Upper School Parent and Student Handbook 2023-2024

Role of the Honor Council
The Honor Council has two purposes. The first is to increase students’ understanding of the Honor System through group sessions, presentations, and publications. The second purpose is to preserve the integrity of the Honor System by giving justice to any student under suspicion of dishonesty. After hearing a case, the Honor Council will either vindicate the student’s name if he or she is innocent or counsel with the student and recommend a penalty if he or she is guilty.

Role of the Advisor
The advisor of a student is expected to sit with the student during the meeting. In this capacity, the advisor can offer guidance and support. The role of the advisor is to help seek truth and support the student in facing the consequences if a violation has occurred. The student may select another adult representative from the school community if the advisor is not available or if he or she so chooses.

Makeup of the Council

The Honor Council is composed of five seniors, four juniors and three sophomores. Two freshmen (one day and one dorm) will be appointed at the beginning of the second semester.  New members to the Honor Council are appointed each year by the current Council members after an application and interview process. The new member process begins near the end of each school year and one additional student is added to the current freshman, sophomore, and junior classes.  The Council is led by the president who is chosen by the Honor Council members amongst the rising seniors.  He/She must have at least one year of experience to serve in that position.  The vice president and secretary are also chosen by the members of the Honor Council but do not have to be rising seniors and have one year of experience.  At the end of each year the Executive Committee will evaluate each member of the Council.  The Executive Committee may ask certain members to reapply.

Executive Committee
The Honor Council Executive Committee consists of the Honor Council president, vice president, secretary, and two experienced members chosen by the Honor Council. This committee will meet when a student has been accused of cheating and will decide, through witness accounts and the information available, whether or not a full Honor Case is necessary.  This committee also deals with cases in which there is an admission of guilt, or confidential cases in which particular circumstances demand special attention.  

The Meeting

• After a potential violation is submitted by a student or faculty member, the Executive Committee along with the faculty advisors to the Honor Council will determine whether a meeting should take place. The Honor Council meeting will be held within a reasonable time from when the accusation was made, taking into consideration that some time may be needed for further inquiry into the matter.
• The meeting will be led by the student president. Faculty advisors to the council will sit in observance of the meeting offering select comments to ensure meeting protocol is followed and that discussion is complete and just.
• To begin the meeting, the council will discuss the potential violation in closed session. The student(s) involved will then appear before the council with his or her advisor. Parents of the involved students are not allowed to appear before the council or sit in place of the student's advisor.
• After discussing the potential violation with the council, the involved student(s) and advisor will adjourn to await the recommendation. If desired, the student’s advisor may have discussion with the council outside the presence of the involved student.
• At the end of all questioning, the council will commence deliberations in closed session. The recommendation of the Honor Council will be given to the Upper School Director for review and approval.  The student(s) involved in the case will be notified within a 24 hour period of the meeting.
• A combination of members from both Discipline Committee and Honor Council will join together for cases that involve conduct violations and violations of the Honor Code.

Advice to Parents
Adolescents can and will make mistakes. Students who are highly regarded and considered "honorable" may be charged with or even found guilty of an honor violation. Here at Darlington, we urge parents to charge their children, regardless of their past experiences, to observe and uphold the Honor Code with the utmost vigilance. Support from parents of the Honor Code is essential and greatly appreciated. When a question occurs about a potential violation, a system such as ours necessitates that the Honor Council must intervene.