Frequently Asked Questions
“Who can report a case?”
Anyone may report a potential Honor violation.
“How do I report a case?”
If you suspect an Honor violation has been committed, contact an Honor Advisor at 434-924-7602. If, after discussing the matter with an Honor Advisor, you still believe an Honor offense may have occurred, we encourage you to report the case. Though the Advisor will answer all questions, this decision solely belongs to the potential Reporter.
“Is not reporting an honor violation an honor offense?”
No. Although the University does not have a non-toleration clause, the responsibility lies with all members of the Community of Trust to report alleged Honor offenses.
“What if students do not know the name of the person they saw cheating?”
Students should feel free to contact an Honor Advisor to discuss the alleged violation.
“Once I report a case, can I later drop it?”
No. You should be aware that once a case has been reported and submitted to the Vice Chair for Investigations, it can not be rescinded. Once a case has been brought to the Committee’s attention, it is our responsibility to investigate every claim thoroughly on behalf of the University’s Community of Trust. In essence, reports are made on behalf of the Community and do not become a Reporter’s personal case.
“I think I may have committed an Honor violation. How do I submit a Conscientious Retraction?”
A Conscientious Retraction allows a student who has committed a dishonest act to admit his/her actions and accept the consequences without leaving the Community of Trust. By submitting a valid and complete Conscientious Retraction, a student is believed to have reaffirmed his/her commitment to the University’s Community of Trust. This admission, however, must occur before the student gains any knowledge that someone might suspect him/her of an honor offense.
To make a Conscientious Retraction, a student should contact an Honor Advisor immediately. After discussing the situation with an Honor Advisor, the student should submit a written statement admitting to an act of lying, cheating, or stealing. The retraction must be signed and dated by all parties affected by the act, and the student must make amends to all parties affected by the act.
Upon submission to the Honor Committee, the Conscientious Retraction will be reviewed for completeness by the Vice-Chair for Investigations and will be returned to the student for changes if necessary. The completed retraction will then be stored in a confidential Honor Committee file. This retraction will only be examined again if the investigation pertaining to the act is reported.
“Is using a fake ID an honor offense?”
Using a Fake ID is lying about one’s identity and thus could be considered an Honor offense under the three criteria of act, intent, and non-triviality. Recent Committees have not received reports concerning the use of fake IDs; but this does not preclude the Committee from hearing such cases.
As all violations of federal, state, or local law are considered to be violations of the University Judiciary Committee Standards of Conduct, students using Fake IDs may be subject to UJC charges. For questions about UJC, please consult their website at www.uvaujc.com.
“Can I resubmit a paper I wrote from one class to another class?”
No. This qualifies as multiple submission, a form of academic plagiarism under the Honor System. If you have questions about a specific paper submission, including the use of previous research, always consult your professor.
"Who sits on an I-Panel?"
Three rotating members of the Honor Committee form each I-Panel
"Can I use character evidence as a defense?"
No. Evidence presented at trial should serve to prove or disprove whether or not the student committed the act in question, whether or not they did so with dishonest intent, and whether or not the act should be considered non-trivial. Character evidence does not provide information regarding the act at hand and thus does not meet these criteria. The Honor Committee by-laws specify other categories of evidence that are inadmissible, including unnecessarily cumulative evidence, evidence as to which its probative value is far outweighed by its potentially prejudicial effect on the panel, polygraph evidence, psychological evidence, or information contained on any Honor Committee post-trial evaluation form or juror notes.
"What is the standard of proof for a guilty verdict at an Honor trial?"
The jurors must determine, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a student committed an act of lying, cheating, or stealing, that the accused student committed such act with dishonest intent, and that the act was non-trivial
“For Honor Committee trials, what does “non-trivial” mean?”
According to Honor Committee standards, an act is deemed non-trivial if open toleration of that act would be inconsistent with the Community of Trust.
"Who makes final decisions on appeals?"
The Executive Committee reviews all appeals, and their decision is final.
“How many people leave the University each year?”
During the 2006-2007 term, 30 trials resulted in 10 guilty verdicts; in addition 9 students left the University admitting guilt. Our statistics are published on our website for all previous years.