Student Handbook 2024-25 > Community Expectations and Honor Board > Student Accountability Process > Honor Board Reporting and Hearing Procedures > Honor Board Amendments

Honor Board Amendments

Within a month of the start of every academic year, a town hall must be called to ratify and/or amend the Honor Code for that academic year. 

Any member of the Olin student body may submit a proposal for an amendment to the Honor Code to the Honor Board Chair or Vice Chair. The proposal must include the reasons for the amendment and the proposed wording of the amendment, along with signatures of at least 10% of the student body.

Once the proposal has been brought to the Honor Board, a Town Hall Meeting must be called within the semester to discuss and vote on the proposed amendment. Multiple amendments may be considered at one Town Hall Meeting. The Town Hall Meeting is open to all of the Olin community, and all students are expected to make an effort to attend. Quorum (half of the student body) must be met to vote on any amendments.

At the close of the meeting, all present students will vote by secret ballot, once per amendment, with the option to vote for each proposed amendment or the unchanged Honor Code. If no choice receives the votes of more than 50% of the student body or 75% of the students voting at the meeting, whichever is smaller, or if quorum is not reached, the Code remains unchanged.

After all proposed amendments are voted upon, all present students will vote by secret ballot on whether or not to abolish the Honor Code. If neither choice receives the vote of more than 50% of the student body the Honor Code remains in effect.

If the Honor Code is abolished, policies drafted by the Student Affairs Office will take effect immediately. In order to reinstate the Honor Code, a proposal must be submitted to the Student Affairs Office, which will put the issue to a student vote, as per the policies of the Student Affairs Office.