Honor Week 2025 Becoming BYU

Monday: The Opening Paragraphs of the Honor Code

The Church Educational System (CES) is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church) and directed by the Church Board of Education/Boards of Trustees, with the mission to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, the Church, and their communities.

The CES Honor Code helps to accomplish the CES mission to build disciples of Jesus Christ. As faculty, administration, staff, and students voluntarily commit to conduct their lives in accordance with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, they strive to maintain the highest standards in their personal conduct regarding honor, integrity, morality, and consideration of others. By accepting appointment, continuing in employment, being admitted, or continuing enrollment, each member of the campus communities personally commits to observe the CES Honor Code approved by the Board of Trustees.

Discussion Questions:

• How did the environment that exists at BYU affect your decision to become a student or work at this institution?
• How does learning to abide by the standards of the university assist in serving as leaders in our homes, the Church, and communities?
• Why is it important that members of the BYU community voluntarily commit to pursue an education in accordance with the Honor Code?

Tuesday: Be Honest – Academic Honesty

The opening paragraphs of the Academic Honesty policy state, “The first injunction of the Honor Code is the call to “be honest.” Students come to the university not only to improve their minds, gain knowledge, and develop skills that will assist them in their life’s work, but also to build character. “President David O. McKay taught that character is the highest aim of education.” (See Aims of a BYU Education.)

It is the purpose of the BYU Academic Honesty Policy to assist in fulfilling that aim. BYU students should seek to be totally honest in their dealings with others. They should complete their own work and be evaluated based upon that work. They should avoid academic dishonesty and misconduct in all its forms.”

Discussion Questions

• What is the relationship between building character and academic honesty?
• How do you show complete honesty in academic work?
• What does it mean to complete one’s own work and be evaluated based upon that work?
  
  • How is this guidance applied in an environment with Artificial Intelligence tools?

Wednesday: Observe BYU’s Dress and Grooming standards

CES Dress and Grooming Principles and Expectations are part of the CES Honor Code and part of each student’s, employee’s, and volunteer’s commitment.

When considering Honor Code and dress and grooming decisions, the teachings of the prophets and apostles, as well as Church instruction, such as “For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices” can be helpful.

Dress and Grooming Principles and Expectations identify an important set of foundational principles while retaining a set of common expectations to assist with the application of these principles.

Along with the four principles, please review the associated expectations and clarifying statements: (https://honorcode.byu.edu/dress-and-grooming)

1. Represent the Savior Jesus Christ, the Church, and the Church Educational System

2. Preserve an inspiring environment, without distraction or disruption, where covenants are kept in a spirit of unity so the Holy Ghost can teach truth

3. Promote modesty, cleanliness, neatness, and restraint in dress and grooming

4. Maintain an elevated standard distinctive to educational institutions of the Church of Jesus Christ

Discussion Questions

• How can you prepare each day to abide by these four principles?
• How do the Dress and Grooming Principles and Expectations assist in creating a distinct educational environment at BYU?
• Which of these four principles most resonates with you as you make decisions regarding your dressing and grooming?

Thursday: Encourage Others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code and Dress and Grooming standards

“Encourage” does not mean to hold someone accountable. Rather, encourage is an action to give someone support, confidence, or hope. Please consider a time when you needed encouragement, who provided that encouragement, and how it felt to receive that encouragement.

Often, in these instances, encouragement is provided by someone that you love and that you know loves you. You may have felt empowered, confident, and cared-for. In these instances, please note that encouragement doesn’t mean “silence” or doing nothing; encouragement requires action.

We are all members of the BYU community – thousands of people coming together to develop faith, intellect and character, and we should always reach out in love and support to those around us.

Discussion Questions

• What is a natural way that you would like someone to offer you encouragement?
• How can you more fully abide by this important Honor Code principle?
• Consider those who are within your sphere of influence. How can you encourage them in their commitments?