Mississippi State University’s Honor Code, established with the inception of the school in 1878, maintains a strong tradition of integrity and honor. Students enrolled at MSU are expected to abide by the Honor Code and sign a pledge stating that they agree to the rules within the written statement. The importance of the Honor Code is vital to the character of MSU, and it reflects the value of responsibility and honesty within our university’s community. However, when 75 MSU students were asked if they knew what the Honor Code was, only 14 responded ‘yes.’ Of the students who responded that they did not know what the Honor Code was, 26 said they had heard of it but had no idea what it actually applied to.
“I know that it has to do with cheating, but I don’t recall anything specific about it,” junior David Brown said.
So what is the Honor Code? The MSU Honor Code’s Pledge states that each student must obey the rules of the university and take personal responsibility for his or her conduct. A student whose conduct threatens the rights of others or violates basic standards of integrity will be disciplined according to the Academic Operating Procedures, where sanctions may include expulsion from the university.
Another purpose of the Honor Code at MSU is to provide an oath upon enrollment that a student will not, in any way, give or receive any unauthorized aid in their academic works.
The MSU Honor Code is based around the recognition of students as “adults who by their status deserve an atmosphere of fairness and respect.” Dishonorable behavior, which is the direct violation of the Honor Code, includes cheating and plagiarism.
Donald M. McCabe, founder of the Center for Academic Integrity at Duke University, has researched cheating on college campuses since the 1960s. McCabe visited MSU last year and spoke about cheating in the forum, “Who Cheats? Who Doesn’t? Who Cares?”
According to McCabe, “87 percent of students surveyed in 1993 admitted to cheating on written work, and 70 percent cheated on a test at least once.”
McCabe also said that his research points toward growing numbers in cheating incidents in college.
“Professors are becoming more intimidated by students and are worried about offending them and making them unhappy,” McCabe said.
According to the Journal of College Student Development, 177 college students support the conclusion that systems implying an Honor Code have direct results of increased academic honesty.
All MSU students are required to sign the Pledge of Academic Honesty, which is part of the Honor Code, before they can officially enroll. This is the university’s method of instilling the code.
“I honestly don’t remember signing it (Honor Code) at all,” junior Emily Perkins said.
Senior Travis Pope said, “I remember signing something about cheating, but I have no idea exactly what it said.”
As stated in the Honor Code, “It is the responsibility of each member of the university community to follow this honor code and to follow all university operating policies and procedures as outlined in the Academic Operating Procedures manual.”
The most recent revision of the Honor Code states: “Anything short of full commitment undermines the spirit of honor that should pervade the university.”
The MSU Honor Code revisions are dynamic, direct responses to the ongoing need for revitalizing the traditional goals and principles of MSU.
Remembering the exact details of the Honor Code is not part of the stated goal. The importance of the Honor Code is in the awareness that it provides the understanding that students of MSU are part of a community where integrity, honesty and responsibility are essential.