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The College was named for English patriots John Hampden (1594-1643) and Algernon Sydney (1622-1683).

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Honor and Tradition

On My Honor......

At Hampden-Sydney, the word honor describes a way of life. Our student-run Honor System has been a vital force on campus for over 250 years and continues to live and breathe because of the ongoing commitment of the student body and faculty. Our students take the Honor Code very seriously because they enjoy the privilege and freedom it gives. The Honor Code is far more than a set of rules. It's a code to live by - not only while you're here at Hampden-Sydney, but also for the rest of your life.

Two basic rules govern the behavior of Hampden-Sydney students, allowing the College community to operate with mutual trust and respect.

The first rule is the Code of Conduct, under which Hampden-Sydney students promise to treat each other, members of the College community, and everyone else they meet, as they would like to be treated themselves. This Rule is as valuable today as when it was simply stated in the early nineteenth century:

"The Hampden-Sydney student will behave as a gentleman at all times and in all places."

The second rule, the Honor Code, is in fact a subset of the first and, like it, applies at all times and in all places:

"The Hampden-Sydney student will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do."