Honor Code Office
We aspire to be full partners in the educational aims of BYU-Hawaii and to be recognized by the university community as a vital contributor to the accomplishment of the educational imperatives of the university and to make honor the hallmark of every BYU-Hawaii graduate.
Mission
The Honor Code Office determines the Honor Code status of students at Brigham Young University Hawaii. In fulfilling this mission, the Honor Code Office:
- Provides educational support to students in their individual and collective commitments to live and to assist others to live the university's Honor Code.
- Safeguards students, the learning environment, and the integrity and good name of the university.The Honor Code Office works exclusively on issues that affect students,helping students focus their efforts on harmonizing their lives with the ideals set forth in the Honor Code.
Responsibilities
In fulfilling its purposes, the Honor Code Office assumes responsibility for the following:
- To receive and investigate reported student violations of the Honor Code
- To determine and assign specific interventions and counsel with students to redirect. their behavior toward the development of integrity and other qualities of noble character
- To administer the Continuing Student Ecclesiastical Endorsement program for the university
- To consult with administrators, faculty, staff, ecclesiastical leaders, and others as they fulfill their responsibilities in relation to the Honor Code
- To cooperate closely with faculty, department chairs and deans to resolve issues of academic honesty and integrity, and maintain a file for cross reference when incidents of academic dishonesty are verified
- To establish communication and trust with other offices and individuals in the campus community
- To serve as a general resource to the university regarding Honor Code issues
- To counsel with the university administration and the Honor Code Advisory Council to develop and refine policies and procedures for administering
the Honor Code - To conduct and report results of assessments made to determine the effectiveness of the Honor Code and of the Honor Code Office in achieving the aims of a BYU-Hawaii education.
Honor Code Introduction
Karl G. Maeser told the first class of BYU in 1876, "I trust you all. I give you my confidence. I put you all on your word of honor."
However,the first official Honor Code was not established until 1949, when students from the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity saw a need for a clear, unified standard, and drafted the first code. The proposed code was then approved by 83 percent of the student body. In 1973 the Board of Trustees accepted the Honor Code as official BYU policy.
The purpose of the Honor Code is to help educate, strengthen and uplift the students of BYU. Students are trying hard to do good things and live good lives. The Honor Code gives students something to stand for and to stand by. It's always helpful to have principles and guidelines to help them build the characters and fulfill the commitment of honor.
The honor code is based on the character building principles founded on the gospel and the teachings of the church. Principles such as modesty, morality and honesty don't change. However,occasionally the Dress and Grooming Standards have been adjusted. For example, this year, in compliance with President Hinckley's recent counsel, the Dress and Grooming Standards were changed to allow females to have one pair of earrings instead of two.
There are some aspects of the code and standards that are value based and doctrinally founded, and they will not change. At the same time, as new issues emerge and dress modes and behaviors evolve, we see a need to update our standards so they can address these changes.
No matter how students may feel about the Honor Code, they agreed to abide by it as they chose to attend CES sponsored schools and commit themselves to the character building principles of honor, integrity, and commitment.