 | The University of Virginia record July 15, 1923 |  |
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 whatsoever, 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.
| The University of Virginia record July 15, 1923 | |