Honor
Rather than requiring perfection, The Honor Code calls students to learn from failures and choose the way of courage, sound judgment, and compassion.
The King’s College Honor Code
A student of The King’s College will not lie, cheat or steal, or turn a blind eye to those who do. Every student is honor-bound to confront any other student who breaches the Honor Code.
The Harder Road of Virtue
In addition to learning the ideas upon which nations rise or fall, King’s students are called to live with courage, justice, and self-mastery—to become people who do not take moral shortcuts, but opt for the harder road of virtue. This sort of character is necessary for students who hope to offer principled leadership in strategic institutions.
Unity in Diversity
Throughout Scripture, we see God working to bring together people from various racial and socio-economic backgrounds. Compelled by God’s love that drew us together, we commit to creating a culture that takes seriously the biblical command to unity in diversity.
Daniel Powers ’19
In my time at King’s, the spirit of the Honor Code has been a tool that works as a refining fire, not just as a few rules that I follow. It is a standard that I try to hold myself to, and those with whom I’m closest do as well. The question with the Honor Code is not strictly whether you have lied, cheated, or stolen, but rather a question of whether or not you are pursuing a more virtuous and honorable life. A life of honor is not made by being perfect (such a feat would be impossible) but instead by constantly pushing to learn and grow from your failures.
Elizabeth Logan ’19
The Honor Code is what keeps the King’s community together. Because we are a small community, it takes effort from everyone involved to make it flourish. That means that people will fall, but there will also be people to help them stand back up. The Honor Code has made me more aware of how my actions affected my community, especially within my House. When I started to slip, the girls in my house encouraged me to seek help and seriously think about my actions. Without them, I don’t think I would be the person I am today.
David Leedy
Dean of Students
According to the King’s honor system, every student is honor bound to confront any other student who breaches the Honor Code. If that doesn’t grate against the spirit of our age, I don’t know what does. Live and let live is the motto of our day. But in a Biblical worldview, I bear responsibility for those in my orbit (my neighbors). When my neighbor errs, I have an opportunity and obligation to go after him. If I shirk that obligation, I don’t really love him, at least not in practice. Indeed, I’ve even wronged him and partaken in his guilt. Sobering? Yes. Difficult? Absolutely.
