The Honor Code at Millsaps: A Way of Life

Millsaps instituted its campus-wide Honor Code in the fall of 1994. The Honor Code was conceptualized and put into action largely through student initiative in order to allow for a greater degree of trust and personal freedom among students, faculty and administration. The Honor Code is also seen as an outward statement of the values and beliefs that the Millsaps community holds to be of utmost importance.

The Student Body Association collaborated with faculty and staff to devise the code, which went through several series of drafts before being approved by the students in a campus-wide election. Dr. Sarah Armstrong, who was instrumental in helping students develop the Honor Code, says, "Students take a great deal of pride in it. I find that reassuring. The Honor Code shows that Millsaps and its students have high standards of behavior."

The Honor Code is strictly an academic document, covering, among other matters, plagiarism, honesty on examinations and unauthorized use of computer accounts. More than that, however, the Honor Code is designed to allow students to put personal responsibility and integrity into action. Upon admission and entry into the Millsaps campus, freshmen attend a formal signing ceremony. The signed pages are then placed in the Honor Book, which is bound every four years and placed in the library archives. By signing the Honor Book, students agree to abide by the principles of personal honesty and mutual trust that the Honor Code sets forth.

Infractions against the Honor Code are dealt with following simple procedures. The Council (made up of three faculty members and eleven student members) strives to deliberate in a completely unbiased and just manner over the proceedings, assuming innocence unless evidence proves otherwise. Upon a vote of at least 75% of members present, the Council determines whether the accused is guilty, and if so, recommends an appropriate sanction to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The accused then has five days to appeal the decision to the President of the College. All details of the proceedings are kept in the strictest confidence by the Honor Council.

By devising and ratifying the honor system, students at Millsaps College have created an environment where integrity, trust, and personal honesty thrive. Professors often take advantage of the trust that the Honor Code creates between students and faculty, allowing their students to complete examinations outside of the classroom or work with other students on key projects. The Honor Code creates an expectation of personal responsibility, which engenders a high degree of trust and respect among members of the Millsaps community.