Honor Council Resolution
Current Resolution - Honor Principle - Reed College
Every 20 years, per Reed College tradition, the Community reflects on how we view the Honor Principle and plan to uphold it. A resolution was made in 2020, but a draft was never passed. This year, the Honor Council – in conjunction with other community groups – is hoping to pass a resolution. Below is a draft resolution, for which we are soliciting community feedback – we hope to see you all at the Reed Union on Friday, March 14 at 3:30pm to discuss Honor, more details to follow.
2025 Resolution Draft
In 2025, members of the community revisited our shared notion of the Honor Principle. Following a campus-wide discussion, the Honor Council, the Student Senate, and the Faculty approved the following resolution:
At Reed, Honor is not a simple concept to describe. It is a unique and constantly evolving idea that has been shaped by the collective values and experiences of our community. We understand Honor to mean behaving with respect, integrity, honesty, humility, courage, and accountability in all aspects of life on campus. The Honor Principle is intentionally ambiguous, so that every individual member of the Reed Community may reflect on this concept and decide what it means for themself.
Honor is treating both ourselves and others with dignity, demonstrating empathy for those around us, and striving for justice in all we do. It also entails recognizing our responsibility to contribute positively to the development of an inclusive learning environment where everyone feels safe from marginalization such as discrimination based on race/ethnicity/ancestry, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, nationality, socioeconomic background, disability status, or other facets of individual and group identities. We acknowledge that doing so will require effort from all members of the Reed College Community — students, faculty, administrators, and staff alike — to create a culture where every individual's voice is heard regardless of differences between us.
In order to uphold these values within our tight-knit community we recognize each other’s right to freedom of inquiry and expression while remaining respectful towards one another during classroom activities and interactions outside them; therefore any alleged Honor violation, including academic dishonesty, must be handled judiciously by the appropriate body no matter what form it takes. All policy violations should be addressed expediently through appropriate processes as doing otherwise may lead to unnecessary embarrassment, discomfort, or injury to individuals or groups within the Reed Community. In this way, students can continue embracing their role as stewards of Honor at Reed College, and uphold its principles throughout their lives at school and beyond.
In 2040, the Reed Community will take another look at this resolution and draft a new one to encapsulate the essence of Honor at Reed during that time.