1. Kansas State University Undergraduate Honor System
Presented by:
H.I.P.E.-Believe It! (Honesty and Integrity Peer Educators)
*Contains information condensed from KSU Honor web site at
I am Helene Marcoux, HIPE’s Advisor. I started this organization last January after listening to several violators of the Honor Pledge say that they didn’t know about the Honor System which was just implemented in Fall This organization’s mission is to educate the campus community, not only students, but faculty as well.

2. Applicable To All Undergraduate Students
Upon registration for classes, students acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Undergraduate Honor System.
The Honor Pledge is implied, whether or not it is stated.
The Pledge applies to all K-State classes whether on-campus, off-campus, or in a distant learning situation.
All KSU students agree to abide by the Honor Pledge as soon as they register for classes. Applications next year will have the Pledge on it and that will be the first introduction to our Honor System.

3. The Honor Pledge "On my honor, as a student,
I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work."
We take the Pledge seriously. Faculty have the option to have students write it. But if they don’t, all academic work comes under the Pledge. It is implied even if not written.

4. Top Three Violations of the Honor Pledge
# 1-Plagiarism
# 2-Cheating on exams, tests, & quizzes
# 3-Cheating on out-of-class assignments
The idea of an Honor System started in 1994, when K-State was rocked by a cheating scandal in a survey Biology class. 115 students were sanctioned. Students went to the Provost and asked that something be done because K-State had been on the national news because of the incident.

5. # 1-Plagiarism
The academic equivalent of robbery (taking somebody else's property) and also called “intellectual thievery”.
Most high school teachers, especially English teachers, try to teach students not to plagiarize, but not all do. Many students are used to “lifting” material from the Internet, their friends, or even bought term papers, AND USING IT AS THEIR OWN WORK. There is a special way to cite information that is not your own. If you don’t know how to do that, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LEARN HOW.

6. Plagiarism covers: Unpublished as well as published sources.
Using another's term paper as own.
Handing in a paper purchased from an individual or agency.
Submitting any papers from living groups, clubs, or organizational files.
Or any non-attributed portions thereof.
Many of the Honor System cases have come about because of these student behaviors. THINK TWICE BEFORE DOING ANY OF THESE THINGS. THE PRICE IS NOT WORTH IT HERE AT K-STATE.

7. #2 Cheating on exams, tests, and quizzes
Unauthorized use of textbooks, library materials, notes, electronic devices.
Unauthorized use of “crib sheets” or other hidden notes (on skin, ball caps, clothing, etc).
Looking at another student's paper or Scantron sheet to copy strategies or answers.
Most students know this kind of cheating when they see it. DON’T BE SO BOLD AS TO THINK YOU MIGHT NOT GET CAUGHT. You can read about those who did on the Honor System web home page under “Violations.”

8. Cheating-exams, etc. (continued)
Unauthorized revising and submitting of a quiz or exam for re-grading.
Having unauthorized aid in supplying questions or answers from an examination to be given or in progress.
Some students let others know what a test might have on it, DON’T BE ONE OF THESE STUDENTS. Some students who were caught and sanctioned have lost valuable scholarships, had to take courses over again, had to take the Academic Integrity course I teach.

9. Cheating-exams, etc. (continued)
Having a person other than the one duly registered for the course take an examination or any other graded activity for you.
All consenting parties to the attempt to gain unfair advantage shall be deemed culpable and subject to penalties.
Even signing someone else’s name to an attendance sheet can be seen as “unauthorized” aid. THINK TWICE BEFORE DOING SOMEONE ELSE A “FAVOR.” You may be repaid by losing credit for the day, the assignment, or the course. This is not a wise behavior. Those who “GIVE” unauthorized aid, as well as “RECEIVE” it, are in violation of the Pledge.

10. #3 Cheating on out-of-class assignments
Giving or receiving unauthorized aid on a take-home examination.
Collaborating with others on projects where such collaboration is expressly forbidden.
Not all instructors will let you know what they think is “unauthorized.” Some let you know in written form on their syllabi. Others may verbally address the matter. But some don’t. If you don’t know which one will or won’t, ASK!

11. Cheating-out-of-class (continued)
Submitting data or evidence in a
paper
thesis
lab report
or other academic exercise
….of falsified, invented, or fictitious data.
Handing in a book review or a paper in two different classes without permission may violate the Pledge. Again, your instructor will determine that. ASK!

12. Three General Golden “Don’t” Rules
Don’t intentionally/knowingly help or attempt to help another student violate the Honor Pledge.
Don’t be a party to obtaining/altering unauthorized examinations, papers, lab reports, or other academic exercises.
Don't buy into the lie that cheating is a “victimless” crime, or the culture that “everyone” is doing it.
We are not a police state here at K-State, but know this, if you choose to cheat, and it IS a choice, your behavior will not be tolerated by many instructors, and increasingly, by your peers. USE THE INTELLIGENCE THAT GOT YOU INTO K-STATE; DON’T CONTINUE ANY BAD HABITS YOU MAY HAVE PICKED UP IN HIGH SCHOOL. That will come back to haunt you.

13. Be academically honest and remember that…
…what is not expressly forbidden is not, by default, necessarily permitted. When in doubt, ask.
…cheating is a decision, there are always alternatives to consider.
This is a campus community. When in a community, people are supposed to talk with each other about important issues. Integrity is important at K-State. We are trying to get this message across to instructors also. If in doubt, ASK. If you choose this behavior on purpose, be careful. The first time you cheat here, may be the last time you have the chance.

14. Kansas State University Undergraduate Honor System
Web Site & Address
We still believe that students are human ;-) To keep from making too many mistakes in this area, though, we maintain a very helpful web site. We are also pleased that students are starting to call and us if they have questions. We’d like you to be one of those students. We’d much rather you call and find out things than come see us on a “PROFESSIONAL” level, if you get our drift.

15. Kansas State University Undergraduate Honor System
H.I.P.E.-Believe It! (Honesty and Integrity Peer Educators)
Contains information condensed from
KSU Honor Web Site at
; attn. H.I.P.E. at
HIPE-Believe It! If you don’t, you’ll be sorry. And we’ll be sorry that your behavior has reflected badly on K-State. But more importantly, we’ll be sorry that you didn’t choose to do the RIGHT thing.