Faculty say modern cheating issues and anonymous reporting are prompting Ivy League schools to rethink their long-standing testing systems.
Princeton University will require all in-person exams to be proctored starting July 1, the most significant change to the school’s honors system since its inception more than 130 years ago.
Ivy League faculty approved the change in a one-and-done vote on Monday after months of debate over academic integrity issues, including the rise of artificial intelligence and personal electronic devices in classrooms, the Ivy League’s student newspaper The Daily Princetonian reported.
under new regulations policyteachers will remain present as observers during the exam but are instructed not to disturb students during the exam. If an alleged violation of the Honor Code occurs, proctors will document what they observe and report it to Princeton University’s student-governed Honor Council.
Princeton University’s honor system dates back to 1893, when students petitioned to remove proctors from exams and pledged not to cheat or assist others in cheating. That same year, faculty officially banned exam proctoring, creating one of the university’s most unique academic traditions.
The newly approved policy reverses 133 years of practice.
University officials said growing concerns about artificial intelligence tools and students’ reluctance to report classmates for cheating were the main reasons behind the change. Artificial intelligence and small electronic devices make inappropriate behavior “more difficult for other students to observe (and therefore report),” the proposal said.
Data from The Daily Princetonian’s 2025 Senior Survey show that nearly 30% of respondents said they had cheated on an assignment or test while at Princeton. About 44.6% said they were aware of an Honor Code violation but chose not to report it, while only 0.4% said they reported it to another student.
The proposal also notes an increase in anonymous reports of alleged violations, linked to concerns about online harassment or “doxing.”
The policy does not change Princeton’s Honor Code itself or the role of the Honor Committee, which remains student-led and can recommend sanctions up to expulsion.
Several other schools across the country have enacted similar no-proctor policies, including Haverford College and Bryn Mawr CollegeHowever, the move is a noteworthy shift given Princeton’s long history as one of the oldest and most prestigious student-governed honor codes.
