The Engineering Honor Code
In 1915, the students of the College of Engineering petitioned for the establishment of an Honor Code. The Code was promptly adopted with faculty approval in 1916 and has since been basic to life in the College of Engineering.
The Honor Code outlines certain standards of ethical conduct for persons associated with the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. The policies of the Honor Code apply to graduate and undergraduate students, faculty members, and administrators.
The Honor Code is based on these tenets:
- Engineers must possess personal integrity both as students and as professionals. They must be honorable people to ensure safety, health, fairness, and the proper use of available resources in their undertakings.
- Members of the College of Engineering community are honorable and trustworthy persons.
- The students, faculty members, and administrators of the College of Engineering trust each other to uphold the principles of the Honor Code. They are jointly responsible for precautions against violations of its policies.
- It is dishonorable for students to receive credit for work that is not the result of their own efforts.
Responsibilities of the Engineer
Faith of the Engineer, a statement widely accepted by the professional engineering societies, contains pledges that are relevant to the Honor Code of the College of Engineering:
“As an Engineer, I will participate in none but honest enterprise. To those who engage by services, an employer or client, I will give the utmost of performance and fidelity.”
“Jealous of the high repute of my calling, I will strive to protect the interests and the good name of any engineer that I know to be deserving; but I will not shrink, should duty dictate, from disclosing the truth regarding anyone that, by unscrupulous act, has shown himself unworthy of the profession.”
“To my fellows, I pledge, in the same full measure I ask of them, integrity and fair dealing, tolerance and respect, and devotion to the standards and the dignity of our profession.”
The Fundamental Canons for Engineers, as it appears on the National Society of Professional Engineers website
“Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties shall:
- Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
- Perform services only in areas of their competence.
- Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner
- Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
- Avoid deceptive acts.
- Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully so as to enhance the reputation and usefulness of the profession.”