Effective: November 22, 1995

PURPOSE

To delineate the special responsibilities of the professorate.

AUTHORITY/SOURCE

Florida Administrative Code 6C8-4.015
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

POLICY

The professor, guided by a deep conviction of the worth and dignity of the advancement of knowledge, recognizes the special responsibilities of the profession.  The professor's primary responsibility to his or her subject is to seek and to state the truth as he or she sees it.  To this end the professor devotes energies to developing and improving scholarly competence.  The professor accepts the obligation to exercise critical self discipline and judgement in using, extending and transmitting knowledge.  The professor must never seriously hamper or compromise his freedom of inquiry.

As a teacher, the professor encourages the free pursuit of learning in students.  The professor holds before them the best scholarly standards of his or her discipline.  The professor demonstrates respect for the student as an individual, and adheres to the proper role as intellectual guide and counselor.  The professor makes every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct and to assure that the evaluation of students reflects their true merit.  The professor respects the confidential nature of the relationship between professor and student.  The professor avoids any exploitations of students for private advantage and acknowledges significant assistance from them.  The professor protects their academic freedom.

As a colleague, the professor has obligations that derive from common membership in the community of scholars.  The professor respects and defends the free inquiry of associates. In the exchange of criticism and ideas, the professor shows due respect for the opinion of others.  The professor acknowledges academic debts and strives to be objective in professional judgement of colleagues. The professor accepts his share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of the institution and contributes to the orderly and effective functioning of his or her academic program, department, school and college.

As a member of an institution, the professor seeks above all to be an effective teacher and scholar.  Although the professor observes the stated regulations of the institution, provided they do not contravene academic freedom, the professor maintains the right to criticize and seek revision.  The amount and character of the work performed outside the institution is governed by the Board of Regents, the collective bargaining agreement, and University policies (Conflict of Interest/OutsideActivity policy).  When considering the interruption or termination of service, the professor recognizes the effect of this decision upon the program of the institution and gives due notice of his or her intentions.

As a member of the community, the professor has the rights and obligations of any citizen.  The professor measures the urgency of these obligations in the light of responsibilities to his or her subject area, to students, to the profession, and to the institution.  When speaking or acting as a private person, the professor avoids creating the impression that he or she acts for the college or university.  As a citizen engaged in a profession that depends upon freedom for its health and integrity, the professor has a particular obligation to promote conditions of free inquiry and to further public understanding of academic freedom.

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Page last updated: January 17, 2002 by Amy Perez
Page Content: Kenneth Johnson