Honor Code

OFFICIAL HONOR CODE
In coming to Bolles, students are committing themselves to adherence to the Honor Code: "I will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do." They should study the Code and direct questions concerning it to one of the Honor Council members. As used in the Honor Code, the words "he," "his," or "him" are intended to include, and shall apply equally, to both male and female students.

ARTICLE I
Section 1. The regulations concerning student conduct in regard to lying are:
a. In any instance in which a student is asked a question, either pertaining to his conduct or to School business, he is on his honor to tell the truth or he may remain silent.
b. Deliberate verbal or written falsification is a form of lying and, therefore, a violation of the Code.
c. Deliberately allowing a false assumption to be drawn also constitutes lying.

Section 2. The regulations concerning student conduct in regard to cheating are:
a. Students are on their honor neither to give nor receive any unauthorized information in any form of schoolwork where credit is earned or lost.
b. In a testing or make-up setting, students are not permitted to have access to any material, including but not limited to texts, study guides or notes of any kind, unless previously authorized by the teacher. Also prohibited in these settings are any accessible electronic or other devices that could provide unauthorized aid to the student taking the test or to other students who have yet to take it.
c. Teachers, with consent from the Honor Council, will determine what constitutes authorized and unauthorized information.

Section 3. The regulations concerning student conduct in regard to stealing are:
a. Students are on their honor not to steal; no student has the right to take or to use anything which is not his property without the express consent of the rightful owner or author.
b. This aspect of the Honor Code applies to stealing at all times, including away from campus.
c. Unauthorized borrowing of an item is also a violation under this section.

Section 4. Toleration of lying, cheating, or stealing is an Honor Code offense. If a student witnesses another student committing any of these violations, he must promptly:
a. Report the incident to the Honor Council chair or faculty advisor as set forth in Article III, below; or
b. At a minimum, confront the student and tell him that his act was a violation of the Honor Code and either suggest he turn himself in, or warn that student that if another violation is witnessed then the witnessing student will have no choice but to report the incident to the Honor Council; or
c. Notify the teacher of the class in which the violation occurred that he suspects a breach of the Honor Code has taken place (without being compelled to identify the student committing said breach) and that the teacher may wish to take steps to remedy the breach or prevent future occurrences.

ARTICLE II
Section 1. The Honor Council shall be the sole judge of honor offense cases.

Section 2. The Honor Council is selected by a committee composed of the outgoing seniors of the Honor Council and the Council's faculty sponsor, with final approval by the Associate Head of School for Student Life. The term of membership on the Council is one year. A student may apply to be considered as a candidate for the Honor Council by contacting the Honor Council faculty advisor.

Section 3. The Honor Council ideally should be composed of four (4) seniors, three (3) juniors, two (2) sophomores, and one (1) freshman. 

Section 4. Students who have not been at Bolles for at least two quarters may not be appointed to the Honor Council.

Section 5. The term of the Honor Council is from the beginning of the fourth quarter of one year to the fourth quarter of the next; members may be re-appointed to the Council. Seniors on the Honor Council remain on the Council during the fourth quarter in an advisory capacity.

Section 6. The seniors on the previous Honor Council, in conjunction with the Honor Council advisor, shall elect from the new members a chair whose duties are
a) to determine with the Honor Council advisor the validity of all accusations and to decide whether to convene the Honor Council when an accusation is made;
b) to conduct proceedings at all sessions of the Honor Council;
c) to announce at all sessions the decision of the Council. He shall also 1) maintain a record of all accusations and of all action taken on them; 2) place approved cases on the agenda; 3) notify the president, associate head of school/student life, registrar, Dean's Office, the accused student's advisor, and the person reporting the offense of the outcome of each session of the Council; 4) publicize the Honor Council and the Honor Code to the members of the faculty.

ARTICLE III
Section 1. The process by which a case is brought before the Honor Council is as follows:
a. If a student or faculty member feels that an honor offense has been committed, he contacts the Honor Council chair or faculty advisor.
b. The Council advisor meets with the accused student and determines whether a valid case exists. If it is decided that a case does not exist or should be disposed of alternatively, the person reporting the offense is thus informed. If the Council advisor feels that the charge warrants a hearing the persons involved, including all witnesses, and the accused student's advisor are notified and the Council convenes.
c. If it is determined that a valid case exists, the student will be given the opportunity to discuss this with his or her parent(s). The student advisor shall also contact a parent and confirm that the parent is aware of the case.

Section 2. Students who commit honor offenses may turn themselves in; their integrity in doing so will be taken into account by the Honor Council.

ARTICLE IV
Section 1. A session of the Honor Council shall proceed as follows:
a. The accused student appears before the Council while the chair reads the charge against him.
b. The accused either admits guilt or declares his innocence; if he chooses the latter, the person reporting the offense will also be expected to testify. In certain cases documented, written testimony, or evidence may also be admissible.
c. All statements and claims of both parties are directed alternately to the Honor Council. All questions, information, and rebuttals exchanged shall be mediated through the Council chair.
d. After the Honor Council is satisfied that all relevant information has been presented, the members shall arrive at a decision in private. The Council may reach its decision through consensus; if there is dissension, the chair conducts a vote.
e. If the accused student is found guilty, the Council determines a penalty either by consensus or by a vote.
f. If a student feels that he has been treated unjustly, he may appeal to the Associate Head for Student Life within twenty-four hours following the decision; this requirement may be extended only in extraordinary circumstances.

Section 2. Students have the right to remain silent; however, the Honor Council may take failure to respond to its questions into consideration in its judgments.

Section 3. Students brought before the Honor Council have the right to have their advisor present at the session.

Section 4. The Honor Council advisor may give suggestions, opinions, and information to the Council members, but may not participate in the judging of students, nor may the advisor challenge or question witnesses or members of the Council.

Section 5. The accused student may present witnesses or other evidence.

Section 6. The maximum penalty for a student found guilty of an offense is a recommendation to the President, and Associate Head of School for Student Life, that the student be expelled. Honor Council members may be removed from office at the discretion of the Honor Council president and Honor Council advisor for conduct a) unbecoming of an Honor Council member or b) detrimental to the integrity of the Honor Council.

ARTICLE V
Section 1. The Honor Council may hold sessions as the chair or advisor deems necessary; the Council requires six (6) members to convene. More than one case may be reviewed during a session.

Section 2. When an accused student is summoned before the Honor Council, the chair shall notify the student's advisor, person reporting the offense, and teacher of the outcome of the case.

Section 3. An Honor Council member shall disqualify himself when a) he feels that he is unable to judge a case objectively, b) he himself brings a case before the Council, or c) is a witness.

Section 4. The proceedings of an Honor Council session are closed to all except those directly involved. The identity of the person reporting the offense and opinions set forth by members of the Council during a case is privileged information; divulgence of these or any aspects of a Council session constitutes a special honor offense.

Section 5. All records of Honor Council cases are kept confidential and filed with the Honor Council advisor, with immediate access limited to the Honor Council chair, and faculty advisor, and Associate Head of School for Student Life; the Council may use its discretion in granting other persons such access.