Welcome from Vanderbilt Undergraduate Honor Council President, Melissa Kumi
Dear Class of 2024,
Congratulations and welcome to Vanderbilt! Gaining admission into our prestigious University is a tremendous accomplishment, and we are excited for you to join us. At Vanderbilt, you will have remarkable experiences that will prepare you for a future of positively influencing your community and the world.
For over 140 years, Vanderbilt students and faculty have worked as partners to cultivate an outstanding academic reputation for the University, an effort made possible by our Honor System. The Vanderbilt Honor Code is one of the school’s oldest and revered traditions, and it governs all academic work completed by students within the University’s ten schools. By choosing to enter the Vanderbilt community, you pledge to conduct yourself in accordance with the principles set forth by the Code:
“Vanderbilt University students pursue all academic endeavors with integrity. They conduct themselves honorably, professionally, and respectfully in all realms of their studies in order to promote and secure an atmosphere of dignity and trust. The keystone of the honor system is self-regulation, which requires cooperation and support from each member of the University community.”
As a Vanderbilt student, you are expected to uphold your commitment to this standard of honor at all times. You will affirm your commitment to our Honor Code by making the following pledge:
“I pledge to pursue all academic endeavors with honor and integrity. I understand the principles of the Honor System, and I promise to uphold these standards by adhering to the Honor Code in order to preserve the integrity of Vanderbilt University and its individual members.”
The Undergraduate Honor Council is a student run organization that strives to preserve the communal trust created by the Honor Code and fosters a collaborative culture of academic integrity. Since its creation, the Council has aimed to both educate the student body about the importance of academic integrity and to hold accountable any individuals who violate the spirit of the Honor Code. However, the maintenance of this communal trust is truly the responsibility of the whole student body.
To fulfill your responsibility of understanding the Honor Code, I encourage you to read about Vanderbilt’s Honor System in the Student Handbook, which can be found here. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me or stop by our office in Rand Hall, Suite 301.
The Honor Council truly is one of Vanderbilt’s most special traditions, and we’d love for you to be a part of it.
Have a great rest of your summer, and, again, welcome to Vanderbilt!
Sincerely,
Melissa Kumi
President, Undergraduate Honor Council