Bryn Mawr College

The Honor Code and Self-Government

The Honor Code

Student life, in and out of the classroom, is governed by the College’s Honor Code, a set of principles that stress mutual respect and academic integrity. Students ratify the code, agree to adhere to it, and enforce its provisions. Students set their own policies in residence halls, adjudicate their own disputes, take responsibility for the integrity of their research and scholarship, and work hard to build a genuinely free, open, and fair community. They also gain first-hand experience in collaboration and leadership, negotiation and compromise, freedom and responsibility.

Self Government

Every undergraduate is a member of the College’s Self-Government Association, the nation’s oldest student government. In 1892, Bryn Mawr became the first college in the country to give its undergraduates responsibility for establishing and enforcing community standards and rules of behavior. Today, students have a major role in decisions that touch every corner of campus—from the alcohol policy to faculty appointments, from the grading system to the coffee served in the cafeteria (Fair Trade). The Self-Government Association is a revered tradition and a vital presence on campus—a chance for students to lead, to serve, and to shape their community.