It is the direct responsibility of faculty to encourage free inquiry and expression and to provide an academic environment in their classrooms and in their contact with students that reflects a high standard of integrity and is conducive to learning.
Pursuant to the University's code of faculty obligations relating to academic integrity, faculty are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, as summarized below:
- To meet their classes when scheduled.
- To be available at reasonable times for appointments with students, and to keep such appointments.
- To make appropriate preparation for classes and other meetings.
- To perform their grading duties and other academic evaluations in a timely manner.
- To describe to students, within the period in which a student may add or 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 evaluations and, in advance of any evaluation, the permissible materials or references allowed during evaluation.
- To base all academic evaluations upon good-faith professional judgment.
- Not to consider, in academic evaluation, such factors as race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, political or cultural affiliation, lifestyle, activities, or behavior outside the classroom unrelated to academic achievement.
- 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.
- Not to exploit their professional relationship with students for private advantage; and to refrain from soliciting the assistance of students for private purposes in a manner that infringes upon such students' freedom of choice.
- To give appropriate recognition to contributions made by students to research, publication, service, or other activities.
- 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.
- To respect the dignity of students individually and collectively in the classroom and other academic contexts.
The Board of Trustees, on the recommendation of Senate Council, approved policy guidelines on the subject of academic integrity as a model for the schools of the University to follow in providing due process for faculty and students who become involved in serious conflicts regarding issues of academic integrity. Copies of individual school's guidelines are available in the dean's office.
For additional information, view the University policy Guidelines on Academic Integrity - Student and Faculty Obligations and Hearing Procedures AC 39 (formerly 02-03-02).