THE HONOR SYSTEM
For eighteen years after the opening of the institution, written examinations
were conducted under the surveillance of a committee of three professors.
This was not altogether satisfactory, and in June, 1842, Judge Henry St. George
Tucker, Professor of Law, offered the following resolution, which the Faculty
at once adopted:
Resolved, That in all future written examinations for distinction and other
honors of the University, each candidate shall attach to the written answers presented
by him on such examination a certificate in the following words: "I, A.
B., do hereby certify, on honor, that I have derived no assistance during the
time of this examination from any source whatever, whether oral, written, or
in print, in giving the above answers."
This was the beginning of the Honor System at this institution, and it has
been in operation ever since without interruption. Later the pledge was extended
so as to preclude the giving as well as the receiving of assistance. Still
more recently the scope of the Honor System has been enlarged so as to cover
other phases of student conduct. Its administration is entirely in the hands of
the students, the essence of the system being that the violation of a student's
word of honor is an offense not against the University authorities, but against
the whole student body, and on the rare occasions on which it has occurred,
the students themselves have quietly and promptly sent the offender away from
the University without need of faculty action.
Examinations are required to be held in one place and in the presence of the
professor in charge of the course or one of his assistants. These regulations in
no way conflict with the spirit of the Honor System, but are regarded as being
necessary to give a proper dignity and formality to the occasion.
