All cases are unique and all recommendations are made on a case-by-case basis. The formal procedures of the BoC are part of the ASCIT Bylaws. Please contact BoC Leadership with any further questions.
Respondent Questions
What are the standards for bringing a case to a Full Board hearing?
If there is a significant lack of evidence or if it is abundantly clear that a respondent has not committed an Honor Code violation, then the chair and secretary may recommend dismissal of the case without a Full Board hearing. In the case of any ambiguity the chair and secretary will err on the side of proceeding to a Full Board hearing.
Please understand that proceeding to a Full Board hearing does NOT imply your innocence or guilt and does NOT mean you are going to be convicted.
Why isn’t a person informed in advance as to the reasons why they are being summoned for a preliminary meeting with the BoC?
The purpose of the preliminary meeting is to share the allegations with the potential respondent and to get a general understanding of the situation from the respondent's perspective. For the sake of confidentiality, we cannot discuss the specific details of a case outside of an official meeting of the BoC.
What should I say at the BoC hearing?
The most important thing to do at a meeting with the BoC is to be honest and straightforward with the Board. As best as you can, try to remain calm and to be careful and clear with everything you say. The Board will have a lot of questions, and many of these questions may be details that you do not clearly remember; please answer these questions as best as you can, but also let us know if you do not remember -- it is perfectly understandable that you might not remember all of the details surrounding an incident that may have occurred several weeks in the past.
If you ever feel that the Board is missing a detail, or that you did not get an opportunity to say something, speak up! And if you think of something shortly after you leave the meeting, contact the chair. We want to make sure that you have every opportunity to present your defense.
If you have committed an Honor Code violation, be clear about what you have done and express willingness to change and competency of how you will avoid future violations. If you have not committed an Honor Code violation, be clear about everything that happened from your perspective and try to be as accurate and detailed as possible.
As a respondent, who am I allowed to talk to?
You may speak with anyone specified under the Confidentiality provision (Section 3(c)) of the BoC Bylaws.
Reporting Questions
Who reports potential violations?
The responsibility for reporting suspected Honor System violations falls to each member of the community. The intent here is not to create a police state; reporting a suspected violation is not in the same league as betrayal or treachery. When one reports a potential violation, the Board has a chance to investigate the matter completely and help remedy it accordingly. Just because a potential violation is reported doesn't mean there will be a conviction. If everyone who suspected a violation failed to report it the Honor System would fall apart.
In practice most reports come from class administrators, professors or TAs, who identify a concern in one of the classes they are teaching. However, any member of the Caltech community may report a concern to the Board, and all reports are treated with due diligence. Additionally, the BoC can guarantee that the identities of all reporters will be held in strict confidence.
Is it an Honor System offense to not report a suspected violation?
Strictly speaking, yes. The Honor System is only effective as long as the members of the community uphold it. Covering up for someone else means that you are implicitly allowing another member of Caltech community to take unfair advantage of others.
If you want to do the best thing for a friend who has committed an Honor Code violation, then bring them with you to the current BoC Chair, Secretaries, or to any current or former BoC representative so that they can turn themselves in; solving a minor problem now gives us a chance to advise them on how to avoid future violations and can prevent potentially more serious consequences further down the road.
The Honor Code Handbook available in the Publications section has more information.
How do I report a potential violation?
To report a potential violation of the Honor System, you can:
• Fill out the Reporting Form
• Talk to the current Chair and Secretaries by emailing boc@caltech.edu
• Talk to any current BoC representative
• Contact the Dean of Undergraduate Students
Typically, the reporting form is the easiest way to report a potential violation. Reach out to the BoC Leadership or to a BoC rep with any questions you may have.
When should I report a concern to the Board?
Whenever you suspect that one or several undergraduates have violated the Honor Code, and have some amount of evidence to support this concern, please notify the current BoC Chair and Secretaries. If you are in doubt about whether the report is appropriate for a BoC hearing or whether you have sufficient evidence, please err on the side of notifying the BoC about your concern. Even if it is something little, catching the problem now and making sure it is dealt with properly can prevent something much more serious from happening in the future.
Witness Questions
What is my role in the case?
If you are a silent witness, your role is to provide support and advice to the respondent you are accompanying. We will not be asking you any questions. If you are concerned for the respondent or about any element of the investigation, please consult with the chair or secretary of the case as soon as possible.
If you are a witness asked to speak with the Board, we are talking to you because we are seeking to corroborate some information or a story that has been related to us by another witness or a respondent, or we need some important details from you for some other reason. We do not ask to speak with witnesses lightly, and we appreciate whatever time you are willing to set aside to assist us in the investigation. It is important that you be as honest and accurate as possible, and state whether you remember something clearly, vaguely, or not at all. While the case almost certainly does not depend on your word alone, we do feel that your input will be important to ensure that this case is decided as accurately and fairly as possible.
As a witness, who am I allowed to talk to?
You may speak with anyone specified under the Confidentiality provision (Section 3(c)) of the BoC Bylaws.