Bryn Mawr is an institution that takes pride not only in a legacy of excellence but also in many grand traditions. The Honor Code is a tradition that is woven into all aspects of life on campus at Bryn Mawr, both academic and social.
Current Honor Board Members
Head of the Honor Board: Amani Chowdhury ’14
Two Year Member: Emily Tong ’13
One Year Member: Martha Johnson ’13
One Year Member: Vanessa Ide ’13
One Year Member: Hema Surendranathan ’14
One Year Member: Sruthi Buddai ’15
One Year Member: Eunyoung Park ’15
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What should I do if I think that someone has violated the Honor Code?
A: You should always directly confront the community member about what happened. If the violation was academic, you should inform the student that she/he has 48 hours to turn her/himself into the Honor Board Head. If you think that a social infraction occurred and you are not able to work out the problem during the confrontation, you and the other community member(s) should attempt to resolve the situation using other means such as Mediation (mediation@brynmawr.edu), the Counseling Center, or by asking a Dean to facilitate a meaningful conversation. Only if these alternate avenues prove unsuccessful, should all of the parties involved contact the Honor Board Head and at that point, the elected members of the Honor Board decide if a Social Honor Board will be convened for a hearing.
Q: How should I confront someone who I think may have violated the Honor Code?
A: Confrontation is a very serious responsibility and whenever possible, should be done in person. Emails, notes, voicemails, instant messages, or blog entries about a possible infraction are unacceptable forms of confrontation. If you feel uncomfortable confronting someone in a public place, you may use one of these methods of communication to request a meeting but you should refrain from mentioning the incident until you are able to do so face-to-face.
Q: So what’s this I hear about not talking about grades?
A: There is no official, written clause in the Honor Code about discussion of grades. Bryn Mawr as a community does treat talking about grades in particular contexts as against the spirit of the Honor Code. It is inappropriate to discuss grades in public settings or with individuals whose permission you have not asked. You have the option of discussing and venting about grades when you choose to — just in the right setting.
Q: What are the different types of exams and how does each of them work?
A: Exams may be take-home, scheduled, or self-scheduled (to be decided by the professor). Scheduled exams are proctored and administered a specified location during a specified time. Take-home exams are handed out in class, completed according to the professor’s instructions, and returned by a certain deadline. Self-scheduled final exams can be taken during a set of available exam times. During these times, volunteer, student proctors are available to give out exams (to be taken in Taylor or Park Science Building) and receive completed exams. More information on exam procedures will be circulated before finals.
Q: How does this work when I’m at Haverford or Swarthmore?
A: When on other campuses, Bryn Mawr students are expected to abide by the Honor Code(s) and/or regulations of those schools. Any infractions will be taken care of at that school, and should be reported to Bryn Mawr.
Q: Are there any differences between the BMC and Haverford Honor Codes?
A: Yes, Haverford’s Code contains a clause that requires students to report any suspected violations to the Honor Council and a requirement to sign an Honor Pledge before taking an exam. In contrast, Bryn Mawr has no explicit reporting requirement in its Honor Code.
Q: I want to be careful not to plagiarize. Where can I find out more about proper citation?
A: When in doubt, always consult your professor. The library has a website on citation and style guides and the Writing Center and Peer Mentors are available to help.
