Honor Code Pledge and Guidelines
See also: Honor
Council Web Site
Background
The importance of public trust in the legal community
requires that students of the George Mason University
School of Law maintain the highest levels of ethical
conduct, honesty, and integrity in their legal education.
Law students constitute the members of the honor
committee and administer the Honor Code system at
George Mason University School of Law. The goal is
to protect the equity and integrity of the legal
education of all students. Upholding and abiding
by the principals of the Honor Code are necessary
to preserve the rights of all students to a positive,
fair, and open learning environment.
All allegations submitted to the Honor Code committee
are investigated by members of the honor committee.
In cases where a reasonable possibility exists that
a violation has occurred, further proceedings are
held protecting both due process and the accused
students' rights to confidentiality.
The authority for establishing rules and regulations
affecting student conduct at George Mason University
is provided for under Section 23-9.2:3 of the Code
of Virginia. The code states that state institutions
of higher education have the authority ". .
. to establish rules and regulations for the conduct
of students while attending such institutions, and
to establish rules and regulations for the dismissal
of students who fail to abide by such rules and regulations.
The Honor Code Pledge
Each student at George Mason University School of
Law is entering a profession where honest and ethical
conduct is not only a professional responsibility,
but a legal requirement. In recognition of this,
each student will be treated by all other students,
the faculty, and the administration as a person of
honor with the highest personal integrity.
We demand of each other that each of us tell the
truth, respect the property of others, and never
represent the work of another as our own. We will
neither provide nor accept unauthorized assistance
on any school related assignment, nor shall we either
intentionally mislead or impede the learning of our
fellow students.
Essential to the character of the Honor Code is
the obligation of each student to report any violation
of the Honor Code and to participate in proceedings
if called upon.
Honor Committee Guidelines of the George Mason
University School of Law
The George Mason University School of Law Honor
Code is available as a separate document below. This
version, as amended, was adopted by the Student Bar
Association (SBA) on November 24, 2003. Additional
information about the Honor Code, including membership
details, can be found on the Honor
Council Website.
copyright © 2004
last updated:
Jun 15, 2005
