UAF Faculty Statement of Professional Ethics

In 1997 the UAF Faculty Senate moved to establish a Statement of Professional Ethics. The statement is an is an adaptation of the AAUP “Statement on Professional Ethics” (originally adopted in 1966) as well as portions of the AAUP’s “1940 Statement on Freedom and Responsibility” which is recommended reading for all faculty. Teaching and research faculty benefit from understanding the interdependent relationship between the rights of academic freedom and the responsibilities of professional, ethical behavior. The UAF Faculty Statement of Professional Ethics was drafted so that “UAF faculty may choose expressly and positively to affirm the principles and norms governing their conduct generally as members of the academic community” ¹.

The UAF Faculty Statement of Professional Ethics reads as follows:

I. Professors, guided by a deep conviction of the worth and dignity of the advancement of knowledge, recognize the special responsibilities placed upon them. Their primary responsibility to their subject is to seek and to state the truth as they see it. To this end professors devote their energies to developing and improving their scholarly competence. They accept the obligation to exercise critical self-discipline and judgment in using, extending, and transmitting knowledge. They practice intellectual honesty. Although professors may follow subsidiary interests, these interests must never seriously hamper or compromise their freedom of inquiry.

 

II. As teachers, professors encourage the free pursuit of learning in their students. They hold before them the best scholarly and ethical standards of their discipline. Therefore, Professors have high expectations for their students and expect students to meet those expectations to the best of their ability. Professors demonstrate respect for students as individuals and adhere to their proper roles as intellectual guides and counselors. Professors make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct and to ensure that their evaluations of students reflect each student ¹s true merit. They respect the confidential nature of the relationship between professor and student. They avoid any exploitation, harassment, or discriminatory treatment of students. They acknowledge significant academic or scholarly assistance from them. Professors protect students’ academic freedom.

 

III. As colleagues, professors have obligations that derive from common membership in the community of scholars. Professors do not discriminate against or harass colleagues. They respect and defend the free inquiry of associates. In the exchange of criticism and ideas professors show due respect for the opinions of others. Professors acknowledge academic debt and strive to be objective in their professional judgment of colleagues. Professors accept their share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of their institution.

 

IV. As members of an academic institution, professors seek above all to be effective teachers and scholars. Although professors observe the stated regulations of the institution, provided the regulations do not contravene academic freedom, they maintain their right to criticize and seek revision. Professors give due regard to their paramount responsibilities within their institution in determining the amount and character of work done outside it. When considering resignation or the interruption of their service, professors recognize the effect of their decision upon the institution and give due notice of their intentions.

 

V. As members of their community, professors have the rights and obligations of other citizens. Professors measure the urgency of these obligations in the light of their responsibilities to their subject, to their students, to their profession, and to their institution. When they speak or act as private persons they avoid creating the impression of speaking or acting for their college or university. As citizens engaged in a profession that depends upon freedom for its health and integrity, professors have a particular obligation to promote conditions of free inquiry and to further public understanding of academic freedom.

¹Actions, UAF Faculty Senate meeting, May 12, 1997, #72