Exploring the Considerations of a Student Honor Code in Academic Health Science Centers: The Why, What, and How

While it is common practice for academic institutions to implement a student honor code, there is not a comprehensive review of the reasons for the implementation, distinction from a code of conduct, implications for a competency-base curriculum design and exam proctoring practices, descriptions and criteria commonly included in a code, and procedural enforcement for non-compliance. This exploratory study offers a broad examination of key considerations when determining whether or not to consider creating and adopting a student honor code by examining in depth the why, what, and how for an academic health science center. A thematic analysis of existing honor codes gathered from sample academic health science centers as well as relevant literature review findings were used to identify common codes or terms for the behaviors associated with an honor code, adjudication procedures, and the body of authority who reviews and enforces the code.