The following Code of Faculty Ethics, adopted by the RISD Faculty during the 1992/93 academic year, is included in the Faculty Handbook. Since that time the College has adopted policies that have responded to evolving understanding of issues and are in compliance with law and regulations. Links to policies are embedded in Code of Ethics points related these policies.
Code of Faculty Ethics
Our close association with students, peers and colleagues is a major part of our work at RISD. Because teaching and working here inherently involves more than the dissemination of knowledge, the faculty has developed and adopted a Code of Faculty Ethics which puts forth some important reminders of our commitment to high standards of behavior as teachers, scholars, professional artists and designers, and community members.
1. As faculty members at RISD, our primary responsibility is to provide a productive and educational environment in which students can learn to be informed and responsible citizens as well as to develop their talents as artists, designers, and/or teachers. In order to fulfill this mission, we shall follow these guidelines regarding our conduct with students, colleagues, administrators and staff members.
2. We should realize that the students often regard us as role models. This means that we should treat students, colleagues and other members of the RISD community with respect and create and maintain an environment free of discrimination based upon race, gender, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, physical disability or age. Denigrating anyone in respect to any one of these criteria is not only disrespectful to the human dignity of the person involved but also detrimental to the educational process for everyone concerned. We should honor confidential information regarding students (such as grades,personal problems, etc.) in our dealings with other students. (Faculty are recommended to read about Title IX at RISD.)
3. While we are entitled to freedom of speech and expression, we should balance that right with our primary responsibility for providing an optimal educational experience to our students. In a place of learning, expressions of difference should be collegial, conducted through persuasion with reasoned arguments and substantiation and not through personal attack, accusation or mere assertion. When faculty disagree publicly we should use such occasions to teach. We should call upon students and colleagues thoughtfully to consider divergent positions and not simply force them to choose among these positions.If we make critical comments about another faculty member's academic or professional competence, we should be extremely considerate regarding the context and tone in which such comments are made.
4. Standards of professionalism require giving public acknowledgement where credit is due.
5. As educators we affirm that whenever we enter into a professional relationship with a student, that student's educational interest should take priority over any other interest.
6. Sexual harassment in any form shall not be tolerated at RISD. As faculty, we are most concerned with sexual harassment of a student by a faculty member. We define such conduct as unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, and other personal comments or physical conduct of a sexual nature which may be accompanied by the suggestion that the student's evaluation and future professional life will be affected by his/her submission to or rejection of such demand. Any such conduct is subject to the grievance procedure published in The RISD Policies and Procedures Manual if a formal complaint is registered. We shall keep in mind the grave and often, criminal nature of this offense, because in addition to violating the civil rights of the student, such an act deprives the student of the proper educational experience that we as faculty are responsible for providing. (Faculty are recommended to read the College's policy on Discriminatory Harassment and examples.)
7. The faculty shall avoid any sexual relationship with a student if he/she is, or expects to be, supervising the student's academic work even when the student consents to or initiates such a relationship. We recognize that a faculty-student relationship is necessarily asymmetrical and that even a consensual sexual relationship may involve the abuse of power by a faculty member. The potential for creating a conflict of interest and for compromising the educational process looms large even in such a consensual relationship.
(Please review the Consensual Relationships Policy.)