Colleges and universities want to ensure students gain the most from their education and do not take away from the experience of others. Academic codes of conduct ensure that students are aware of the consequences of academic dishonesty and other unacceptable behaviors. Some schools, including Virginia State University and the University of Maryland, require that students sign a pledge of academic integrity demonstrating an understanding of the school's honesty and ethics policy.
Codes of conduct prohibit academic dishonesty, including cheating on examinations, intentional and unintentional plagiarism and lying to procure extensions on assignments. Schools also outline how academic dishonesty is determined and punished.
Some schools prohibit other behavior, such as tardiness and other disruptive classroom behavior. Religious schools, such as Catholic University, may require students to uphold personal and religious values not typically covered by other institutions.