Code of Ethics for Academic Staff

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Responsibility: Pro Vice-Chancellor Staffing
Creation Date:
Current Version: One
Next Review Date: 2005

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Introduction

This Code of Ethics has been adopted by the University as a statement of the ethical principles and guidelines which it is believed are shared by the institution and the very great majority of individual academic staff. Its purpose is to assist academic staff employed by the University in the identification and resolution of ethical issues which may arise in the course of their work through the articulation of a shared understanding of what constitutes ethical conduct by academic staff.

The Code was developed by an academic staff Working Party established by the Audit Committee, and considered by the Audit Committee, the Boards of Study, the Academic Board and the Joint Consultative Committee. The University of Waikato branches of the Association of University Staff and the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education were also consulted. The text was revised in light of these discussions and the consultation with AUS and ASTE, and finalised by a small group determined by the Joint Consultative Committee. It has been formally adopted by the Vice-Chancellor and reported to the University Council and Academic Board.

Section 1 of the Code deals with matters of particular relevance to academic staff. Section 2 deals with matters of relevance to all staff including academic staff.

As an expression of ethical principles and guidelines which are held to be widely shared, the Code is affirmed by the University and the University of Waikato branches of the Association of University Staff and the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education and recommended to all academic staff of the University as a valuable source of guidance on ethical behaviour. It is expected that both the institution and its staff will uphold and advance the principles embodied in this Code.

 

Section 1 Matters of Particular Relevance to Academic Staff

Academic Freedom and Responsibility

Academic staff have a responsibility to advance and disseminate knowledge and understanding, and thus they strive for excellence in research, scholarship, practice and teaching. They also have a responsibility to participate effectively in the operation of the University for these purposes.

The traditional and statutory responsibility of academic staff to act as critics and conscience of society is affirmed. Academic freedom is essential to the research, scholarship, practice and teaching roles of the University. All academic staff have the right to academic freedom. This academic freedom carries with it the duty of every academic to use this freedom in a manner consistent with the obligation to base research, scholarship, practice and teaching on an honest search for and dissemination of knowledge. Academic staff should thus engage in research, scholarship and teaching only in areas where they have expertise, and should distinguish clearly between such areas and matters of personal opinion.

The activities of academic staff should be consistent with the responsible use of academic freedom and academic staff should in no way act or omit to act so as to limit unreasonably the academic freedom of any other person.

The commitment of the University of Waikato and the responsibility of academic staff to contribute to the implementation of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi is affirmed.

The role of academic staff in the achievement of equity by way of equal educational and employment opportunities is affirmed.

In pursuit of these objectives and in the context of academic freedom it is accepted that academic staff may sometimes act in their research, scholarship and teaching as critics of prevailing modes of thought, understanding, policies, practices and behaviour both within the University and more widely, and may offer alternative modes of thought, understanding, policies, practices and behaviour.

The University of Waikato acknowledges and affirms the legitimacy of such activities and consistent with this Code will support academic staff engaged in them.

 

Academic Staff as Teachers and Supervisors of Students

Academic staff should:

treat students with respect at all times;

not allow personal relationships with students to affect or appear to affect the professional relationship between them;

recognise that all forms of harassment are completely unacceptable;

encourage students to think independently and to exchange ideas freely;

develop and maintain expertise in areas in which they teach;

communicate effectively in both formal and informal teaching contexts, and allow students reasonable access for this purpose;

develop assessment procedures that are fair and effective and that contribute to student learning, and administer them in a fair and efficient manner, and provide timely and constructive feedback to students;

ensure that they are familiar with current University degree and other regulations relating to their teaching and assessment procedures;

continually seek to improve their teaching effectiveness on the basis of all available information about their performance and its impact on students;

undertake professional development activities intended to improve teaching effectiveness;

where appropriate, provide suitable advice and assistance to former students in their academic and professional development;

refrain from seeking or revealing confidential information about students without the permission of the student concerned except in a recognised official capacity and in appropriate circumstances such as a clear risk to the student or another person, in an emergency, or where required by law.

 

Academic Staff as Researchers and Scholars

Academic staff should:

treat other researchers and research subjects with respect at all times;

seek to develop new understanding of their areas of expertise, both for the increase of knowledge for its own sake and for the wider public interest;

scrupulously acknowledge the contributions that others have made towards their research and scholarship, especially colleagues and students;

accept an obligation to disseminate the results of their research through publication, conference presentations, and in other appropriate ways;

comply with the standards and ethics of their own professional societies, and with nationally and internationally accepted standards.

 

Academic Staff as Consultants and Practitioners

Academic staff should:

avoid taking work that would in any way interfere with the fulfilment of their duties as an employee, as specified in the Handbook on Research and Outside Professional Activities;

refrain from engaging in any work that would compromise their integrity and independence as academic staff;

represent their academic competence truthfully;

avoid representing themselves as acting for, or on behalf of, the University when undertaking private consulting work;

avoid improper use of the publicly-funded resources of the University for private gain.

 

Section 2 Matters of Relevance to All Staff Including Academic Staff

 

Academic Staff in Their Relations with Other Staff

Academic staff should:

treat all other staff with respect at all times;

assist colleagues where appropriate and in particular act as mentors towards junior colleagues;

give due credit to the contributions of other staff;

refrain from acting in any way that would unfairly harm the reputation, or career prospects of other staff;

not allow personal relationships with other staff to affect or appear to affect the professional relationship between them;

recognise that all forms of harassment are completely unacceptable;

be prepared to act appropriately and constructively where a colleague's behaviour is clearly in breach of this Code.

refrain from seeking or revealing confidential information about other staff without the permission of the person concerned except in a recognised official capacity and in appropriate circumstances such as a clear risk to the staff member or another person, in an emergency, or where required by law.

 

Academic Staff as Managers

Academic managers should:

manage their unit in a way which will help staff to teach and research effectively;

promote professional development for all staff;

ensure that all staff have available to them a fair and appropriate share of departmental resources;

encourage appropriate discussion among colleagues on major policy matters including new staff appointments;

report fairly and in a timely way for probation and promotions purposes on staff who are responsible to them;

not allow personal relationships with staff to affect or appear to affect the managerial relationship between them.

 

Academic Staff as Employees

Academic staff should:

acknowledge and contribute to the achievement of the University's objectives;

participate appropriately in the institutional life of the University;

refrain from representing themselves as spokespersons for the University unless authorised to do so;

take all due care and responsibility to uphold the reputation of the University and not engage in activities which would justifiably bring the University into disrepute;

accept a responsibility as stewards of University property.

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Human Resource Management
Te Wāhanga Whakahaere Pūmanawa Tangata
The University of Waikato - Te Whare Wananga o Waikato
Last modified: Thu Jul 13 09:53:41 2006