Faculty Responsibilities to Colleagues
No. 9-6 Rev. 12-1-87 Date 3-7-74
I. REFERENCE
AAUP Statement of Professional Ethics (1966)
II. POLICY
A. Ethical Canons
As colleagues, faculty have obligations that derive from common membership in a community of scholars. They respect and defend the free inquiry of associates. In the exchange of criticism and ideas, they show due respect for the opinions of others. They acknowledge academic debts and strive to be objective in the professional judgment of colleagues. Faculty accept their share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of the institution (based upon the AAUP Statement of Professional Ethics, 1966).
B. Standards of Behavior
1. Faculty members will, when properly requested through duly authorized administrative and faculty agencies, comment in candor and fairness on the work of colleagues. In making evaluations of the professional competence of faculty members, they use criteria that are directly reflective of professional performance. They avoid personal attacks on their colleagues but have the responsibility to critically evaluate performance on a professional basis.
2. Faculty members shall, when evaluating colleagues for initial appointment, promotion, tenure or general performance, be guided by the prime criteria of the candidate's professional status and potential worth to the University. Diversity of background and philosophy of faculty members should be considered among the chief means by which the University's offerings to students is enriched. Faculty members shall not engage in unlawful discrimination against colleagues.
3. Faculty members recognize that an institution of higher education is a community of scholars of great specialization of widely varied disciplines and that colleagues with different talents and training contribute importantly to the University's comprehensive offering. This should not be interpreted to disparage reasonable criticism of specific academic programs or disciplines.
4. Faculty members help to preserve an atmosphere congenial to philosophical speculation, the reasonable interpretation of data and the uncensored exchange of views. They respect and defend the right of free inquiry of fellow faculty members. They do not permit the appearance that they are the author of the work done by others.
5. When assigned, faculty members are diligent in fulfilling committee and research obligations and in accepting their share of the governance tasks of the University. When faculty members are engaged in joint research or other professional or administrative efforts with other persons, they are cooperative in meeting their obligations to their associates and in performing the tasks they have agreed to perform.
6. Academic freedom and tenure bring with it a special responsibility to faculty members. This responsibility is vital not only to the interest of the colleague, the student, the community and the University but also in maintaining an atmosphere conducive to continued academic freedom in the face of public criticism of the practice. Faculty self-discipline is a safeguard against arbitrary withdrawal of academic freedom and tenure by the public. Faculty members should feel the obligation to initiate action under the due process section of this manual in appropriate cases.