Skip to main content
Honor Code and Honor Code Office
Make a Report

Reporting an Honor Code Violation

This information is for campus and community members that are considering reporting a student for behavior that may violate the CES Honor Code or other university policies.

Faculty members reporting a student for a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy should review the information on the  Faculty Resources webpage.

Student behavior including derogatory acts or slurs based upon race, religion, sexual orientation, ability, and other protected classes can be reported as alleged violations of the Respect Others Honor Code principle.

Make a Report

Things to Consider When Making an Honor Code Report

  • The Honor Code Office (HCO) only addresses student conduct. Reports regarding faculty or staff behavior should be referred to Human Resources. The Honor Code Office addresses any concerning student behavior that occurs from the time a person is admitted to the university until they end all enrollment at the university, or graduate.

    The Honor Code process is primarily educational and focuses on working with students to understand, reflect, and recommit to the standards of the university. This process is based on the desire for all BYU students to succeed and thrive. While a separation from the university may occasionally be necessary, we believe that as students engage in an educational Honor Code process, we can address almost all behaviors without any need for separation from the university. In fact, over 95% of our cases are resolved with the student remaining fully enrolled at BYU.

  • A student reported for an Honor Code Violation has the right to know who reported them if the university is considering taking any action. Therefore, the HCO does not investigate anonymous reports, except where the reported behavior could impact the immediate physical safety of others. A report in which the person initially provides their name and contact information, but doesn’t communicate with the HCO to confirm information and identity will typically be treated like an anonymous report – meaning no action will be taken.
  • The HCO will contact the reporting party as necessary to confirm and clarify information. The reporting party will not receive information regarding the on-going investigation or the case outcome.
  • Students may also turn to resident assistants, hall advisors, apartment management/landlords, the Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, or the Off-Campus Housing office for help working through roommate conflicts before making an Honor Code report.
  • The HCO will request the names of witnesses that have first-hand knowledge of the behavior in question and may follow up with these witnesses as part of the investigation process. These witnesses should be able to confirm or refute allegations that have been made as a result of their first-hand knowledge of the incident.
  • Students will be presumed to NOT be in violation of an Honor Code policy unless they either accept responsibility or the investigation process makes such a determination.
  • During the course of an HCO process, if the parties in any way suggest an activity or behavior may involve nonconsensual sexual acts or relationship violence, the Honor Code investigation process immediately stops and the information is referred to the Title IX Office.
  • Encourage is not synonymous with “turn someone in.” Encourage is an action that means to give support, confidence or hope to someone.
  • There are no set consequences for specific behaviors because behavior context matters. Prior violations, the motivation, intent and openness of the student, as well as the impact and relative severity of the behavior must be considered when determining the appropriate path forward for each student.
  • Retaliation against an individual who has made a report or provided information in connection with an investigation is strictly prohibited. Retaliation is any adverse action taken against an individual because he or she participated in any way in an Honor Code investigation. Retaliation can also include intimidation, which is any adverse action or threat of action reasonably likely to prevent or dissuade an individual from making a report or providing information in connection with an Honor Code investigation. The HCO will take steps to prevent retaliation and will address any act of retaliation of which it becomes aware. An individual who feels that he or she has been subjected to retaliation for reporting an Honor Code violation or participating in an Honor Code investigation should report the incident to the HCO.
  • The Honor Code Office is certainly a resource for addressing behavior that violates the university’s principles and policies. BYU also offers many other resources to help you in addressing these behaviors in a healthy and proactive manner. To learn more please visit our Student Resources Page.