Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

A Proposed Code for Colleges and Universities

Prepared by
Elaine El-Khawas
Office on Self-Regulation Initiatives
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION   1979

A Proposed code of fair practice for institutions of postsecondary education
(Institution-Student Relations)

Institutions of postsecondary education-whether public, private, or proprietary in form of governance-share certain responsibilities; a common function (the offering of structured educational opportunities); a commitment to meeting specified educational needs of students beyond the secondary level; and an undergirding obligation to the society that permits these institutions to exist and that helps to support them, directly and indirectly.

The essence of this social obligation is expressed in the word "integrity"—that an institution is what it says it is and does what it says it does. In a complex institution employing many staff members who are carrying out a variety of tasks and interacting with students in a number of different ways, this straightforward concept of institutional integrity is constantly put to a number of less than simple tests. It therefore is desirable that the more important basic elements of institution-student relations be set forth in a Code of Fair Practice so that both institutions and students have a set of standards against which institutional obligations and performance might be assessed.

Guiding Principles

Educational objectives: Within the general purpose of providing postsecondary education, each institution will define its educational objectives in ways that clearly communicate that institution's purposes and that lend themselves to meaningful evaluation.

Fair practice: Institutions will maintain responsible and fair procedures in all matters affecting students. This principle includes the provision and delivery of educational programs, the provision of necessary supporting services as described, and due process with regard to disciplinary matters and the handling of grievances.

Full disclosure: Institutions will provide complete and accurate information on all pertinent aspects of institutional policies and practices directly affecting students.

Official Publications

• Careful attention will be given to the accuracy of the information provided in or supplied to publications concerning the institution. These include institutional catalogs, student handbooks, course schedules, recruiting materials, and multi -institutional reference works.

• Special care will be taken to avoid misleading statements, whether b omission of important details, misleading jargon, or failure to note restrictions. Cautionary statements will be included where necessary.

• Publications will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that the material is accurate and up-to-date and that the language can be readily understood.

Admissions and Recruitment

• Institutions will not pay employees commissions or bonuses for the recruitment of students or contract with companies that follow this practice.

• Admissions and recruiting staff will be provided with accurate up-to-date information about the institution and its educational programs.

• Recruiting materials will present an accurate and balanced picture of the institution and its educational programs.

• Admissions requirements and procedures will be clearly stated in appropriate publications, and institutions will adhere to them.

Financial Assistance

• Tuition costs and other fees will be fully described in appropriate publications, particularly when charges vary according to program, level or type of study, or student status.

• Insofar as possible, students will be notified of potential additional costs, such as special equipment or laboratory fees.

• The terms for refunding tuition or housing charges and for waiving certain requirements will be explained and published.

• Students will be clearly informed about all types of financial assistance for which they might be eligible, including application and award procedures. Any limitations or restrictions will be described.

Record Keeping

• Formal statements explaining institutional policies with respect to student records and accounts, the maintenance of their privacy, and their availability to students will be published.

• Efficient procedures will be maintained in handling records and in providing students reasonable access to their records.

• Complaint or appeal mechanisms will be available for resolving difficulties that students may have concerning their records. The student's right to challenge, and request correction of, information will be made clear.

Instructional Programs and Requirements

• Institutions will inform students about the full range and frequency of program options available to them and about all institutional requirements for academic progress and program completion.

• Descriptive materials will note special programs and opportunities to waive certain requirements.

• Students will be given advance notice of any changes in requirements or programs, and changes will not be made in a way that unduly impede the academic progress of students already enrolled.

• Informal complaint mechanisms will be available to students who have complaints above academic matters; students will be informed of these procedures and encouraged to discuss their grievances initially through these channels.

Career Counseling and Placement

• Institutions will make efforts to provide students with reliable and up-to-date information about appropriate career opportunities.

• Career counseling programs will be directed to giving students a realistic picture of the employment market, including projections of probable demand as well as current information on the nature of entry-level positions, on typical career and earning patterns, and on the educational requirements for various occupations.

• Statements about career counseling or placement programs will be made available to all students and will accurately describe the nature and extent of the services. Such statements will note any charges for particular services and any restrictions in offerings.

Grievance Procedures

• Students will be provided with channels for registering and discussing their grievances and getting them resolved. Such channels will include informal mechanisms to handle minor problems as quickly as possible as well as more formal structures to allow for hearings and, if necessary, appeals.

• Descriptions of existing complaint channels and procedures for using them will be made available to all students.

• The terms for assuring confidentiality in handling grievances also will be clearly explained.

Student Services and Student Conduct Fair

• Institutions will provide full and accurate descriptions of the various services offered to students.

• When changes in such services must take place-whether in services, in fees, or in policies-adequate notice will be given and equitable adjustments made.

• Any restrictions in the availability of services will be explicitly noted.

• Students will be given full information on institutional policies in and procedures with respect to conduct, including information on disciplinary proceedings followed in connection with violations.

• Students will be informed about opportunities for students to participate in the formulation of policies affecting student activities.

Other Codes

Institutions will indicate whether they and their staffs endorse and abide by applicable codes of ethics, such as those issued by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), and others.

Accreditation

Institutions will indicate in their official catalogs, recruiting materials, and advertising their institutional accreditation status and, where appropriate, the accreditation status of their programs. When referring to accreditation, institutions will follow the form of wording recommended by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA).