5.010 Purposes
We, the students of the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri Columbia, desiring to prepare ourselves for a profession that requires trust, honor, irreproachable conduct, and affirming that any dishonest means used by students in such preparation would be incompatible with such requirements, hereby adopt this Honor Code.

5.020 Application of Honor Code and Standards of Conduct
This Honor Code shall apply to all students enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program. In adopting this Honor Code, the faculty are absolved of proctoring responsibilities during examinations, but they are not deprived of their right to remain in the examination room to assist students taking an examination. Should an instructor witness a violation of the Honor Code, that instructor has the same responsibility as a student to uphold the Honor Code within the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Any conduct which tends to unfairly advance one's own academic status or advance or retard another person's academic status in any academic matter is considered unethical and contrary to this Honor Code. This phrase "academic matter" means all examinations including oral examinations, term paper preparation, case report preparation, surgical demonstration and any other activity which in any manner affects or results in a school grade or satisfaction of other requirements for graduation. By way of enumeration, but not by way of limitation the following shall be violations of this Honor Code:

(1) No student may during an examination have, consult, give to another, receive from another, or solicit from another any information or material not specifically authorized by the Instructor.

(2) No student may work on an examination other than during the time period prescribed nor in a room other than one designated for the taking of the examination.

(3) No student may, for any assignment which counts toward a grade or is required for graduation, consult unauthorized sources of information.

(4) No student may obtain knowledge of, or answers to, specific examination questions before that examination is taken. This does not include the study of old examinations.

(5) No student may remove or withhold material from the library or secrete such material in the library, or destroy or mutilate such material, or use such material, in a manner calculated to gain an unfair advantage for either himself or another student in connection with any academic matter. The same shall apply to educational material, equipment or facilities which may be provided or available in the Laboratory, Clinical Area, or Learning Center in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

(6) No student may knowingly falsify any medical record, necropsy report, or any other document relating to the treatment, care, health, or disposition of any laboratory animal or patient in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

(7) No student may make changes on a graded examination and then resubmit it for grading.

(8) Intentional disturbance or distraction during an examination which interferes with the efforts of others will be a violation of this Honor Code.

(9) It shall be a violation of this Honor Code for anyone other than the accused to fail to report a SUSPECTED violation or to fail to give information, to testify, or to attend hearings, except for good cause shown. Reports should be made to a member of the Student Honor Code Committee, NOT TO A FACULTY MEMBER.

5.030 Student Honor Committee Functions
The principal functions of the Student Honor Committee are the following:

(1) To assist the Dean and the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in the orientation of new students as to their privileges and responsibilities under the Honor Code, and to keep the Honor Code in view of all students.

(2) To organize programs designed to educate students about the functions of the honor system in the College of Veterinary Medicine and ethics in the Veterinary Medical Profession.

(3) To hold hearings on alleged violations of the Honor Code, to make findings of fact with reference thereto, and in case there is a finding of violation, to impose sanctions as in this Honor Code.

5.040 Student Faculty Honor Committee Function
The principal function of the Student Faculty Honor Committee is to hold hearings on alleged violations of the Honor Code, to make findings of fact with reference thereto, and in case there is finding of violation, to impose sanctions as in this Honor Code.

5.050 Right of Election
An accused may elect either the Student Honor Committee or the Student Faculty Honor Committee.

5.060 Student Honor Committee

(1) COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE. Full membership of the Student Honor Committee shall consist of eight students, two fourth year students, two third year students, two second year students, and two first year students, except in the case of temporary vacancy when an alternate from any class can fill the vacancy.

(2) ELIGIBILITY AND APPOINTMENT. The eight Student Honor Committee members, two from each class and the eight alternate members, two from each class, shall be appointed by the President of the Student Chapter of the AVMA, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board, of the Student Chapter of the AVMA (Executive Board) and the Dean, provided always that the students selected shall be members in good standing of the Student Chapter of the AVMA.

(3) CHAIRMAN. A fourth year member of the Committee shall be elected Chairman of the Committee by a majority vote of the entire Committee, to serve at the pleasure of the Committee. In the case of a temporary vacancy, any member of the Committee can be elected Chairman by a majority vote of the entire Committee. The Chairman shall be entitled to vote on all matters before the Committee.

(4) TIME OF APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE

(a) FIRST YEAR MEMBERS. The selection of the first year members shall be made within 6 weeks after the beginning of the first (fall) semester of the academic year, and they shall hold office until new first year members are selected the following academic year.

(b) SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH YEAR MEMBERS. The selection of second, third and fourth year members shall be made within 3 weeks after the beginning of the academic year. Fourth year members shall hold office until a new selection is made the following academic year or until graduation, whichever occurs first. Second and third year members shall hold office until new selections are made the following academic year.

(c) FORFEITURE OF MEMBERSHIP FOR CAUSE. A student is ineligible to continue as a member of the Student Honor Committee if he is placed on academic or disciplinary probation, or if for any other reason his continued membership on the Committee may not be in the best interest of the College of Veterinary Medicine as determined by the Dean after consultation with the Executive Board, or as determined by the Executive Board after consultation with the Dean.

(d) PERMANENT VACANCIES. If by graduation, or for any other reason, a permanent vacancy occurs during a normal term of office, such vacancy shall be filled by the procedure described in 5.060(4e).

(e) TEMPORARY VACANCIES. Vacancies created on the Committee when a member disqualifies himself or the Committee sustains a challenge for cause by the accused, shall be filled with an alternate student member with the advice and consent of the Committee.

5.070 Student Faculty Honor Committee

(1) COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE. The Student Faculty Honor Committee shall consist of four members of the Faculty, College of Veterinary Medicine and four members of the Student Honor Committee, one member from each class, except in the case of a temporary vacancy when an alternate from any class can fill the vacancy.

(2) ELIGIBILITY AND APPOINTMENT. The faculty members of the Student Faculty Honor Committee shall be appointed by the Dean, by and with the advice and consent of the Faculty. The student members of the Student Faculty Honor Committee shall be appointed by the President of the Student Chapter of the AVMA, by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Board and the Dean.

(3) CHAIRMAN. One of the faculty members of the Committee shall be elected Chairman of the Committee by a majority vote of the entire Committee, to serve at the pleasure of the Committee. The Chairman shall be entitled to vote on all matters before the Committee.

(4) TIME OF APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE.

(a) FACULTY MEMBERS. The selection of the faculty members shall be made prior to the beginning of the academic year, and they shall hold office until new members are selected the following academic year.

(b) STUDENT MEMBERS. The selection of the student members shall be made as soon as practical after the selection of members of the Student Honor Committee.

(c) FORFEITURE OF MEMBERSHIP FOR CAUSE. A student member of the Student Faculty Honor Committee is ineligible to continue as a member of the Student Faculty Honor Committee at any time after he ceases to be a member of the Student Honor Committee.

(d) PERMANENT VACANCIES. If for any reason a permanent vacancy occurs during a normal term of office, such vacancy shall be filled by the procedure prescribed in 5.070(2). If for any reason the vacancy is not filled when needed, it may be treated as a temporary vacancy and filled as prescribed in 5.070(4e).

(e) TEMPORARY VACANCIES. Vacancies created on the Committee when a member disqualified himself or the Committee sustains a challenge for cause by the accused, shall be filled with a temporary faculty or an alternate student member, as the case may be, chosen by the Chairman with the advice and consent of the Committee. The advice and consent of the Dean shall be obtained in the case of a faculty vacancy.

5.080 Procedure Reports of Violations, Investigations, Notice

(1) REPORTS OF VIOLATION MADE TO WHOM. Every student, faculty, or staff member shall report violations of the Honor Code. Such reports may be made to any member of the Honor Committee and not to the instructor of the course. Any member of the Committee receiving a report of a violation of the Honor Code shall notify the Chairman of such report.

(2) COMMITTEE MEETINGS CALLED BY WHOM. The chairman on his own initiative, or upon demand of any two members of the Student Honor Committee, shall call meetings of the Committee.

(3) ADVICE OF THE DEAN. The Committee or Committee Chairman may solicit advice and counsel from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs during the investigation or subsequent hearing.

(4) NOTICE TO DEAN. The Dean shall be notified as soon as the Student Honor Committee receives a report of a violation. He shall be informed of the details of the alleged violation insofar as known, but not the names of either the accused or of the accusing persons.

(5) INVESTIGATION. Under the direction of the Chairman, an investigation of all reported violations shall be held promptly to determine if sufficient cause exists to require a formal hearing. The Chairman shall seek the counsel of the entire Student Honor Committee.

(6) NOTICE TO ACCUSED. If after the investigation the Student Honor Committee finds there is sufficient cause for a formal hearing, the Chairman of the Student Honor Committee shall give written notice to the accused as follows:

(a) The notice shall be by certified mail to the last known address of the accused or by personal delivery to the accused.

(b) The notice shall set forth the date, time, and place of the alleged violation; the substance of the alleged violation; the rights of the accused to elect either of the Committees and the procedure for making the election under 5.090; and the date, time and place of hearing before the respective Honor Committee. A copy of this Honor Code shall accompany the notice.

(c) The notice shall be given at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the date set for the hearing. The accused may elect to have a hearing before the specified date if the Honor Committee has set forth an optional date within these seven days. Where certified mail is used, the notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail addressed to the last known address of the accused with postage affixed.

(d) Proof of the giving of notice shall be made by the affidavit of the person mailing or delivering the notice. The affidavit of notice shall become a part of the records of the hearing.

5.090 Accused May Elect Either Committee for Hearing

(1) RIGHT OF ELECTION. An accused may elect either the Student Honor Committee or the Student Faculty Honor Committee.

(2) NOTICE OF ELECTION. Within seven (7) calendar days after the giving of notice of accusation as prescribed in 5.080(6), the accused shall notify in writing the Chairman of the Student Honor Committee of his election under 5.050. The notice of election by an accused shall be addressed to the Chairman of the Student Honor Committee and delivered by mail or otherwise to the Dean's Office at the College of Veterinary Medicine "within the seven (7) calendar day period". In event such election is not timely made, the hearing shall be before the Student Committee.

(3) CHANGE OF ELECTION. The accused may not change his election under 5.090(1) after the time for giving notice under 5.090(2) has expired, except with the consent of the Student Honor Committee for good cause shown. The accused may change his election under 5.090(1) without the consent of the Student Honor Committee if the change occurs prior to the time for giving notice under 5.090(2). In no event shall the election be changed after the hearing has begun before either Committee.

5.100 Procedure Student Honor Committee and Student Faculty Honor Committee Hearings

(1) IN GENERAL. At the formal hearing before either the Student Honor Committee or the Student Faculty Honor Committee, the generally accepted standards for a fair and impartial hearing shall be observed. The procedures set forth hereinafter shall be interpreted and administered to accomplish this objective and provide for prompt consideration and disposition of honor code cases. The proceedings are not to be construed as adversary proceedings or judicial trails, but care shall be taken to comply as fully as possible with the spirit and intent of the procedural safeguards set forth herein.

(2) RIGHTS OF ACCUSED UPON HEARING. An accused appearing before either Committee shall have the right: (a) to be present at the hearing; (b) to have the full membership of the Committee present; (c) to hear or examine evidence presented to the Committee; (d) to question witnesses present and testifying at the hearing; (e) to present an opening statement to the Committee and to present evidence by witness or affidavit; (f) to be informed in writing of the findings of the Committee and any sanctions imposed; and (g) to petition for review or appeal as hereinafter provided.

(3) EVIDENCE. The formal exclusionary rules of evidence shall not apply and the Committee may consider the testimony of witnesses, affidavits, written reports, other memoranda, photographs, drawings, and any other relevant materials.

(4) RIGHTS OF THE COMMITTEE. The Committee shall have the right to permit the incorporation in the record by reference of any document, affidavit or other evidence produced by the Committee or the accused. The Committee shall have the right to question witnesses at any time, to call additional witnesses, additional investigation, to dismiss any charge at any time, and to remove any person from the hearing who interferes with, obstructs the hearing or fails on request to abide by the rulings of the Chairman or the Committee.

(5) OTHER PROCEDURAL QUESTIONS. Procedural questions which arise during the hearing not covered by these general rules shall be determined by the Chairman, whose ruling shall be final; provided, however, the Chairman shall present the question to the Committee at the request of a member of the Committee, in which event the ruling of the Committee by majority vote shall be final.

(6) RECORD OF TESTIMONY. A complete record of the hearing shall be made by either a mechanical recording device or by stenographic record. The record shall not include the deliberations of the Committee. This record shall be made available to the accused at reasonable times. Except as otherwise provided herein, the record shall remain confidential.

(7) OBSERVERS NO LEGAL COUNSEL. The accused shall have the privilege of having a reasonable number of observers at the hearing. Neither the accused nor the Committee shall be entitled to have legal counsel at the hearing and observers may not function as lay or legal counsel.

(8) DISQUALIFICATION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS. Any member of the Committee may disqualify himself from hearing any charged violation. The accused shall also have the privilege of challenging members of the Committee for cause. Such challenges, if any, shall be ruled on by the Committee.

(9) TEMPORARY VACANCIES. Vacancies created on the Committee by disqualification of a member shall be filled as provided in 5.070(4e).

(10) CONDUCT OF HEARING.

(a) OPENING STATEMENTS. The Chairman of the Committee shall preside at the hearing, call the meeting to order, call the roll of the Committee in attendance, ascertain the presence or absence of the accused, read the notice of hearing and charges and verify the receipt of notice of charges by the accused, and call to the attention of the accused any special procedures to be employed during the hearing. Any objections to the procedures already taken or to be followed shall be made at this time for consideration by the Committee.

(b) CONTINUANCES. If it appears that essential testimony is unavailable or that for other good cause the hearing should be deferred, the Committee may continue, recess or discontinue the hearing without prejudice.

(c) PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE AGAINST THE ACCUSED. A member of the Committee shall present the evidence against the accused.

(d) ACCUSED'S OPENING STATEMENT. The accused shall have an opportunity to make a statement to the Committee about the charge. Such statement may be made following the presentation of evidence against the accused.

(e) ACCUSED'S EVIDENCE. The accused may then present his evidence.

(f) REBUTTAL EVIDENCE. The Committee may permit any matter to be presented in rebuttal of evidence presented.

(11) DETERMINATION BY THE COMMITTEE. The Committee shall promptly deliberate and make its findings and determinations in executive session. If a majority of the Committee is convinced by the evidence that the accused has committed the violation charged, it shall impose one or more of the sanctions provided in 5.120.

(12) OFFICIAL REPORT OF FINDINGS AND DETERMINATION.

( a) REPORT TO ACCUSED. The Committee shall prepare its findings and any sanctions imposed in writing and transmit them to the accused.

(b) REPORT TO DEAN. The Committee shall prepare its findings and any sanctions in writing and transmit them to the Dean. Names are to be included only when a violation has been found to have been committed. A minority report may be included.

(c) RECORDS TO DEAN. The records and memoranda of the hearing shall be delivered to the Dean in a sealed envelope for safekeeping.

(d) RECORDS AVAILABLE TO APPELLATE AUTHORITY. When a student sanctioned under this code appeals to the University Authorities as specified in 5.110 the records and memoranda of the hearing and the findings, sanctions imposed and any minority opinion shall be made available to the appellate authority.

(e) RECORDS AVAILABLE TO ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE. When a student dismissed from the College of Veterinary Medicine by a sanctioning authority under this code applies for readmission, the findings, sanctions imposed and any minority opinion will be made available to the Committee on Admissions and Scholarship of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

(f) RECORDS AVAILABLE TO COMMITTEE IN CASES OF PROBATION. When a student currently under probation as specified in 5.120(4) is accused of a second violation, the Committee shall review the findings, sanctions imposed and any minority opinion.

(g) DISPOSITION OF RECORD. The records shall be kept available until the graduation of the individual or until all legal action is terminated, at which time the records shall be destroyed.

5.110 Procedures Appeal

(1) RIGHT TO APPEAL. The accused may appeal a decision of the Student Honor Committee or the Student Faculty Honor Committee to University authorities as specified in the University of Missouri Rules of Procedure in Student Disciplinary Matters.

5.120 Sanctions
Where a sanctioning authority under this Honor Code finds that a violation of the Honor Code has occurred, one or more of the following sanctions may be taken as provided herein.

(1) DISMISSAL. Dismissal from the College of Veterinary Medicine for an indefinite period of time (the dismissed student at any time may petition the Committee on Admissions and Scholarship of the College of Veterinary Medicine for readmission). This Committee may remand the case to the general faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

(2) DISMISSAL FOR A DEFINITE PERIOD. Dismissal from the College of Veterinary Medicine for a definite period of time, during which a petition for readmission will not be considered. A petition to the Committee on Admissions and Scholarship will be necessary if readmission is requested after the expiration of the dismissal period. This Committee may remand the case to the general faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

(3) SUSPENSION. Suspension from the College of Veterinary Medicine for a definite period of time or until a specified future date, with a statement whether suspension should relate back to the time of the offense, or being at the time imposed, or begin at a specified future date. (The suspended student may return without petitioning for readmission.)

(4) PROBATION. Disciplinary probation, subject to any appropriate conditions.

(5) REPRIMAND OR ADMONITION. Written reprimand or admonition or oral reprimand or admonition.

(6) STATUS OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. The above sanctions apply to the status of the accused in the College of Veterinary Medicine. The misconduct may be called to the attention of the proper University authority for appropriate action by the authority.

5.130 Confidential Nature of Proceedings

(1) CONFIDENTIALITY. Proceedings under the Honor Code shall be held in confidence.

(2) PUBLIC REPORT OF FINDINGS. Upon petition of a person charged under this Honor Code, the appropriate Committee may, for good cause shown and having first consulted the Dean, post an appropriate report in a public place in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

5.140 Amendments

(1) Amendments to the Honor Code may be proposed by petition of any ten members of the Student Chapter of the AVMA, by the Executive Board on its own motion, by petition of a majority of the members of the Student Honor Committee, or by petition of any five members of the regular faculty.

(2) A proposed Amendment, other than one proposed by the Faculty, shall be directed to the Faculty but shall be transmitted through the Executive Board which may make a recommendation thereon.

(3) A proposed Amendment approved by the Faculty shall be submitted to the members of the Student Chapter of the AVMA pursuant to Article VIII, By Laws. (8.000)

(4) A proposed Amendment shall be adopted if at the adoption election:

(a) at least 60 percent of the members of the Student Chapter of the AVMA vote at such election, and

(b) at least two thirds of the members voting shall vote favoring the proposed Amendment, and

(c) a simple majority of the ballots cast by the members of the Student Chapter of the AVMA of each class in the College of Veterinary Medicine shall vote favoring the proposed Amendment.

5.150 Termination

(1) BY THE STUDENTS. This Honor Code may be terminated at any time by action under the general amending procedure, Article VIII, By Laws (8.000), except that the Honor Code shall be terminated if a simple majority of those members voting favor termination.

(2) BY THE FACULTY. This Honor Code may be terminated at any time by a simple majority vote of the Faculty.

5.160 Adoption

(1) This Honor Code shall be in effect when jointly approved by the regular Faculty and by the students as provided in 5.140(4).