Cornell University

Law School Code Of Academic Integrity

Cornell Law School Honor Code

Adopted August 1989

Section 1

The Law School adopts as its Honor Code the University’s code of Academic Integrity as now or later in effect, read reasonably as applicable to the Law School and subject to the amendments hereinafter provided for.

Section 2

Section I.B of the Code of Academic Integrity is amended to read as follows:

The following actions are examples of activities that violate the Code of Academic Integrity and subject their actors to proceedings under the Code. This is not a definitive list.

  1. Knowingly representing the work of others as one’s own.
  2. Knowingly using, obtaining, or providing unauthorized assistance on examinations, papers, or any other academic work. Any person (e.g. one who is taking an examination on a deferred basis) who inadvertently receives unauthorized information regarding an examination must report relevant details to the instructor as soon as possible. Failure to do so may constitute an Honor Code violation.
  3. Knowingly depriving another member of the Law School community (which herein means students and members of the faculty and staff, including law library staff) of the use of such person’s books, notes, or other study materials without such person’s prior or subsequent permission.
  4. Knowingly using or restricting the availability of library materials in violation of library regulations and in a manner prejudicial to the interests of others.
  5. Knowingly violating rules relating to the integrity of Law School extracurricular activity, including but not limited to professional publications, moot court competitions, and placement services.
  6. Knowingly making material misrepresentations concerning academic or employment matters to a member of the Law School community or a potential employer.
  7. Submitting for credit in a Law School course, without prior approval of the instructor, a piece of writing that is based primarily on written work performed in another course or in the course of prior employment.

Section 3

The Academic Integrity Hearing Board established under II.C.1. of the Code of Academic Integrity shall include as the chairperson and the faculty members respectively the chairperson of and the three faculty members on the Academic Programs and Planning Committee and shall include as the student members the President and First Vice-President of the C.L.S.A. and the Student Representative to the Academic Programs and Planning Committee. In the event of any refusal or inability to serve, the Dean of the Law School or the C.L.S.A. shall name an interim replacement for the absent faculty member or student member, respectively. The chairperson shall be non-voting. Additionally, the Dean of Students shall act as the Board’s non-voting executive secretary.

Section 4

  1. The original jurisdiction bestowed by II.C.2. of the Code of Academic Integrity shall also extend to any proceedings instituted by a signed written complaint from someone other than a teaching staff member in charge of a particular course.
  2. Officers and members of student organizations, such as journals and the Moot Court Board, shall cooperate with any investigation or other proceeding under this Honor Code with respect to an alleged violation that has occurred in the course of the organization’s activities.
  3. The associate dean for academic affairs shall be responsible for investigating any reported violation of the Honor Code involving coursework for a faculty member. If the associate dean considers it appropriate, the associate dean may initiate a proceeding, including a primary hearing under Section II.B of the Honor Code. A complainant who elects to do so may request the associate dean to investigate or prosecute a reported Honor Code violation.

Section 5

  1. Section II.C.4. of the Code of Academic Integrity is amended to read as follows: The Board may act in one or more of the following ways:
    1. Find the student innocent of the charge.
    2. Find the student guilty of the charge and
      1. Recommend that the faculty member reduce the penalty given.
      2. Affirm the faculty member’s decision.
      3. Recommend that the faculty member record a failing grade for the course, or for some portion of it.
      4. Recommend to the dean that the student be placed on probation for a maximum of three semesters, which may include but is not limited to exclusion from journal activity, moot court competition, writing competition, any C.L.S.A. committee, any elected or appointed Law School office, and use of placement services.
      5. Recommend to the dean that the student be suspended from the University for a period.
      6. Recommend to the dean that the words “declared guilty of violation of the Code of Academic Integrity” be recorded on the student’s transcript. The Hearing Board may set a date after which the student may petition the Board to have these words deleted from the transcript.
      7. Recommend to the dean that the student be expelled from the University.
      8. Recommend to the dean that any remedial measure to correct the results of the student’s violation be imposed.
      9. Recommend to the dean any other suitable action, including counseling, community service, or written reprimand.
  2. In any proceeding, the Board may find a violation of the Honor Code if shown by clear and convincing evidence.

Section 6

The fact of an alleged violation, the identity of the accused, and the content of any hearing shall be treated as confidential by the Academic Integrity Board and other participants, subject to the need for the Board to gather information relevant to the proceedings. The accused may waive this right to confidentiality. In the event of a conviction:

  1. The chairperson of the Board (or the responsible faculty member in the event of an unappalled conviction in a primary hearing) shall arrange for the posting of a notice to the Law School community indicating the nature of the violation and the penalties involved, but not the identity of the student convicted.
  2. The record of an Honor Code conviction shall become a permanent part of the student’s file, available to faculty and staff with legitimate right of access to the file. Faculty may, in their discretion, disclose this information in appraising the student’s professional qualifications. The Dean of the Law School may disclose the record of conviction to the home school of a non- Cornell student who has committed the violation in connection with a Cornell Law School Program. In addition, the Dean of the Law School may authorize disclosure of records of convictions upon inquiry from officials of the Bar, prospective employers, or other academic institutions. The Dean may also authorize the disclosure of relevant aspects of any proceeding under this code where necessary to permit the faculty to carry out its legitimate functions, such as the award of certain honors or the consideration of possible amendments to this code.
  3. As indicated above (Section 5.1), the Board may recommend to the Dean that the words “declared guilty of violation of the Code of Academic Integrity” be recorded on the student’s transcript. The Hearing Board may set a date after which the student may petition the Board to have these words deleted from the transcript.
  4. The Board may recommend further disclosure in appropriate circumstances.

Section 7

The Law School’s faculty remains free to amend this Honor Code from time to time.