Current through all regulations passed and filed through March 18, 2024
(A)
The basic
functions of the university are the advancement and dissemination of knowledge,
the development of critical intelligence in the young, and the education of
citizens and professional workers for the society of which the university is a
part.
(B)
The indispensable condition for the successful
discharge of these functions is an atmosphere of intellectual freedom. Unless a
faculty member is free to pursue the quest for knowledge and understanding,
wherever it may lead, and to report and discuss the findings, whatever they may
be, the university faculty member cannot properly perform their work. It is
imperative, therefore, that the university maintains an atmosphere of
intellectual freedom and that faculty members uphold that freedom by their own
actions. To make that freedom operational, it is equally imperative that the
university establish democratic mechanisms for meaningful faculty participation
in the governance of the institution.
(C)
Freedom entails
responsibilities. It is incumbent upon the faculty member to accept the
responsibilities and, which are concomitant with the freedom and, for the most
part, enjoys. Those responsibilities are: to students, to scholarship, to
colleagues, to the university, and to the larger community which the university
serves.
(D)
Responsibilities to students.
(1)
As teachers,
faculty members have the responsibility for creating in the classroom or
laboratory and in relations with students a climate that stimulates and
encourages the students' endeavors to learn. To the best of their
ability,
*Originally published with
the kind permission of the faculty senate of the university of Iowa, which
adopted this statement on April 27, 1971; subsequently revised and
edited.
exemplify high scholarly standards, and
respect and foster the students' freedom to choose and pursue their own
goals.
(2)
Regardless of rank or position, the instructor of
record is required to file with the department and shall provide each student
with a course syllabus specifying at a minimum:
(a)
The instructor's
office and phone number.
(b)
The instructor's office hours.
(c)
The basis for
determining the student's grade.
(3)
Adequate
supporting documentation regarding student performance should be continually
maintained. Any changes to items in paragraphs (D)(2)(a) to (c) should be
provided to the student in writing. Documentation shall be maintained for one
semester.
(4)
Refusal to fulfill this responsibility after reasonable
warnings and an opportunity to rectify the condition is cause for the dean to
recommend that the chief academic officer initiate the procedure for
sanctions.
(a)
The faculty member has the obligation to make clear the
objectives of the course or program, to establish requirements, to set
standards of achievement, and to evaluate the student's
performance.
(b)
The faculty member has the responsibility to meet
classes as scheduled and, when circumstances prevent this, to arrange
equivalent alternate instruction.
(c)
The faculty
member has the responsibility to teach courses in a manner that is consistent
with the course description and credit published in the catalogue and with the
announced objectives of the course.
(d)
The faculty
member owes to the student and the university a fair and impartial evaluation
of the student's work. Such evaluation should be consistent with recognized
standards and shall not be influenced by irrelevancies such as religion, race,
sex, or political view, or be based on the student's agreement with the
teacher's opinions pertaining to matters of controversy within the
discipline.
(e)
Every student is entitled to the same intellectual
freedom that the faculty member enjoys. The faculty member shall respect that
freedom. The faculty member may not impose restraints upon the student's search
for or consideration of diverse or contrary opinion. More positively, the
faculty member has an obligation to protect the student's freedom to learn,
especially when that freedom is threatened by repressive or disruptive
action.
(f)
The faculty member has obligations as intellectual
guide and counselor to students. The faculty member has a responsibility to be
available to students without undue delay. In advising students, the faculty
member should make every reasonable effort to see that information given to
them is as accurate as possible. The progress of students in achieving their
academic goals should not be thwarted or unduly retarded because a faculty
member has neglected obligations as advisor and counselor.
(g)
Faculty members
should conduct themselves at all times so as to demonstrate respect for the
student. They should always respect the confidences deriving from the
faculty-student relationship.
(h)
The faculty
member shall avoid exploitation of students for personal advantage. For
example, in writing and oral presentations, the faculty member makes due
acknowledgement of their contributions to the work.
(E)
Responsibilities to scholarship.
(1)
The faculty
member's responsibilities to scholarship derive from the university's
commitment to truth and the advancement of knowledge. Furthermore, society has
a vital state in maintaining the university as an institution where knowledge
can be sought and communicated regardless of its popularity, its political
implications, or even its immediate usefulness. The faculty member has an
ethical responsibility both to make full appropriate use of that freedom in
teaching and research and to guard it from abuse.
(2)
More
specifically:
(A)
Faculty members are committed to a lifetime of study.
Although no one can know everything, even about a limited subject, they shall
constantly strive to keep abreast of progress in their field, to develop and
improve scholarly and teaching skills, and to devote part of their energies to
the extension of knowledge in their area of competence.
(B)
The faculty
member has the responsibility of being unfailingly honest in research and
teaching, refraining from deliberate distortion or misrepresentation and taking
regular precautions against the common causes of error.
(C)
In order to
maintain or increase their effectiveness as a scholar, faculty members may find
it advantageous to assume certain obligations outside the university, such as
consulting for government or industry, or holding office in scholarly or
professional societies. Such activities are appropriate in so far as they
contribute to their development as a scholar in the field, or at the very
least, do not interfere with that development. On the other hand, acceptance of
such obligations primarily for financial gain, especially when such activities
may be incompatible with the faculty member's primary dedication as a scholar
cannot be condoned.
(F)
Responsibilities
to colleagues.
As a colleague, the faculty member has
obligations that derive from common membership in the community of scholars.
The faculty member respects and defends the free inquiry of associates and
avoids interference with their work. In the exchange of criticism and ideas the
faculty member shows due respect for the rights of others to their opinions,
refraining from personal vilification. The faculty member acknowledges
contributions of others to the work. When asked to evaluate the professional
performance of a colleague, the faculty member strives to be
objective.
(G)
Responsibilities to the institution.
The faculty member's primary
responsibility to the institution is to seek to realize maximum potential as an
effective scholar and teacher. In addition, the faculty member has a
responsibility to participate in the day-to-day operation of the university.
Among the faculty member's general responsibilities to the university the
following may be particularly noted:
(1)
When acting or
speaking as a private person, the faculty member should make clear that the
actions and utterances are entirely the faculty member's own and not those of
the university.
(2)
The faculty member shall never attempt to exploit
standing within the university for private or personal gain. The faculty member
may, on appropriate occasions, cite connection with the university, but only
for purposes of identification not permitting the impression to prevail that
the university in any way sponsors any of the faculty member's private
activities.
(3)
University facilities, equipment, supplies, etc., shall
never be used for personal or private business.
(4)
A faculty member
has the duty to ensure that the regulations of the university are designed to
achieve the university's goals as well as being in accord with the principles
of academic freedom. Recognizing the importance of order within the
institution, the faculty member observes the regulations of the university, but
in no way abdicates the right to attempt to reform those regulations by any
appropriate orderly means.
(5)
Effective faculty
participation in the governance of the university promotes academic freedom and
the goals of the institution. Each faculty member should take part in the
institution's decision-making processes to the best of the faculty member's
ability and should accept a fair share of the faculty's responsibilities for
its day-to-day operation.
(6)
During periods of disturbance or high tension on
campus, a faculty member should do everything possible to prevent acts of
violence and to reduce tension.
(7)
A faculty member
determines the amount and character of the work and other activities pursued
outside the responsibilities within the university and his primary loyalties to
it.
(H)
Responsibilities to the community.
As a member of the community, the
faculty member has the rights and obligations of any citizen. These include the
right to organize and join political or other associations, convene and conduct
public meetings, and publicize an opinion on political and social issues.
However, in exercising these rights, the faculty member shall make it clear
that the faculty member does not speak for the university, but simply as an
individual. The faculty member does not use the classroom to solicit support
for the faculty member's personal views and opinions.
(I)
Because academic
freedom has traditionally included the faculty member's full freedom as a
citizen, most faculty members face no insoluble conflicts between the claims of
politics, social action, and conscience, on the one hand, and the claims and
expectations of their students, colleagues, and institutions on the other. If
such conflicts become acute, and the faculty member's attention to obligations
as a citizen and moral agent precludes the fulfillment of substantial academic
obligations, the faculty member cannot escape the responsibility of that
choice, but should either request a leave of absence or resign the academic
position.
Replaces: 3344-11-13
