Maintaining Academic Integrity During Final Exams

Dear Fellow Memphis Law Students,

As final exams approach, I want to take a moment to remind you of the Honor Code and your continuing duty as a Memphis Law student to report any conduct that raises a reasonable belief that a violation of the Honor Code has occurred. See Honor Code § 21.4(b)(14) (“A student who fails to meet the duty to report is in violation of the honor code. . . .”)

Sanctionable Conduct Under the Honor Code:

The Honor Council has the authority to investigate either an act of dishonesty or an act of misconduct. An act of dishonesty is a wrongful or improper act that questions a student’s academic honesty or integrity. An act of misconduct is a wrongful, improper, or prohibited academic act. Acts of dishonesty and misconduct include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Cheating.
• Unauthorized assistance or collaboration.
• Plagiarism.
• Theft, misappropriation, or unauthorized possession of property.
• Compromising examination security.
• Deception and misrepresentation.
• Electronic dishonesty.
• Facilitating academic dishonesty.
• Writing past the end of an examination.
• Failing to disclose admonitory incidents or misrepresentations on the law school application.
• Failing to disclose admonitory incidents while a law student.
• Knowingly referring false allegation(s).

Making a Referral to the Honor Council:

Students may refer a violation of the Honor Code to any student member of the Honor Council or to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Referrals may be made in person or in writing but may not be made anonymously. See Honor Code § 21.6(a)(1). Here is a list of current students who serve on the Honor Council: https://www.memphis.edu/law/current-students/honor-council.php

General Guidance:

As you prepare for final exams, please refer to your professors and their syllabus for any rules that they maintain for taking their specific exams. If you have accommodations, please closely read the email(s) you receive from Ms. Cheryl Edwards detailing any examination rules. Lastly, do not take your cell phones with you to the restrooms during an exam. It is best to ensure that it is not on your person at all during the examination period.

Remember, you earned your seat here at Memphis Law. Do not let the pressures of final exams tempt you to jeopardize your integrity and risk damaging your academic and professional well-being.

Best wishes on your exam preparation.

Sincerely,

Nathan L. Daniels
Chief Justice, Honor Council
nathan.daniels@memphis.edu