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Adopted November 29, 2004
Shasta College Academic Senate Ethics Statement
Adopted
from American Association of University Professors
AAUP ETHICS STATEMENT
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.
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.
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’s 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. They
protect their academic freedom.
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.
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 institutions in
determining the amount and character of work done outside it. When considering
the interruption or termination of their service, professors recognize the
effect of their decision upon the program of the institution and give due notice
of their intentions.
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.
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