3.1.5.1 Ethics and Responsibilities
(Charter)
The faculty consists of administrators and teaching faculty. Whenever the term "faculty" is used, it refers to these groups, unless otherwise indicated.
Code of Ethics1
Institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good and not to further the interest of either the individual faculty members or the institution as a whole. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic freedom is essential to these purposes and applies both to teaching and research. Freedom in research is fundamental to the advancement of truth. Academic freedom in its teaching aspect is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty in teaching and of the student to freedom in learning. It carries with it duties correlative with rights.
Faculty members are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties, but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the institution.
Faculty members are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject. Limitations of academic freedom because of religious or other aims of the institution should be clearly stated in writing at the time of the appointment.
Faculty members are citizens, members of a learned profession, and representatives of an educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars and educators, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence they should at all times be accurate, exercise appropriate restraint, show respect for the opinions of others, and make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.
(Bylaws)
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Faculty members should consider their first duty in all circumstances to be the discovery and exposition of truth in their own fields of study.
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Just as higher education is conducted for the common good of society, so faculty members should be concerned with the common good of all university entities. For students, faculty members should provide nurturing beyond classroom teaching. For colleagues, they should provide assistance in reaching professional goals, thereby enhancing the educational atmosphere. The University has a tradition of shared governance; faculty members should recognize their obligation to participate. Faculty members are leaders who enjoy community esteem; they should recognize their commensurate societal responsibilities and seek opportunities to serve.
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Because of their special position in the University, faculty members must exercise their power and influence judiciously. Rightfully expecting academic freedom for themselves, they should be careful to accord their students a like freedom; they should not exploit students financially or scholastically. Faculty members should avoid unfair competition with colleagues for position, rank, or students. During the school year they should avoid undertaking for pay extensive activities outside their university duties.
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Faculty members should be inclusive and respectful of the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of students and colleagues. They should treat others fairly. Faculty should be attentive to the diverse needs and sensitivities of those around them, while recognizing that higher education often requires the exploration of challenging material that may make some uncomfortable.
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Faculty members should hold in confidence the ideas, needs, weaknesses, and failures of their students, as well as departmental or school matters not intended for dissemination. Faculty members should recognize that they owe to their profession, to their colleagues, and to their school a reasonable tact in the utterance of remarks.
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Faculty members should be alert and cooperative in the detection and reporting to appropriate disciplinary agencies all cases of student dishonesty and misconduct harmful to the objectives and ideals of the department or University. It is their duty, however, to take care that students charged with offenses of this sort have opportunity for a hearing in order to ensure the submission of all relevant facts and a just disposition of their cases.
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1adapted from the American Association of University Professors 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure.