Honor Board & Student Conduct

The Washington College Honor Code was established by vote of the faculty and students in 1976 and reaffirmed in 1987.  In 1994, the Honor Code was redrafted to reflect student and faculty sentiment that a single code should address both academic and social conduct.

The Washington College Honor Code sets standards for the entire College community. The intention of the Honor Code is to encourage honest academic achievement and the highest standard of social conduct in all members of the institution. Those who agree to this honor system promise to uphold it and abide by it. All students are required to sign the Honor Code upon enrollment at Washington College, signifying that they have read and understood the Honor Code, that they are willing to abide by its principles, and that they understand the penalties they may incur if they violate the Code.

Purpose of the Honor Board

The Honor Board is charged with hearing cases of alleged violations of the Washington College Honor Code. There are two kinds of violations; academic and social.  The Honor Board hears cases of both academic and social violations. The Provost's Office determines which academic cases are referred to the Honor Board,and the Student Affairs Office determines which social cases are referred. 

Structure of the Honor Board

The Student Government Association  Review Board appoints nine students to serve as members of the Honor Board.  The Faculty elects six faculty members to serve as members of the Honor Board.  At any given hearing, students and faculty members comprise the hearing panel and determine whether a student is responsible for violating the Honor Code and, if so, assign sanctions.  In cases of alleged sexual misconduct, a subset of the Honor Boaard will hear those cases (see section below on Hearing Bodies).  Advisory members of the Board are the Assistant Dean for Curricular Enrichment, or designee, the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, or designee, and the Honor Board Chair.

Chair 2023-2024: Heather Fabritze ‘25

The Chair of the Honor Board is a student nominated by the Student Government Association Review Board.  The Chair presides over all meetings of the Honor Board and reports activities of the Honor Board to the SGA.  The Chair works with the Assistant Dean of Curricular Enhancement an the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs to ensure that proper procedures are followed in the adjudication of all cases.

Vice-Chair 2023–2024: Prof. Julie Wills

The Vice Chair of the Honor Board is a faculty member elected by the other faculty members of the Honor Board and serves as liaison between faculty and the Honor Board.

The Interim Dean of Students, Greg Krikorian, as designated by the Vice President of Student Affairs, has primary responsibility to coordinate all aspects of responding to social violations of the Honor Code as refers cases to appropriate bodies for adjudication.

The TBD, as designated by the Provost and Dean of the College, has primary responsibility to coordinate all aspects of responding to academic violations of the Honor Code and works with the Faculty Coordinator for Academic Integrity to refer cases to appropriate bodies for adjudication.

Normally, to proceed with a hearing, the Honor Board Chair or their designee, three student members, two faculty members and the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs or their designee must be present.  However, in some instances (with the consent of the student being brought before the Board), an Administrative Hearing may proceed without a full board.

When classes are not in session, cases normally referred to the Honor Boaard may be handled by an administrative board as determined by the Interim Dean of Students or Assistant Dean for Curricular Enrichment in consultation with the Honor Board Chair and Vice-Chair, unless a student requests the case be heard by the Honor Board when classes resume. 

Other Hearing Bodies/Panels

Position TBD or the Faculty Coordinator can hear cases of alleged academic violations and makes decisions regarding the referral of those violations of the Honor Code to the Honor Board.

Interim Dean of Students - These members of the Student Affairs Office can hear cases of alleged social violations of the Honor Code and make decisions regarding the referral of those violations to the Honor Board.

Other Administrators - Administrators who have been designated by either the Associate Provost or the Interim Dean of Students may hear cases of alleged violations of the Honor Code either individually or as memers of an Administrative Hearing board.

Conduct Meeting Panel - A small group of Honor Board members or other administrators, faculty, and students who have experience in adjudicating student conduct cases.

Administrative Panel - A group of administrators, faculty and students who have been designated by either the Associate Provost or the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and who have experience in adjudicating student conduct cases.

Title IX Hearing Panel - Panelists for Title IX cases are normally current members of the Honor Board but may also include former Honor Board members or other faculty and staff who have specialized training and/or experience in adjudicating Title IX cases.  The panel hears cases of alleged sexual misconduct and sex discrimination/harassment.  At each hearing, the panel will comprise of three people with at least one faculty member of the Honor Board and at least one student member of the Honor Board.  With the agreement of both the Complainant and Responding Party, the faculty/student composition of the panel may be altered.  Members of the Title IX panels are specially trained to hear these types of cases.

Definition of Terms

Administrative Hearing - Conduct hearing conducted by a trained administrator or faculty representative.

Business Days - Mondays through Fridays, excluding days when the College is officially closed for business.

Complainant - Individual or group who brings initial notice of violation to the attention of College authorities.

Hearing Body -  Refers to either an administrator who serves as a conduct hearing officer or hearing board such as the Honor Board or an Administrative Board.

Honor Board - The hearing board composed of students and faculty that hears alleged violation of the Honor Code or other College policies.

More Likely Than Not - The standard used at Washington College to find the Respondent responsible.  This means that the student is found responsible if the hearing body believes that it was more likely than not that the alleged violation took place. 

Respondent - The student or organization charged with a violation of the Honor Code.  The President and one other officer represent the Respondent in cases involving an organization.

Jurisdiction

Students are responsible for observing all applicable laws, regulations, and rules of the larger community as well as the Honor Code at all times.  The College reserves the right to investigate reports of any student misconduct that occurs on or off campus, including during periods between semesters or breaks in enrollment.  If the College becomes aware that a student has been arrested and/or charged with a crime or has engaged in other conduct that is detrimental to the interests of the College or the welfare of others, the College may choose to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the student.