Westminster Theological Seminary

The Honor System

A cherished aspect of community life at Westminster is the honor system. The responsibility for maintaining all aspects of this system lies directly with each member of the community.

The honor system is, of course, based upon the entirety of Scripture, but it finds its roots particularly in the eighth and ninth commandments (Exodus 20:15-16) as those commandments are expounded and applied in the Westminster Larger Catechism, Questions 140-145 (copies of the Westminster Standards are available from the Director of Admissions).

The eighth commandment requires that we honor the property of others, whether that property be material possessions or copyrighted ideas. Stealing, destroying, misusing, and even borrowing without permission the property of others are among the sins prohibited by the eighth commandment. Active effort to preserve the property of others, as we would wish our own property to be preserved, is the essential duty required by the eighth commandment.

The ninth commandment requires that we honor the truth. Presenting as our own the ideas of others without full and appropriate documentation, failure to abide by the legitimate directions of our positional superiors without communicating to them what we have done, speaking against another person unfairly, and "speaking the truth unseasonably" are among the sins prohibited by the ninth commandment. Zeal for our neighbor's as well as our own good name, keeping of all commitments, and a diligence to be exactly what we seem to be are among the duties required by the ninth commandment.

Two specific expressions of this honor system are the pledges required on all examinations, papers, and projects at the Seminary.

Students are asked to affirm the following statement for all examinations and tests and may be asked to sign this pledge on the cover or first page of examinations: "I pledge my honor that I have neither given nor received any assistance--verbal, written or electronic--on this examination beyond that specifically permitted by the instructor in charge."

Students are asked to write out and to sign this pledge at the end of every paper: "I understand and have not violated the Seminary's position on plagiarism."

For projects, theses, and dissertations, students are asked to sign the statement regarding plagiarism found on a separate sheet in the "WTS Thesis and Dissertation Format Guidelines." This sheet must be given to the Registrar at the time the project, thesis or dissertation is first submitted. This signed statement is not to be bound with the project, thesis or dissertation.

A student may not submit a paper that has been either wholly or partially written by someone else. Unless given the prior express approval of his or her instructor, a student may not submit a paper that is substantially the same as a paper that he or she has already submitted for another course, either at Westminster or any other institution.

For a lengthy example of what plagiarism is and is not, please refer to this link.

Any violation of the honor code automatically results in a minimum one-year suspension.

All members of the community are asked and expected so to uphold and protect this honor system that "we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness," which "is good and pleases God our Savior" (I Timothy 2:2-3). Any confirmed or proven violation of the honor system will normally result in suspension for one year from the Seminary. Students may not transfer to Westminster Theological Seminary credit hours for courses taken at another school during the period of suspension.