University Honor System
In a university community, there can be no doubt that honor and the pursuit of knowledge are intertwined. An honor system must be believed in, supported by and administered by the entire JMU community. Upon enrollment at James Madison University, each student is automatically subject to the provisions of the Honor System. Each student has a duty to become familiar with the Honor Code and the provisions of the Honor System. Ignorance of what constitutes an Honor Code violation cannot be used as a defense in an honor hearing. The Honor System at JMU does not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, national origin, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.
All academic work including but not limited to examinations, papers and other written or electronically submitted assignments is submitted pursuant to the Honor Code. All work shall contain the following pledge (or a similar pledge approved by the faculty or staff member) of the student(s) submitting the work: "On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work.” The pledge shall be signed by the student(s) unless it is submitted electronically, in which case the faculty or staff member may require a different method of proof of a student's pledge.
The Honor Code
Students shall observe complete honesty in all academic matters. Violations of the Honor Code include, but are not limited to, taking or attempting to take any of the following actions:
- Using unauthorized materials or receiving unauthorized assistance during an examination or in connection with any work done for academic credit. Unauthorized materials may include but are not limited to notes, textbooks, previous examinations, exhibits, experiments, papers or other supplementary items.
- Giving false or misleading information regarding an academic matter.
- Copying information from another student during an examination.
- Rendering unauthorized assistance to another student by knowingly permitting him/her to see or copy all or a portion of an examination or any work to be submitted for academic credit.
- Obtaining prior knowledge of examination materials (including by using copies of previously given examinations obtained from files maintained by various groups and organizations) in an unauthorized manner.
- Selling or giving unauthorized copies of any portion of an examination to another student.
- Using a commercially prepared paper or research project or submitting for academic credit any work completed by someone else.
- Falsifying or attempting to falsify class attendance records for oneself, or for someone else, or having another falsify attendance records on your behalf.
- Falsifying material relating to course registration or grades, either for oneself or for someone else.
- Falsifying reasons why a student did not attend a required class or take a scheduled examination.
- Taking an examination in the place of another student.
- Making unauthorized changes in any reported grade or on an official academic report form.
- Falsifying scientific or other data submitted for academic credit.
- Collaborating in an unauthorized manner with one or more other students on an examination or any work submitted for academic credit.
