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STATEMENT CONCERNING PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
California State University, San Bernardino recognizes and endorses the Statement on Professional Ethics which was adopted by the Council of American Association of University Professors in April 1966 and endorsed by the Seventy-third Annual Meeting in June 1987 as policy of the American Association of University Professors. (See FAM 501.)
The Statement
1. 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 judgement 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 or inquiry.
2. 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 assure 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.
3. 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 judgement of colleagues. Professors accept their share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of their institution.
4. 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 institution 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.
5. 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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FACULTY EVALUATION
There are two types of evaluations: Performance Review and Periodic Evaluation.
Performance Review is applicable to all second, fourth and sixth year probationary faculty, librarians, and SSP,ARs, as well as all those applying for early tenure and promotion. This review is for purposes of determining retention, tenure or promotion. Periodic Evaluation is applicable to all faculty, librarians, and SSP,ARs not subject to performance review. This includes first, third and fifth year probationary, tenured faculty, librarians, and SSP,ARs and all temporary faculty, librarians and SSP,ARs.
Primary instruments of evaluation are as follows:
Faculty Activities Report/Librarian Activities Report/SSP,AR Activities Report - prepared and submitted by each faculty member in an approved format. It is divided into three sections: teaching/professional assignments, professional growth/activities, and service.
Classroom Visitation Reports - prepared by senior peers who visit classes periodically.
Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness (SETE) - consists of a summary report and the completed forms filled out by students in classes.
For a complete description of the performance evaluation process as well as instruments of evaluation, please refer to your copy of "Procedures and Criteria for Performance Review and Periodic Evaluation". A timetable of deadlines (including the dates when Activities Reports are due) can be found in Appendix 17 of that document.
Faculty, librarians, or SSP,ARs may file grievances against the University on the basis of alleged violation, misapplication, or misinterpretation of a specific term of the Faculty Unit Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Layoff of full-time faculty, librarians or SSP,ARs may occur due to the lack of work or lack of funds. In the event layoffs become necessary, the procedures of Article 38 of the Faculty Unit MOU shall apply.
The University may take disciplinary action against faculty members, librarians or SSP,ARs when their actions or conduct exert a harmful effect upon the academic functions of the institution and adversely affect the teaching process, the students, the administration, or other faculty members. In such cases the University follows procedures contained in Article 19 of the Faculty Unit MOU.
All faculty, librarians and SSP,ARs have the right of access to their personnel files (including the Personnel Action Files, payroll, benefits, and other employment records) in order to review and reproduce materials with the exception of pre-employment documents.
The Personnel Action Files for full-time temporary faculty, probationary and Assistant/Associate tenured faculty are located in the Academic Personnel Office. Files for part-time faculty and tenured full Professors may be accessed through the appropriate school office. Files for librarians are located in the Library Administrative Office. Files for SSP,ARs are located in the office of the Vice President for Student Services. Payroll records are located in the Payroll Office. Benefits records are located in the Human Resources Office. The Associate Vice President for Academic Personnel is the designated custodian of Personnel Action Files.
All inquiries regarding personnel files should be directed to the Academic Personnel office. For further details regarding personnel files see FAM 330 and Article 11 of the Faculty Unit MOU.