A RESOLUTION
IN SUPPORT OF THE HONOR PLEDGE

A.R. 2

WHEREAS academic integrity at both the undergraduate and graduate level has become a great concern for students, faculty, and administrators at colleges and universities across the country; and

WHEREAS President Faulkner, in his 2003 State of the University Address, addressed the need for The University of Texas at Austin to increase its focus on academic integrity.

“My interest in an honor code stems from my belief that we could become a much more powerful, much more useful university if we had a simple, effective means for reminding all of our members-students, staff, faculty-of their own interest in standards of integrity and civility. I do not seek, nor do I recommend an elaborate honor code with an attendant justice system and penalties for transgressions. Neither would I support any sort of required oath. One sound sentence, widely embraced, could do it-just a steady reminder that civility and integrity do have meaning and that there are legitimate expectations concerning these virtues within our university.

I do not have the sentence. My belief is that leadership on this matter must come from our students. I congratulate the Senate of College Councils for its work to date, and I express the hope that a sound, widely supported honor statement will emerge by collaboration among student leadership during this academic year.”

(Faulkner, L. R. Address on The State of the University. Referenced on September 17, 2003, from http://www.utexas.edu/president/speeches/utexas120.html.)

Dr. Faulkner specifically mentioned his interest in the creation of a voluntary honor code; and

WHEREAS graduate students and international students coming from many parts of the globe and many different institutions may be unaccustomed to the academic integrity standards of the UT community; and

WHEREAS even within graduate programs at The University of Texas at Austin, a variety of academic integrity standards and values may exist; and

WHEREAS a central document outlining a basic pledge and core values on academic integrity will greatly increase student, faculty, and staff awareness on this issue; and

WHEREAS an Honor Pledge will serve as a vehicle through which these objectives can be achieved; and

WHEREAS the Honor Pledge is intended to be a voluntary statement available for graduate students to sign upon matriculation; and

WHEREAS a joint committee, consisting of representatives from the Senate of College Councils, Student Government, and Graduate Student Assembly, helped draft an Honor Pledge; and

WHEREAS it is the duty of the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) of The University of Texas at Austin to continuously monitor the administration of this document to ensure its access and relevancy to graduate students.

BE IT RESOLVED that the Graduate Student Assembly of The University of Texas at Austin shall accept the Honor Pledge, in its approved form by graduate students, as an additional means of promoting academic integrity among graduate students at The University of Texas at Austin;

Authored By: Erik D. Malmberg (Electronic Resources Coordinator)

Sponsored By: Ginger Gossman (Public Relations Coordinator), Erik D. Malmberg (Electronic Resources Coordinator)

Approved: October 6, 2003