The Honor System was instituted at Rhodes College well before the turn of the century. Throughout the history of the College, emphasis has been placed on a true spirit of honor and integrity. The Honor System, perpetuated by the students of Rhodes themselves, was one of the institutions brought to Memphis, Tennessee, when the College moved in 1925. The Honor Code is the constitutional document which governs and reflects the Honor System itself. The Honor Code has been revised and changed through the years, but the underlying tenets of honor and trust remain unchanged.
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 which Rhodes students believe to be fundamental in ethical life, both during and after college.
The objective of the Honor System is the spiritual, moral, and intellectual development of the individual student, which is promoted and encouraged by the freedom and responsibility the student gains by virtue of living within the
Honor System. 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.