engage in any other form of academic misconduct. It means that we can trust each other, and that we willingly accept responsibility for our own conduct and activities. This is a tradition that goes back to the founding of Wake Forest, and with your participation, it continues to be a cornerstone of our community and our interactions with one another.

The Wake Forest Undergraduate Academic Bulletin explains, “the Wake Forest Undergraduate Honor Code (the “Honor Code”) is grounded in a fundamental commitment from each member of our community to honesty and integrity. Adherence to the Honor Code enables our community to live and to work together with a shared sense of trust and respect. Violations of the Honor Code are treated with the utmost seriousness because they undermine both personal integrity and community standards. Specific offenses under the Honor Code include cheating, plagiarism, stealing, and deception in both academic and non-academic settings.”

Applicability of the Honor Code

Wake Forest considers adherence to the Honor Code and maintenance of a sense of social and community responsibility to be integral to the mission of the University. The Honor Code concerns itself primarily with the academic integrity of the institution and its students, and covers cheating, deception, stealing, plagiarism, dishonesty, and contempt, in the academic context. Conduct cases involve violations of the University’s standards of community responsibility.

Wake Forest’s standards for academic honor are applicable to students in every academic pursuit, whether on campus or off. Any act committed while engaged in an academic endeavor which violates these standards becomes a proper subject for review by the conduct system.

Alleged academic violations of the Honor Code will be heard by and in accordance with procedures set by the Honors and Ethics Council.