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Even the most conservative universities in the world are beginning to revise their rules due to the development of artificial intelligence. Princeton University, one of the oldest universities in the US, has decided to abandon the examination system that successfully operated for 130+ years. Starting July 1, in-person exams at the university will for the first time be held under the supervision of instructors. Previously, students took them without proctors: the system was based exclusively on trust and personal responsibility, and this approach was part of the famous Princeton University Honor Code, which had been in effect since 1893. Students were required to independently uphold academic integrity rules, not cheat, and even report violations by other students.
However, the development of AI and the changing attitudes of students toward long-standing rules forced the university to reconsider this model. The catalyst was the results of a 2025 survey: about 30% of students admitted to cheating on tests, many were aware of Honor Code violations by others but preferred not to intervene. Only 0.4% of respondents reported violations.
After lengthy discussion, faculty members supported the changes almost unanimously — only one person voted against. Professors will now be present at exams as observers. For Princeton University, this is not merely a technical change, but effectively the end of one of the most well-known university traditions, which for decades was considered a symbol of trust between the institution and its students.
