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Honor Code and Honor Code Office
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Student Resources & Services

Support Person

Students have the option to have an advisor, or person of support present during any meeting related to this process. The term “advisor” is defined as any person (including any student, faculty or staff) selected by a student to assist and accompany him/her through the University conduct resolution procedures (including investigation interviews, sanction reviews, and appeals). Students may choose to proceed with or without an advisor. A student may not select an advisor who is otherwise involved in any other part of the investigation, disrupts the proceedings, causes emotional distress to other participants, or otherwise attempts to interfere with the process.

The advisor, upon request of the student, may (1) accompany the student in any conduct proceeding, (2) advise the student in the preparation and presentation of information, and (3) advise the student in the preparation of an appeal or sanction review. The advisor’s role is only to support the student; they may not be an active participant in the meetings. Any support person may be immediately excluded from the proceedings if they attempt to intervene or participate in any way. Students are expected to ask and respond to questions on their own behalf. The advisor may consult with their advisee quietly or in writing, or outside the hearing room during breaks. The advisor may not speak on behalf of the advisee. Delays in the process will not be allowed due to scheduling conflicts with advisors.

Bishop/Ecclesiastical Support

Students are allowed to involve their ecclesiastical leader in the Honor Code process if they wish. Ecclesiastical leaders are NOT permitted to reveal confessional conversations to the HCO unless the student has voluntarily signed a waiver. A bishop does not share any information with the HCO, and the HCO does not share any information with a bishop or other ecclesiastical leader without a student’s prior written consent. The HCO respects a student’s right not to give written consent if they do not want to do so. If a student wishes to involve the bishop/ecclesiastical leader in any part of the process, the student must ask for and sign a privacy waiver.

Honor Code Administrators

Cases are assigned to HCO Administrators based upon current caseload and the discretion of the director. If you have a preference on the gender of the administrator, please inform the front desk staff when scheduling an appointment.

Material Witnesses

When investigating an alleged violation, the HCO encourages students, reporting and responding, to provide the names of witnesses that have first-hand knowledge of the behavior in question. The HCO will follow up with these witnesses as part of the investigation process. These witnesses should not be solely character witnesses, rather, they should be witnesses that can corroborate or refute allegations that have been made as a result of their first-hand knowledge of the incident.

Counseling Options

HCO Administrators are not therapists, but rather student conduct professionals. If you are in need of counseling or therapy, please contact BYU’s Counseling and Psychological Services Office (CAPS).

Appeal Process

Students have a right to appeal their decision if they feel that one or more of the following apply:

  • The decision was not reasonably supported by the facts
  • The action is too harsh for the behavior
  • The Honor Code Office was biased
  • New information is available that may change the findings in the case

All appeals will proceed according to the Administrative Review Process, found here. Students may submit a request to the Dean of Students Office for a review of their Honor Code decision within 5 days of the receipt of an outcome letter.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Investigations

Investigations of reports of nonconsensual sexual misconduct are immediately referred to the Title IX Office. For more information about Title IX sexual misconduct, please visit titleix.byu.edu.

Anonymous Reporting

The HCO does not investigate anonymous reports, except where the reported behavior could impact the safety of others.

Statement of Good Faith

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.

Record Retention

Most HCO records are kept up to seven years from the last university action, after which they are permanently expunged. In certain situations, it is necessary to keep a record indefinitely, such as when a student has been permanently expelled from BYU or if they leave without resolving their case. Students may request a copy of their record. Please be aware that FERPA laws allow universities up to 45 days to accommodate this request. Students can view the record free of charge in the HCO.

Students may take a copy of any page of the record with them, whether in paper or digital form, at the rate of 50 cents per page (total charges of copies are capped at $25 per student regardless of total pages requested). After reviewing the information, if a student feels the HCO record is incomplete or inaccurate, they may submit additional information to be added per the Access to Student Records policy.

HCO records may be requested by individuals or entities other than the student (e.g., application inquiries from other educational institutions, graduate programs, etc.). Such requests for information from a student’s education record is made with a student’s prior authorization in accordance with their FERPA privacy rights.

Resolving Conflict with Peers and Roommates

BYU exists to provide an education in an atmosphere consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That atmosphere is created and preserved through a commitment to conduct that reflects those ideals and principles. All who represent BYU are to maintain the highest standards of honor, integrity, morality, and consideration of others in personal behavior "at all times and…in all places" (Mosiah 18:9). There may be times when the behavior of peers or roommates does not align with the standards set forth in the Honor Code. While the Honor Code Office is a resource available to students to address this behavior, BYU offers many other resources to help you in addressing these behaviors in a healthy and proactive manner.

As a free service to students, BYU provides professionally-certified mediators in the Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Their staff can consult one-on-one with students to prepare them to work through a conflict on their own. They can also provide impartial and confidential mediation services that bring both sides together in the hope of finding a solution.

Learning how to resolve conflict effectively is a vital life skill as it can help a student improve relationships and experience more peace in their life. The Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution is eager to help empower students with a better understanding of conflict and with communication tools they can use in their time at BYU and throughout their lives.

Additionally, students may turn to resident assistants, hall advisors or the Off-Campus Housing office for help working through roommate conflicts. Students who combine personal commitment with respect and compassion help create the environment that BYU strives to foster.