(Name of Academic Unit)
Academic Integrity:
Faculty Obligations and Student
Rights
A faculty
member accepts an obligation, in relation to his or her students, to discharge
his or her duties in a fair and conscientious manner in accordance with the
ethical standards generally recognized within the academic community (as well
as those of the profession).
Without limiting the
application of the above principle, members of the faculty are also expected (except
in cases of illness or other compelling circumstance) to conduct themselves in
a professional manner, including the following:
1. To meet their classes
when scheduled.
2. To be available at
reasonable times for appointments with students, and to keep such appointments.
3. To make appropriate
preparation for classes and other meetings.
4. To perform their grading
duties and other academic evaluations in a timely manner.
5. To
describe to students, within the period in which a student may add and drop a
course, orally, in writing, or by reference to printed course
descriptions, the general content and objectives of a course; and announce the
methods and standards of evaluation, including the importance to be assigned
various factors in academic evaluation and, in advance of any evaluation, the
permissible materials or references allowed during evaluation.
6. To base all academic
evaluations upon good-faith professional judgment.
7. Not
to consider, in academic evaluation, such factors as race, color, religion,
sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, and political or cultural
affiliation, and life style, activities, or behavior outside the classroom
unrelated to academic achievement.
8. To
respect the confidentiality of information regarding a student contained in
University records; and to refrain from releasing such information, except in
connection with intra-University business, or with student consent, or as may
be permitted by law.
9. Not to exploit his or
her professional relationship with students for private advantage; and to
refrain from soliciting the assistance of students for private purposes in a
manner which infringes upon such students' freedom of choice.
10. To give appropriate
recognition to contributions made by students to research, publication,
service, or other activities.
11. To refrain from any
activity which involves risk to the health and safety of a student, except with
the student's informed consent, and, where applicable, in accordance with the
University policy relating to the use of human subjects in experimentation.
12. To respect the dignity of students individually and collectively in the
classroom and other academic contexts.
Back to the Suggested Code:
Faculty Obligations
Back to Academic Integrity
Guidelines
Back to the Office of the Provost
Note: As
each academic unit develops its code, it should recognize that what is expected
of faculty hereunder is intended to provide students with a notion of what is
required in the course, and how they will be evaluated; a general statement of
broadly defined parameters would therefore suffice. If a course is deemed
experimental in content, evaluation techniques, or grading practices, the
students should be so advised. By academic evaluation is meant a measurement or
grading of a student's academic performance, such as in written or oral
examinations or papers, research reports, or class or laboratory participation.
Note: If
the student charges such discrimination, the [designated administrative
officer] will consult with the unit affirmative action officer to ensure
compliance with civil rights legislation and regulations. In such cases, the
University Senate Tenure and Academic Freedom Committee may be consulted at any
time.
Note:
References or recommendations may be given in good faith by a faculty member on
his or her own behalf, without documentation of a student's consent if it may
be reasonably perceived that the student initiated the request for a
recommendation, in response to apparent bona fide inquiries, such as those from
institutions which state that the student has applied for employment, for
admission to graduate school, or for a professional license. See fuller
statements concerning University records in the Student Code of Conduct and
Judicial Procedures
Note:
Students are advised that other University policies may more appropriately
apply to a given grievance or avenue of redress, including, but not necessarily
limited to, the University of Pittsburgh Sexual Harassment
Policy and Procedure.