Standards of Excellence Honor Code
Spelman College is a world-class institution and America’s oldest historically Black college for
women.
For more than a century Spelman College has educated, nurtured and empowered women
citizens of the world focused on global change, leadership and service.
Spelman women are socially
and politically conscious, educated to
be aware of themselves and their environment. A Spelman
education requires the highest standards of academic excellence. Students stand on a firm
foundation of history and traditions, and demonstrate great pride in the alumnae who have gone on to
achieve personal and professional success.
As a woman of Spelman College, I make a promise to be a person of civility, commitment, and
consistency as evidenced in my attitude, behavior, and academic achievement on and off campus,
and abroad. I honor Spelman College as a community that nurtures spirit, scholarship, and service. I
show genuine civility and demonstrate tolerance and respect for other cultures. I will uphold and
model the Spelman College Standards of Excellence Honor Code. Honor is defined as honesty,
fairness, and integrity in one’s beliefs and actions. I will practice honesty, fairness, and integrity as a
way of life. I commit to honor myself, my Spelman sisters, and Spelman College.
♦ Civility ♦
1. I contribute to a civil environment of respect and encourage inclusiveness in a manner that
models free inquiry, critical thinking, and intellectual engagement.
2. I am honest. I will do my own academic work. I will not lie, cheat, steal, plagiarize, forge, or falsify
any information.
3. I am civil. I will not fight, instigate, or perpetuate discord within the community or on social
networking sites.
♦ Commitment ♦
4. I take responsibility and understand that I am accountable for my behavior, personal growth, and
development of character.
5. I practice respect and integrity at all times as I contribute to a culture and community of
excellence.
6. I honor my commitments. I attend classes and activities to which I commit on time as outlined by
my instructors and/or administrators, and I deliver quality outcomes in a reliable, timely, and
positive manner.
♦ Consistency ♦
7. I commit to engage in respectful relationships with friends, acquaintances, roommates,
classmates, faculty, administrators, staff, alumnae, guests, and those outside the Spelman
community on a daily basis.
8. I engage in actions that affirm our sisterhood as a culture of support on a daily basis.
9. I commit daily to executing my responsibilities and all that I do with unwavering dedication to
excellence.
Every Spelman woman will be challenged to exceed her own highest personal and intellectual
expectations and goals. I understand that the Standards of Excellence Honor Code is fundamental to
creating a quality of student life that encourages the personal growth and development of Spelman
women. I also acknowledge that I am on an educational journey in the process of becoming a
Spelman woman who is uniquely me. Therefore, I commit to step out of my comfort zone in search of
my true identity with the support of the Spelman community which includes my Spelman sisters,
faculty, staff, alumnae, and the many donors and philanthropists who support Spelman College. I
have entered Spelman College to learn, and I will commit to graduating from Spelman College
prepared to lead and serve the global community.
I am a woman of Spelman – intelligent, beautiful, intrepid, confident, and socially conscious. I am
Spelman College, and Spelman College is me. I commit to fully embrace, respect, and uphold the
Spelman College Standards of Excellence Honor Code.
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