Duties and Responsibilities of the PA Honor Council
Regarding Honor System Issues

A. PA Honor Council  

The PA Honor Council Chair and two other faculty members are appointed from the PA faculty by the Chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies (Department Chair) and student members are selected by the faculty. Student members shall include two first year students with one alternate. First year students will be selected to a term of 2 years. In the event that both appointed students are geographically unavailable during the Clinical Year, two other second year students shall be appointed to serve in their absence. Student members must maintain program academic and professional standards to remain on the Council.

B. Duties of the PA Honor Council

The PA Honor Council shall educate the student body on The Honor Code and System and the duties of individuals in the Wake Forest University School of Medicine community living under The Honor Code.

Upon matriculation to the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Department of Physician Assistant Studies, each new student shall receive a copy of The Honor Code and Honor Pledge for signature. Signed copies will be kept in student record files

C. Responsibilities of the PA Honor Council

The PA Honor Council shall be responsible for hearing accusations, initiating investigations of suspected honor code infractions, and trying cases in a fair and impartial manner. The Council shall seek objective evidence that an infraction has occurred in order to make recommendations to the Department Chair or his designee. At all times, the members of the PA Honor Council should maintain an attitude of impartiality when reviewing the evidence presented to them. Furthermore, all cases should proceed under the assumption that the accused is innocent until proven guilty of a violation of the Honor Code.

D. Confidentiality regarding honor issues

The integrity of the rights of the accused must be preserved at all times. The members of the PA Honor Council are duty bound to maintain the strictest measure of confidentiality when hearing Honor Code accusations and proceeding with investigations or Hearings. The accused shall have a right to know his or her accuser and the charges alleged against him or her. Confidentiality is to be maintained by all parties regarding the investigation of violations. Breach of confidentiality will be considered an Honor Code violation.

Updated 6/08*