Student academic conduct at Rhodes is governed by the Honor System, and misconduct is judged according to the Honor Code. This section discusses the process for adjudicating Honor Code violations by the student-run Honor Council, whose members are selected by the student body.
The Honor System, perpetuated by the students of Rhodes College, was one of the institutions brought to Memphis, Tennessee when the College moved there in 1925. Throughout its history, the College has emphasized a true spirit of honor and integrity, by means of the Honor System’s governing document—the Honor Code—and its governing body—the Honor Council. Though it has since been revised over the years, the Honor Code’s underlying tenets of honor and trust remain unchanged. The Honor Council, then, represents both the steadfast tradition of the Honor Code and the ever-changing nature of Rhodes College.
The Honor System at Rhodes is a tradition, an inheritance, and an opportunity all in one. It is a tradition because it is and has been a valued possession of Rhodes students since the early days of the College. It is an inheritance because each entering class receives it from the previous class as a gift to be cherished and respected. Above all, it is an opportunity because it allows the fullest possible expression of individual life in harmony with community life.
Within the Honor System, Rhodes students have found a moral ideal by which to guide their actions. This ideal is absolute honesty to oneself and to others in all aspects of life. It is not only a guide for college life; it is also a principle that guides one’s ethical life after leaving Rhodes College. The objective of the Honor System is the spiritual, moral, and intellectual development of the individual student. It demonstrates the important union between freedom and responsibility. To demonstrate their commitment to this ideal, Rhodes College Students take the following pledge: “As a member of the Rhodes Community, I pledge I will not lie, cheat, or steal, and that I will report any such violation that I may witness.”
Students are personally responsible for their work, their actions, and their word. Because these actions take place in a larger community, students have a responsibility to that community. Students must protect their freedom by encouraging adherence to the Honor Code and by reporting any violations of which they are aware. In order to preserve an atmosphere of honor and trust at Rhodes, it is necessary for the Honor Council to act upon any cases of dishonesty in connection with academic or campus life. All members of the Rhodes community must fulfill their responsibilities to the Honor System. This process of cooperation is vital to the spiritual, moral, and intellectual development of Rhodes College.
For these reasons, the Honor Council is composed of, by, and for the students of Rhodes College, that they may honor one another and the larger community to which they belong. The Honor Council is chosen and governed by the Honor Council Constitution, which also houses the Honor Code.