Honor Code

Conditions

Based on the criteria listed in section 4, students who have violated the Honor Code are required to successfully complete specific assignments, designated as conditions, in order to return to good Honor Code standing. Conditions are selected to support and verify students' efforts to live in harmony with the Honor Code. Frequent conditions are listed below.

Progress Review
To assist and support students in their effort to overcome the challenges found, they are required to make periodic progress review appointments with their Honor Code Office (HCO) counselor. These interviews are meant to be a resource as students make necessary changes in their lives and demonstrate their commitment and integrity. They provide an important means of clarification, support, and direction.

Self-Report Commitment
The condition: "During your probationary period, report to the Honor Code Office any further Honor Code violations regardless of the consequences to your university standing."

When a student has been given an opportunity to remain in school after serious violations, a student may be required to self-report any further Honor Code violations. Central to this requirement are the support and enhancement of the principle issues of honor and integrity.

Ecclesiastical Support
The condition: "Develop a plan with your ecclesiastical leader to assist you in bringing your life into congruence with gospel principles. Put the plan in writing, have your ecclesiastical leader witness his approval with his signature and send it to the Honor Code Office within one month of your being placed on probation. When you have completed the plan, have your ecclesiastical officer send a letter indicating the completion and providing a recommendation regarding your returning to good standing."

A significant, primary resource for helping students is their ward bishop or equivalent ecclesiastical leader. Ecclesiastical leaders are generally in a position to provide guidance and counsel to students and to marshal resources including members to foster student growth and development. Discussions between the HCO and ecclesiastical leaders are conditioned upon the voluntary, written consent of the students. An exception to this pattern is that stake presidents are informed on a monthly basis of all actions taken by the HCO respecting the status of LDS students in their stakes. When permission is granted, ecclesiastical leaders are notified when the Honor Code violation is serious enough to warrant placing a student on probation and before more serious action is taken. Bishops also provide nonconfidential information and support to HCO personnel to enhance understanding and assisting students.

Parental Support
The condition: "Verify through a letter from your parents that you have shared your present situation with them and have involved them in sustaining your efforts to overcome the behaviors that resulted in your probation."

Parents can be a significant support to their children as they make changes in their lives. If the student is a financial dependent for tax purposes or upon written permission of the student, parents can be notified of serious violations of the Honor Code. This is typically done when the violation is serious enough to warrant that the student be placed on probation or required to leave the university. Parents are usually not notified when the violation is less serious and counsel and education or warning is the only action taken.

Counselor Support
The condition: "Verify through a letter from a professional counselor approved by the Honor Code Office that you have satisfactorily participated in an ongoing counseling program and that conditions leading to your probation have been alleviated."

Students who appear to be significantly lacking in emotional stability; insight into their own behavior, its purposes, consequences, and impact on others; self-control; etc., are frequently referred to the Counseling and Career Center (CCC) or approved private counselors for mandatory counseling and are required to permit periodic follow-up reports. When it seems appropriate for the benefit and support of the individual, a student may be referred on an optional basis to the CCC.

Mentor Support
The condition: "Submit evidence that you have worked with an assigned mentor until both of you agree that you have achieved the desired goals. Evidence submitted should list the specific goals and the level of achievement."

A student who is experiencing serious life difficulties can often benefit from a mentoring relationship with a mature member of the university community who can establish a positive relationship. The mentoring time period will vary depending on the challenges faced and the individual's capacity to respond. It is anticipated that the mentor-student relationships will result in the understandings, attitudes, and behaviors in the lives of students which will allow them to function effectively as students and contributing members of the community.

Appropriate Social Events
The condition: "Confirm in your letter to the Honor Code Office that you have refrained from giving or participating in any social interactions or events which invite or lead to Honor Code violations, e.g., alcohol, pornographic materials, harassing the opposite sex, immorality."

Commitment to the Honor Code dictates that students be restricted from giving or attending parties or other social events which invite or lead to the violation of the Honor Code.

Exemplary Living Environment
The condition: "Confirm in your letter to the Honor Code Office that you have been proactive in maintaining a living environment which is free of Honor Code violations and which is both conducive to positive academic endeavors and to gospel living."

All individuals are held responsible for their own choices. All individuals have the responsibility to contribute to the creation and maintenance of an environment in which they and others can succeed academically and grow spiritually. Students are expected to personally uphold the Honor Code and to support others efforts to do the same.

Honor Code Office Approved Housing
The condition: "Provide evidence to the Honor Code Office that you have lived with BYU students and/or in housing approved by the HCO during the period of your probation."

In keeping with behavioral expectations for attending BYU, students are required to live in university-approved housing. When students have not been in compliance, the university maintains the prerogative to require them to reside in specific housing approved by the HCO.

Restitution
The condition: "Provide evidence that you have made proper restitution as follows: [insert required behavior]."

Making restitution to those who have been directly or indirectly affected is essential for students' personal growth and for an honorable resolution of the situation in which others have been impacted. Whether it be such things as making an apology or repaying the value of stolen or destroyed items, students will be required to make restitution to the extent that the circumstances allow.

Expiation
The condition: "Verify through a letter from [insert responsible person's name] that you have [insert required behavior]."

A student who is in a potentially visible position has been given added trust, recognition and responsibility. When such a student violates the Honor Code, the impact on self, others, and the institution is enhanced. "For of him unto whom much is given, much is required" (D&C 82:3).

Therefore, the reestablishment of trust has a comprehensive dimension and the expiation must focus on endeavors that permit evidence of repentance and trustworthiness.

Service Project
The condition: "Submit for approval a copy of your plan for volunteer service and, when completed, provide evidence to the HCO of your successful participation."

Service sincerely and selflessly rendered helps individuals find and develop their identity, experience a healing power and influence, obtain self-confidence and respect, develop an assurance of forgiveness, and experience increased happiness. For these reasons, service is often a major intervention. Students are required through consultation at the Honor Code Office to complete a designated volunteer program or to identify and seek approval of a volunteer activity.

Reading and Writing Assignment
The condition: "Submit a thoughtful, well-articulated review discussing the major concepts embodied in [insert reading assignment] and their implications in your life. Follow the writing style criteria outlined in A Brief Guide to the Writing of Student Papers or other approved writing style manual."

Identified reading such as scriptures, articles by church leaders and others, and selected books and short stories are to help students understand principles and concepts which can strengthen them and enrich their lives.

Devotional and Forum Attendance and Summary
The condition: "Submit a thoughtful, well-articulated paper (following the writing style of an approved writing style manual) which focuses on the message of the devotional or forum address and how the message helps clarify Honor Code issues for you and how the message relates to your own personal values and commitments."

Attendance at university devotionals and forums to hear current Church, national, and international leaders discuss timely topics will help students understand principles and concepts which can strengthen character and enrich their lives. The written summary of each address will require the students to evaluate the specific application of the principles presented in their own lives and specific situation.

Personal Journal
The condition: "During the time of your Honor Code [insert HCO action], keep a journal in which you record your experiences, reading, and reflections on issues related to the Honor Code."

Discriminating Issues Test
The condition: "Within the next week and at the formal termination of your probationary experience, complete the Discriminating Issues Test (DIT)."

Extracurricular Representation
The condition: "Until [you are returned to good Honor Code standing or a specific amount of time] you may not represent the university in any public capacity."

Graduation
The condition: "Since a degree from BYU certifies a person's knowledge, behavior, and character to be of the highest caliber, if you have not achieved good Honor Code standing when you complete other university requirements for graduation, you may not be allowed to graduate or receive your degree."

When a student graduates and receives a diploma from BYU, the university and the LDS Church certify that the recipient has met academic and moral requirements. If a student is not in good Honor Code standing, their privilege of attending graduation and of receiving a diploma will be in jeopardy.

Letter of Recommendation
The condition: "Have a letter of recommendation from [person's name] regarding [any specific information] sent directly to the Honor Code Office."

Students may be asked to have a letter of recommendation submitted from someone who knows them on a personal, professional, or ecclesiastical basis verifying that there has been a significant change in behavior and substantial developmental growth. This can become a positive experience as students counsel with those from whom they are seeking a letter.

Other Student Performance Requirements
[Other conditions as appropriate]

In deference to the uniqueness of an individual's circumstances, the HCO may require the student to complete a personalized, clearly-defined and behaviorally-measured term or condition.

Alcohol/Drug Testing
The condition: "Provide through appropriate and accepted channels the results of required periodic alcohol or drug tests, taken at your expense."

Those students who have abused alcohol and who are allowed to continue at BYU or those who have used illicit or misused legal drugs and have been required to leave BYU and are resubmitting an application for reentry to the university, may be required at their own expense to submit to periodic drug tests. These checks are designed to provide support and incentive for the individual involved as well as a means of verification.

Judicial Standing
The condition: "Verify that you are free of the jurisdiction of or are making satisfactory progress toward the completion of any court-imposed probation or other required stipulations."

Students who, by violating the law, have sanctions imposed upon them by the court and who are also placed on university probation are required to be free from the jurisdiction of the court or to be making satisfactory progress toward completion of the sanctions before university probation is lifted and the student considered for return to good standing. Former students with Honor Code Office registration holds are required to be completely free from the jurisdiction of the court before the holds will be removed and they are returned to good standing.

Sustaining the Honor Code
The condition: "Attest in a letter to the Honor Code Office that you have lived in accordance with the Honor Code and Dress and Grooming Standards during your probationary period whether on or off campus. Also explain in your letter what you have done to encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code as well as what you have done to demonstrate your own commitment."

Before entering BYU (and each year thereafter), students commit to follow the principles and guidelines of the Honor Code. Living in a community requires one to maintain an appropriate balance between the interests of the community and those of the individual. Members of the BYU community are expected to treat each other with respect and consideration. This includes appropriately meeting personal commitments to others and helping others to do the same. When students have violated the Honor Code, they are asked to assume responsibility for what they have done and make a thoughtful recommitment to live in harmony with the Honor Code. This recommitment is fundamental to continuation at BYU.