Upon receiving a report of a violation, the Honor Committee will begin an investigation. Two members will be appointed investigators, and they will question relevant witnesses and acquire evidence. The purpose of the investigation is to establish the context of the alleged violation, and the student who has been accused does not find out about the accusation until the investigation has ended. 

After the investigators have talked to available witnesses, they will send an e-mail to the student in question, informing them they're under investigation, and inviting them to a meeting. In the initial meeting, investigators from the Honor Committee will explain what the accusation is and walk you through some of the important procedural knowledge. The meeting will be recorded, and investigators will usually ask questions about your preparation in the run-up to the exam and your performance during the exam. 

According to the Honor Constitution, every student has the right to a witness during the initial interview with investigators. There is no limitation to who the witness can be, and we strongly encourage you to ask for a Peer Representative rather than another student. The Peer Reps can meet with you before the initial contact with the Honor Committee to explain the process and offer support. 

After the meeting, the Honor Committee Chair and investigators jointly decide whether a hearing is warranted. Cases won't move to a hearing on the basis of testimony by a single witness, and they typically require two pieces of corroborating evidence to move to the next stage. If the Chair decides not to proceed to a hearing, all records of the case are destroyed. If a hearing is warranted, then the student and the Peer Representative will be notified with at least a day's notice, though typically father in advance. A student is constitutionally entitled to up to seven days of preparation before a hearing. 

If a case moves to hearing, Peer Representatives can help you identify and craft a compelling defensive strategy. According to the Honor Constitution, students are entitled to call witnesses, and Peer Representatives will cooperate with the Honor Committee to include testimony that may be helpful to your case. To accomplish this, your Peer Rep will meet with you as frequently as necessary before the hearing. Shortly before the hearing, the Chair will send a compilation of all available evidence that will be used during the hearing to the student and the Peer Rep.