1. Initial Honor Pledge
During orientation of new students, members of the orientation committee will conduct workshops on the St. Norbert College Academic Honors Code. Students must sign a pledge that they fully understand the code and intend to abide by it before they may register for courses at the College. Admitted students will receive notification of this requirement and a copy of the code before orientation.

2. Subsequent Pledges
Each course syllabus shall contain a statement regarding the honor code and how it specifically applies to that course. Each assignment submitted for credit during the course shall bear the signature of the student. This signature shall signify that the student has fully conformed to the honor code.

3. Faculty Responsibilities in the Event of Dishonesty
Any faculty member who is convinced that a student has violated the academic honor code, and who believes he or she can sustain a conviction before the Academic Court, shall first consult with the Associate Academic Dean to determine if the student has been previously convicted of academic dishonesty.

If the accused student has no previous conviction, the student may, with the consent of the instructor, avoid prosecution before the Academic Court by accepting a penalty of a reduction of the course grade by at least one letter (e.g. B to C), with a maximum allowable grade of C, and forfeiture of the right to withdraw from the course. If the accused and the instructor mutually agree to this option, the instructor shall submit a report to the Associate Academic Dean describing the nature of the violation and the penalty imposed. The student shall sign this report, and it will constitute a conviction for the purpose of interpreting this paragraph and paragraph III.5.c. This report is an internal document and will be kept in strict confidence and routinely destroyed following a student's permanent separation from the College (through graduation, dismissal, or transfer).

All other cases of academic dishonesty shall be adjudicated by the Academic Court. The faculty member shall inform the alleged violator, the Chair of the Academic Court, and the Associate Academic Dean in writing of the charge and the evidence in support of that charge. The Chair shall then schedule hearings on the accusation at times and places that are acceptable to the accused, the accuser, and the members of the Court. On the request of the accused, the Court shall grant the accused at least ten days between the formal accusation and the commencement of hearings so that the accused may prepare a defense. If the accused refuses to participate in the hearing, the Court may conduct the hearing in the absence of the accused.

4. Student Responsibilities in the Event of Dishonesty
Students who become aware of academic dishonesty are encouraged to support the academic honor code by counseling and warning other students suspected of dishonesty, by reporting violations to the course instructor, or by volunteering to testify before the Academic Court. However, no student shall be forced to testify before the Court.

5. Procedures of the Academic Court
a. The Court shall receive testimony and evidence from the accuser and from the accused, if the accused so chooses. The court may seek out and receive testimony and evidence from other sources, at its discretion. The accused shall be allowed to present witnesses, including character witnesses, and to question witnesses testifying against her or him. Whenever possible, all nine members of the Court should hear the evidence. Hearsay evidence may be allowed, but a finding of guilt shall not be based on hearsay evidence alone. Generally, the Court should inform the accused in writing of all the evidence to be presented against him or her before the hearing takes place. If any additional evidence against the accused is presented during the hearing, the accused shall be given a reasonable amount of time to prepare a response to the additional evidence. The accused may have a staff member, faculty member, or another student serve as counsel, provided such counsel is not an attorney engaged in the regular practice of law. The hearing may be open or closed to the public, or open to certain members of the public, at the option of the accused. Hearings shall be tape-recorded or transcribed. Any other rules for the introduction of evidence are at the discretion of the Court, but such rules should be communicated to the accuser and to the accused before the trial begins.

b. The standard of proof in the trial shall be clear and convincing evidence of academic dishonesty. The criminal standard of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is not required. Following presentation of the evidence, the nine members of the Court will discuss the merits of the evidence. Following discussion, the seven regular members of the Court will vote by secret ballot on the guilt or innocence of the accused. Abstentions are not allowed. A simple majority will determine the outcome. A regular member may excuse himself or herself from voting prior to commencement of the trial if he or she would be unable to render an unbiased verdict. However, mere acquaintance with the accused shall not be sufficient grounds to excuse oneself from voting. If a regular member of the Court excuses himself or herself from voting, the student or faculty alternate would replace that member. If two members excuse themselves, both alternates will replace them, even if this changes the student-faculty ratio on the Court. If an even number of members fewer than seven are voting, a tie vote will result in acquittal.

c. If the Court finds the accused guilty of the charge, the Court shall then determine the penalty for the violation. If necessary, the Court shall use a run-off or elimination process of voting until a majority agree on the penalty.

If this is the student's first violation, the Court must impose one of the following penalties:

(i) failure in the course in which the violation took place; or

(ii) failure in the course in which the violation took place and suspension from the College for at least one semester, effective at the end of the current semester; or

(iii) failure in the course in which the violation took place and permanent dismissal from the College, effective at the end of the current semester.

If this is the student's second violation, but the student has not been previously suspended, the Court must impose one of the following penalties:

(i) failure in the course in which the violation took place and suspension from the College for at least one semester, effective at the end of the current semester; or

(ii) failure in the course in which the violation took place and permanent dismissal from the College, effective at the end of the current semester. If the student was previously suspended for a violation of the honor code, the Court must impose the penalty of failure in the course in which the violation took place and permanent dismissal from the College, effective at the end of the current semester. If the student is not enrolled, he/she loses the right to reenroll (at any time in the future).

d. The Court shall submit a written report on the disposition of the case, with reasons, to the Associate Academic Dean, the accused, and the accuser. The hearing and the report are internal to the College community and confidential. No indication of the hearing or its disposition shall appear on the student's official transcript.

e. Through the campus newspaper, a campus-wide memorandum, or other appropriate means, the Court shall periodically inform the College community of cases in which the Court has rendered a finding of guilt. These reports shall describe the general nature of the violations involved and the penalties imposed. To insure confidentiality, the names of the accused and any details that might identify the accused shall not appear in such reports.