Washington College

Student Life

Capital Projects New Campus Facilities


Honor Code

We at Washington College strive to maintain an environment in which learning and growth flourish through individuals' endeavors and honest intellectual exchanges both in and out of the classroom. To maintain such an en- vironment, each member of the community pledges to respect the ideas, well being, and property of others. Thus, each member of the Washington College community abides by its Honor Code.

The Spirit of the Honor Code

The Washington College Honor Code was established by vote of the faculty and students in 1976. In 1987 the policy was studied and reaffirmed, and in 1994, it 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.

In addition, students are required to write the following statement, with their signature, on all academic assignments, verifying that they have completed the assignment in accordance with the Honor Code:

I pledge my word of honor that I have abided by the Washington College Honor Code while completing this assignment.

The Honor Board

The Honor Board is charged with hearing cases of alleged violations of the Washington College Honor Code. The board hears cases of both academic and social violations of the Honor Code and determines whether a student is responsible for violating the code or other college policies. If a student is found to be responsible for violating the Honor Code or college policy, the Honor Board will also determine the appropriate sanctions.

For more information on specifics of the Honor Code and the Honor Board, go to pages 1-12 of the Student Handbook on the College website: http://sa.washcoll.edu/pdf/handbook2007.pdf

For students who have been called in front of the Honor Board, the following document provides helpful information on the nature of the hearing itself and how you can prepare for it: Download PDF.

For students who have been requested to be a witness at an Honor Board hearing, the following document provides helpful information on the nature of the hearing and how you can prepare your witness statement: Download PDF

300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, Maryland 21620 | 410-778-2800 | 800-422-1782