Faculty members, guided by deep conviction of the worth and dignity of the advancement of knowledge, recognize the special responsibilities placed upon men and women in the academic community. Their primary responsibility to their profession is to seek and state their best representation of the truth. To this end, they each devote their energies to developing and improving their individual scholarly competence. They accept the obligation to exercise critical self-discipline and judgment in using, extending, and transmitting knowledge. They practice intellectual honesty. Although they may follow subsidiary interests, these interests must never seriously hamper or compromise their freedom of inquiry.
- Responsibilities to Student
Faculty members encourage the free pursuit of learning in their students and protect academic freedom of students. They hold before each student the best scholarly standards of their disciplines. They demonstrate respect for the students as individuals. When a personal relationship that goes beyond that of intellectual guide and counselor exists between a faculty member and a student, it is the responsibility of the faculty member to take appropriate action to avoid any conflict, or apparent conflict, of interest between personal and professional concerns.
Faculty members make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct and to assure that their professional evaluation of a student reflects the student's true academic merits. Faculty members respect the confidential nature of the relationship between a faculty member and a student. Faculty members acknowledge significant scholarly assistance from any student and they avoid any exploitation (e.g., professional, sexual, emotional, or economic) of a student.
- Responsibilities to Staff
Faculty members respect the contributions of staff employees and respect their intellectual interests, abilities, and knowledge. Faculty members acknowledge significant assistance from staff and they avoid any exploitation (e.g., professional, sexual, emotional, or economic) of a staff member.
- Responsibilities to Colleagues
As colleagues, faculty members have obligations that derive from common membership in the community of scholars. They respect and defend the free inquiry of their associates. In the exchange of criticism and ideas, they show due respect for the opinions of others. They acknowledge the scholarly contributions of their peers and strive to be objective in professional judgment of colleagues. Each of them accepts a just share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of their institution. As members of their institutions, faculty members seek above all to be effective teachers and scholars. Although faculty have a responsibility to observe the stated regulations of the institution, they also maintain the right to criticize and seek revision.
- Responsibilities to their Institution
Each faculty member should determine the amount and character of work done outside the institution according to the guidelines in the Conflict of Interest policy. When considering the interruption or termination of service, faculty members recognize the effect of such decisions upon the program of the institution and give due notice of their intentions.
As members of the extramural community, faculty members share the rights and obligations of any citizen. They measure the urgency of these obligations in the light of their responsibilities to their disciplines, to their students, to their profession, and to their institution. When speaking or acting in a non-official capacity as a private person or member of a group, faculty members or administrators shall avoid creating the impression that they speak or act for the institution. As citizens engaged in a profession that depends upon freedom for its health and integrity, faculty members have a particular obligation to promote conditions of free inquiry and to promote further public understanding of academic freedom.
Senate Proposal 15-95
Revised:
12/08/2016 - Annual Review: No changes made to content.
03/30/2015 - Annual Review: To reflect current practice, the email address for questions
is now policy@mtu.edu. No changes made to content.
02/12/2014 - Annual Review: Updated Michigan Tech and Handbook banners, no changes
made to content.
03/13/2013 - Annual Review: Format change. No change to content.
07/14/2011 - Annual Review: To reflect current University titles and practice, MTU
is now Michigan Tech and the email address for questions is now hbwebmaster.
11/8/2006 - Format changes made.