Honor and Integrity System Constitution
Approved by The Kansas State University Honor Council February 22, 1999Ratified by Student Senate, April 1, 1999
Ratified by Faculty Senate, April 13, 1999
Amended May, 2003
Amended February, 2004
Amended June, 2007
Amended November, 2014
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Kansas State University Honor System Constitution
Amended by Honor Council in May, 2003--Added members to the Honor Council (Aviation & Technology-4; At-large Teaching Staff-3, At-Large Students-3)
Amended by Honor Council in February, 2004--Added Graduate Students to the KSU Honor System
Amended by Honor Council in June, 2007--Separation of Investigation & Adjudication Procedures from the Constitution; Name change
Amended by Honor Council in November, 2014--Added members to the Honor Council (Students, Libraries, IT Services, and VP Undergraduate Studies)
We, the undergraduate and graduate students and faculty of Kansas State University, in order to conduct our academic endeavors under high standards of individual responsibility, thereby promoting personal honor and integrity, set forth this constitution of the Honor and Integrity System.
ARTICLE I. ROLE/PURPOSE
a) The Honor and Integrity System is intended to contribute to an environment at Kansas State University that fosters academic honesty and integrity.
b) All members of the academic community, both students and faculty, are urged to report violations of the honor pledge.
c) The honor pledge statement: On all assignments, examinations, or other course work undertaken by students, the following pledge is implied, whether or not it is stated: "On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work."
d) The K-State Honor and Integrity System specifies how alleged violations of the honor pledge are adjudicated by the Honor Council.
e) The Honor Council employs the Faculty Senate definitions for academic dishonesty in interpreting and applying this Honor and Integrity System.
f) Grading disputes and non-academic, behavior-related issues are handled elsewhere by existing K-State systems.
g) Breaches of faculty honesty and integrity are covered by existing university policies that are published in the University Handbook.
ARTICLE II. SELECTION OF HONOR COUNCIL MEMBERS
a) Honor Council Composition
i. The Honor Council includes faculty, staff, undergraduate, and graduate student members representing academic colleges as well as Information Technology Services, the Libraries, the office of the Dean of Student Life, the office of the Associate Provost for Diversity, the office of the Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Studies, and Graduate Student Council.
ii. For all faculty, staff, undergraduate, and graduate selection, diversity may be a consideration for membership.
iii. Faculty and undergraduate student members represent each of the following academic colleges: Agriculture, Architecture Planning and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Human Ecology, Technology and Aviation. Each college is represented by four student members and two faculty members, with the exception of the College of Arts and Sciences, which is represented by six student members and four faculty members, and the College of Technology and Aviation, which is represented by four student members and four faculty members.
iv. Two faculty or staff members represent Information Technology Services.
v. Two faculty or staff members represent the Libraries.
vi. Three staff members represent the Dean of Student Life.
vii. Three student members represent the Associate Provost for Diversity.
viii. Two undergraduate student members and two faculty or staff members represent
the Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Studies.
ix. Twenty graduate student members will represent the Graduate Student Council.
b) Undergraduate student members:
i. Undergraduate student members must have completed two semesters at Kansas State University, be in good academic standing and be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours.
ii. The student body president recommends undergraduate student members for service on the Honor Council from the nominations received from each of the previously mentioned colleges and offices.
iii. All nominations are subject to approval by Student Senate.
iv. The student body president forwards the names of approved individuals to the Provost, who ensures eligibility.
c) Graduate student members:
i. Graduate student members must be currently enrolled and in good academic standing.
ii. The president of Graduate Student Council recommends graduate student members for service on the Honor Council from the nominations received by the Graduate Student Council.
iii. All nominations are subject to approval by Graduate Student Council.
iv. The president of Graduate Student Council forwards approved individuals to the Provost, who ensures eligibility
d) Faculty and staff members:
i. Faculty representing academic colleges are appointed by their respective dean.
ii. Faculty or staff members representing Information Technology Services are appointed Director of Information Technology Services.
iii. Faculty or staff members representing the Libraries are appointed by the Dean of the Libraries.
iv. Staff members representing the office of Student Life are appointed by the Dean of Student Life.
ARTICLE III. DUTIES OF HONOR COUNCIL MEMBERS
a) Attend scheduled meetings of the Honor Council.
b) Communicate and promote the Honor and Integrity System to the Kansas State University community.
c) Advise students and faculty who report violations of the honor pledge.
d) Serve as neutral investigators of alleged honor pledge violations.
e) Serve as panel members during hearings of alleged honor pledge violations.
f) If elected, serve as Chair or vice-Chair of the Honor Council.ARTICLE IV. HONOR COUNCIL TERM OF OFFICE
a) Members' terms are two years, except for initial appointments, which are divided equally between one-year and two-year terms.
b) Members' terms begin at the end of the spring semester and end at the conclusion of the spring semester of the final year of their appointment.
c) No member of the Honor Council may serve two consecutive full terms.
d) Members participate in a training process developed by the Director of the Honor and Integrity System.
e) If members resign or are removed from office, replacement appointments are made by the respective entity for the remaining portions of their terms.
ARTICLE V. REMOVAL FROM HONOR COUNCIL
The Honor Council may remove any member on grounds of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office by two-thirds vote of the membership. Positions on the Honor Council that are unfilled at the time of a vote are not considered part of the membership.
The Honor Council may recommend that the Provost remove the Director or Associate Director on the grounds of malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office by two-thirds vote of the membership.
ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS OF THE HONOR COUNCIL
a) Chair
i. The Chair is chosen annually from the membership of the Honor Council by majority vote.
ii. The Chair presides at meetings of the Honor Council and serves in a parliamentary role.
iii. The Chair, with the assistance of the Honor Council, annually evaluates the performance of the Honor and Integrity System Director and forwards the evaluation and a recommendation to the Provost.
iv. If the Honor and Integrity System Director has a conflict of interest in an alleged violation, the Honor Council Chair serves in the role of Honor and Integrity System Director for that case.
b) Vice Chair
i. The vice Chair is chosen annually from the membership of the Honor Council by majority vote.
ii. The vice Chair performs the duties of the Chair when the Chair is unable to do so.
c) Director
i. The Director of the Honor and Integrity System is appointed by the Provost to oversee the Honor Council.
ii. Director's responsibilities:
1. Communicate and promote the Honor and Integrity System to the
Kansas State University community.
2. Receive alleged violations of the Honor and Integrity System.
3. Determine whether alleged violations should proceed to a hearing panel.
4. Select investigators, panels for hearings and appeals, and panel Chairs.
5. Provide the equipment and technical assistance for recording hearings.
6. Record findings of the hearing and appeal panels.
7. Maintain the records of all Honor Council proceedings.
8. Review Honor and Integrity System policies and report annually to the Provost, Faculty Senate and Student Senate.
9. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Honor Council.
10. Develop and conduct a training program for members of the Honor Council.
ARTICLE VII. EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE HONOR COUNCIL
a) The Provost and the dean of student life, or their representatives, may serve an advisory role at Honor Council meetings.
b) The Director of the Honor and Integrity System and staff members of the Honor Council have speaking rights during Honor Council meetings.
ARTICLE VIII. STUDENT RIGHTS
Students' rights are enumerated under Article XII of the K-State Student Governing Association constitution.
ARTICLE IX. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
a) Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by any member of the faculty, undergraduate or graduate student at Kansas State University.
b) All amendments must be approved by 3/4 vote of the Honor Council selected and qualified.
c) All amendments are subject to approval by Faculty Senate and Student Senate.
ARTICLE X. ANNUAL REVIEW
The Director and Associate Director annually review the Honor and Integrity System Constitution and Investigation and Adjudication Procedures and when appropriate, present amendments to the Honor Council for consideration and approval. Amendments to the Honor and Integrity System Constitution must then be approved by Faculty Senate, Graduate Council, and Student Senate. Changes in the Investigation and Adjudication Procedures must be reviewed at five-year intervals by Student Senate and Faculty Senate as specified in Article XI of the Constitution.
The Honor and Integrity System Director and Associate Director prepare an annual report of the previous year’s Honor and Integrity System activities at the beginning of fall semester and present it to the Provost, Faculty Senate, Student Senate, Graduate Student Council and Graduate Council. The Honor Council Chair annually initiates and organizes the Honor Council evaluation of the job performance of the Director and Associate Director and forwards that evaluation and recommendation to the Provost at the conclusion of the spring semester.
ARTICLE XI. INVESTIGATION AND ADJUDICATION PROCEDURES
Upon adoption by the Faculty Senate and Student Senate, the Investigation and Adjudication Procedures shall be subject to periodic review by Faculty Senate, Graduate Council, Graduate Student Council, and Student Senate, at 5 year intervals beginning in 2005. Interim revisions to the Investigation and Adjudication Procedures may be made upon approval by, a 2/3 vote of the Honor Council, and the Provost. The Investigation and Adjudication Procedures must be posted at the Honor and Integrity System website (http://www.k‐state.edu/honor/basics/investigation.html) and updated regularly.
Excludes the School of Veterinary Medicine