Can an honor code prevent cheating at Harvard?

Harvard University, whose motto “Veritas” means “truth,” has never had a student honor code in its nearly 400-year history – as far as it knows. But allegations against 125 students for improperly collaborating on a take-home final in the spring are leading to renewed consideration of the idea, the Associated Press reports. Though widely associated with college life, formal honor codes are hard to implement and fairly rare on American campuses. But some would argue they’re especially important at places like Harvard that are wellsprings of so many future leaders in government and business. Cheating and plagiarism are serious rule violations at Harvard, just like anywhere else. But Donald McCabe of Rutgers University, an expert on academic cheating, puts the number of schools that go beyond such rules with some sort of formal honor code at no more than about 100. Details vary, but the commonalities are a pledge signed – and largely enforced – by students not to cheat. Some require students also to report any cheating they witness…

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