Dear Faculty and Staff,
Today, we shared a message with students about the establishment of the new University of Texas at Austin honor code and our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity.
During the pandemic, challenges in online learning emerged as a result of the shift from in-person to online teaching modalities. And, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), new challenges will only intensify. As a result, an initiative was launched in 2022 to update the University’s honor code and reflect a renewed responsibility to ourselves and each one another. A committee of faculty, staff and students was convened to develop an honor code affirmation before engaging Faculty Council, the Graduate Assembly, Staff Council, various student councils and others to finalize the language and determine next steps. The final honor code, outlined below, has officially been approved and published:
The University of Texas at Austin Honor Code
Affirmation
I pledge, as a member of The University of Texas at Austin community, to do my work honestly, respectfully, and through the intentional pursuit of learning and scholarship.
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- I pledge to be honest about what I create and to acknowledge what I use that belongs to others.
- I pledge to value the process of learning in addition to the outcome, while celebrating and learning from mistakes.
- This code encompasses all of the academic and scholarly endeavors of the University community.
We are sharing this with all of you and our students to further strengthen a culture of academic accountability and responsibility. We ask that you familiarize yourself with the new honor code and commit yourself to the principles of UT’s core values and the standards we set as Longhorns. The affirmation is meant to be incorporated into your classrooms, events, websites and other communications, where appropriate. Be on the lookout for tools you can use with the honor code, like a quiz-bank question that allows you to have students acknowledge the honor code when taking assessments in Canvas.
More information about the new honor code and the University’s academic integrity guidance can be found on the Provost Office website.
Thank you for all you do for our campus community and our students’ success. Integrity is the foundation of our reputation — and as a member of our Longhorn learning community, it forms yours.
Thank you for helping us honor the horns and further strengthen what it means to be a Longhorn.
Sincerely,
Sharon L. Wood
Executive Vice President and Provost
Soncia Reagins-Lilly
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students