Staff HR Policy D-749.00
Institutional Effectiveness Criterion: Culture

Faculty Code of Professional Ethics

1. Faculty members, guided by a deep conviction of the worth and dignity of the advancement of knowledge, recognize the special responsibilities placed upon them. The primary responsibility to their subject is to seek and to state the truth as they see it. To this end, they devote their energies to developing and improving their scholarly competence. Faculty members accept the obligation to exercise critical self-discipline and judgment in using, extending, and transmitting knowledge, as well as practicing intellectual honesty. Although subsidiary interests are followed, these interests must never hamper or compromise the faculty member's freedom of inquiry.
2. As teachers, faculty members encourage the free pursuit of learning in their students, holding before the students the best scholarly standard of their discipline. They demonstrate respect for the student as an individual, and adhere to the proper role of intellectual guide and counselor. Faculty members make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct and to assure that the evaluation of students reflects the student's true merit. Respecting the confidential nature of the relationship between faculty member and student, they avoid any exploitation of students for private advantage, acknowledge contributions from them, and protect the student's academic freedom in all ways conveying the philosophy that the student is the central element of the College community.
3. As colleagues, faculty members have obligations that derive from common membership in the community of scholars. These obligations include respecting and defending the free inquiry of associates, and in the exchange of criticism and ideas, showing due respect for the opinions of others. Faculty members acknowledge their academic debts and strive to be objective in the professional judgment of colleagues. They accept their share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of Northwestern Michigan College.
4. As members of Northwestern Michigan College, faculty members seek above all to be effective teachers and scholars. Faculty members acknowledge an obligation to meet all classes, to meet all examination periods, to be available for consultation, and to give due notice to both students and administration when this is not possible. Although they observe the stated regulations of the College, provided the regulations do not contravene academic freedom, faculty members maintain the right to criticize and seek change. They determine the amount and character of the work done outside the College with due regard to their paramount responsibilities within it. When considering the interruption or termination of service, faculty members recognize the effect of the decision upon the program of the College and give due notice of their intentions.
5. As members of their community, faculty members have the rights and obligations of any citizen. They measure the urgency of these obligations in the light of their responsibilities to their subject, to their students, to their profession, and to the College. When speaking or acting as private persons, they avoid creating the impression that they speak or act for Northwestern Michigan College. 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 further public understanding of academic freedom.

If any provision(s) of this policy or set of bylaws conflicts with laws applicable to Northwestern Michigan College, including the Community College Act of 1966, the Freedom of Information Act, or the Open Meetings Act, as each may be amended from time to time, such laws shall control and supersede such provision(s).