Following Wednesday morning's release of a new Church handbook, the Church Educational System has updated their honor code. According to BYU News, “With the recently released general handbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Church Educational System has updated the CES Honor Code to be in alignment with the doctrine and policies of the Church.”
The CES Honor Code found on BYU News states:
Brigham Young University and other Church Educational System institutions exist to provide an education in an atmosphere consistent with the ideals and principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That atmosphere is created and preserved by a community of faculty, administration, staff, and students who voluntarily commit to conduct their lives in accordance with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ and who strive to maintain the highest standards in their personal conduct regarding honor, integrity, morality, and consideration of others. By accepting appointment, continuing in employment, being admitted, or continuing class enrollment, each member of the BYU community personally commits to observe these Honor Code standards approved by the Board of Trustees “at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9):
- Be honest.
- Live a chaste and virtuous life, including abstaining from any sexual relations outside a marriage between a man and a woman.
- Respect others, including the avoidance of profane and vulgar language.
- Obey the law and follow campus policies.
- Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, vaping, and substance abuse.
- Participate regularly in Church services (required only of Church members).
- Observe Brigham Young University’s dress and grooming standards.
- Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code.
Changes to the CES Honor Code from the previous BYU Honor Code include:
- The addition of “including abstaining from any sexual relations outside a marriage between a man and a woman” in the bullet point about living a chaste and virtuous life.
- The addition of “including the avoidance of profane and vulgar language” in the bullet point about respecting others.
- The addition of abstaining from “vaping” in the bullet point about abstaining from other substances.
- The addition of “required only of Church members” in the bullet point about participating regularly in Church services.
- The removal of a section on homosexual behavior in the BYU Honor Code that read, "One’s stated same-gender attraction is not an honor code issue. However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity. Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings." Visit Deseret News for more information.
The BYU News sitestates that each campus will continue to maintain its own dress and grooming standards.
