ACPA Ethical Principles & Standards (2006)
PREAMBLEThe American College Personnel Association (ACPA) is an association whose members are dedicated to enhancing the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of each individual within post-secondary educational institutions and thus to the service of society. ACPA members are committed to contributing to the comprehensive education of the student, protecting human rights, advancing knowledge of student growth and development, and promoting the effectiveness of institutional programs, services, and organizational units. As a means of supporting these commitments, members of ACPA subscribe to the following principles and standards of ethical conduct. Acceptance of membership in ACPA signifies that the member agrees to adhere to the provisions of this statement. This statement is designed to address issues particularly relevant to college student affairs practice. Persons charged with duties in various functional areas of higher education are also encouraged to consult ethical standards specific to their professional responsibilities. USE OF THIS STATEMENT
The principal purpose of this statement is to assist student affairs professionals in regulating their own behavior by sensitizing them to potential ethical problems and by providing standards useful in daily practice. Observance of ethical behavior also benefits fellow professionals and students due to the effect of modeling. Self-regulation is the most effective and preferred means of assuring ethical behavior. If, however, a professional observes conduct by a fellow professional that seems contrary to the provisions of this document, several courses of action are available. Initiate a private conference. Because unethical conduct is often due to a lack of awareness or understanding of ethical standards, a private conference with the professional(s) about the conduct in question is an important initial line of action. This conference, if pursued in a spirit of collegiality and sincerity, often may resolve the ethical concern and promote future ethical conduct. Pursue institutional remedies. If Private consultation does not produce the desired results, institutional channels for resolving alleged ethical improprieties may be pursued. All student affairs divisions should have a widely-publicized process for addressing allegations of ethical misconduct. Contact ACPA Ethics Committee. If the ACPA member is unsure about whether a particular activity or practice falls under the provisions of this statement, the Ethics Committee may be contacted in writing. The member should describe in reasonable detail (omitting data that would identify the person(s) as much as possible) the potentially unethical conduct or practices and the circumstances surrounding the situation. Members of the Committee or others in the Association will provide the member with a summary of opinions regarding the ethical appropriateness of the conduct or practice in question. Because these opinions are based on limited information, no specific situation or action will be judged unethical. The responses rendered by the Committee are advisory only and are not an official statement on behalf of ACPA. Request consultation from ACPA Ethics Committee. If the institution wants further assistance in resolving the controversy, an institutional representative may request on-campus consultation. Provided all parties to the controversy agree, a team of consultants selected by the Ethics Committee will visit the campus at the institution's expense to hear the allegations and to review the facts and circumstances. The team will advise institutional leadership on possible actions consistent with both the content and spirit of the ACPA Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards. Compliance with the recommendations is voluntary. No sanctions will be imposed by ACPA. Institutional leaders remain responsible for assuring ethical conduct and practice. The consultation team will maintain confidentiality surrounding the process to the extent possible. Submit complaint to ACPA Ethics Committee. If the alleged misconduct may be a violation of the ACPA Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards or the person charged is unavailable or produces unsatisfactory results, then proceedings against the individual(s) may be brought to the ACPA Ethics Committee for review. Details regarding the procedures may be obtained by contacting the Executive Director at ACPA National Office. ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
No statement of ethical standards can anticipate all situations that have ethical implications. When student affairs professionals are presented with dilemmas that are not explicitly addressed herein, five ethical principles may be used in conjunction with the four enumerated standards (Professional Responsibility and Competence; Student Learning and Development; Responsibility to the Institution; Responsibility to Society) to assist in making decisions and determining appropriate courses of action. Ethical principles should guide the behaviors of professionals in everyday practice. Principles, however, are not just guidelines for reaction when something goes wrong or when a complaint is raised. Adhering to ethical principles also calls for action. These principles include the following: Act to benefit others. Service to humanity is the basic tenet underlying student affairs practice. Hence, student affairs professionals exist to: [a] promote healthy social, physical, academic, moral, cognitive, career, and personality development of students; [b] bring a developmental perspective to the institution's total educational process and learning environment; [c] contribute to the effective functioning of the institution; and [d] provide programs and services consistent with this principle. Promote justice. Student affairs professionals are committed to assuring fundamental fairness for all individuals within the academic community. In pursuit of this goal, the principles of impartiality, equity, and reciprocity (treating others as one would desire to be treated) are basic. When there are greater needs than resources available or when the interests of constituencies conflict, justice requires honest consideration of all claims and requests an equitable (not necessarily equal) distribution of goods and services. A crucial aspect of promoting justice is demonstrating an appreciation for human differences and opposing intolerance and bigotry concerning these differences. Important human differences include, but are not limited to, characteristics such as age, culture, ethnicity, gender, disabling condition, race, religion, or sexual/affectional orientation. Respect autonomy. Student affairs professionals respect and promote individual autonomy and privacy. Students' freedom of choice and action are not restricted unless their actions significantly interfere with the welfare of others or the accomplishment of the institution's mission. Be faithful. Student affairs professionals are truthful, honor agreements, and are trustworthy in the performance of their duties. Do no harm. Student affairs professionals do not engage in activities that cause either physical or psychological damage to others. In addition to their personal actions, student affairs professionals are especially vigilant to assure that the institutional policies do not: [a] hinder students' opportunities to benefit from the learning experiences available in the environment; [b] threaten individuals' self-worth, dignity, or safety; or [c] discriminate unjustly or illegally. Professional Responsibility and Competence. Student affairs professionals are responsible for promoting students' learning and development, enhancing the understanding of student life, and advancing the profession and its ideals. They possess the knowledge, skills, emotional stability, and maturity to discharge responsibilities as administrators, advisors, consultants, counselors, programmers, researchers, and teachers. High levels of professional competence are expected in the performance of their duties and responsibilities. They ultimately are responsible for the consequences of their actions or inactions. As ACPA members, student affairs professionals will:
1.1 Adopt a professional lifestyle characterized by the use of sound theoretical principles and a personal value system congruent with the basic tenets of the profession.
1.2 Contribute to the development of the profession (e.g. recruiting students to the profession, serving professional organizations, educating new professionals, improving professional practices, and conducting and reporting research).
1.3 Monitor their personal and professional functioning and effectiveness and seek assistance from appropriate professionals as needed.
1.4 Represent their professional credentials, competencies, and limitations accurately and correct any misrepresentations of these qualifications by others.
1.5 Establish fees for professional services after consideration of the ability of the recipient to pay. They will provide some services, including professional development activities for colleagues, for little or no remuneration.
1.6 Refrain from attitudes or actions that impinge on colleagues' dignity, moral code, privacy, worth, professional functioning, and/or personal growth.
1.9 Abstain from sexual harassment.
1.10 Abstain from sexual intimacies with colleagues or with staff for whom they have supervisory, evaluative, or instructional responsibility.
1.11 Refrain from using their positions to seek unjustified personal gains, sexual favors, unfair advantages, or unearned goods and services not normally accorded those in such positions. 1.12 Inform students of the nature and/or limits of confidentiality. They will share information about the students only in accordance with institutional policies and applicable laws, when given their permission, or when required to prevent personal harm to themselves or others.
1.13 Use records and electronically stored information only to accomplish legitimate, institutional purposes and to benefit students.
1.14 Define job responsibilities, decision-making procedures, mutual expectations, accountability procedures, and evaluation criteria with subordinates and supervisors.
1.15 Acknowledge contributions by others to program development, program implementation, evaluations, and reports.
1.16 Assure that participation by staff in planned activities that emphasize self-disclosure or other relatively intimate or personal involvement is voluntary and that the leader(s) of such activities do not have administrative, supervisory, or evaluative authority over participants.
1.17 Adhere to professional practices in securing positions: [a] represent education and experiences accurately; [b] respond to offers promptly; [c] accept only those positions they intend to assume; [d] advise current employer and all institutions at which applications are pending immediately when they sign a contract; and [e] inform their employers at least thirty days before leaving a position.
1.18 Gain approval of research plans involving human subjects from the institutional committee with oversight responsibility prior to initiation of the study. In the absence of such a committee, they will seek to create procedures to protect the rights and assure the safety of research participants.
1.19 Conduct and report research studies accurately. They will not engage in fraudulent research nor will they distort or misrepresent their data or deliberately bias their results.
1.20 Cite previous works on a topic when writing or when speaking to professional audiences.
1.21 Acknowledge major contributions to research projects and professional writings through joint authorships with the principal contributor listed first. They will acknowledge minor technical or professional contributions in notes or introductory statements.
1.22 Not demand co-authorship of publications when their involvement was ancillary or unduly pressure others for joint authorship.
1.23 Share original research data with qualified others upon request.
1.24 Communicate the results of any research judged to be of value to other professionals and not withhold results reflecting unfavorably on specific institutions, programs, services, or prevailing opinion.
1.25 Submit manuscripts for consideration to only one journal at a time. They will not seek to publish previously published or accepted-for-publication materials in other media or publications without first informing all editors and/or publishers concerned. They will make appropriate references in the text and receive permission to use if copyrights are involved.
1.26 Support professional preparation program efforts by providing assistantships, practicum experiences, field placements, and consultation to students and faculty. Principles of Good Practice for Student Affairs
When working with students, Student Affairs professionals should be mindful of the following:
Use every opportunity to engage students in active learning
Help students develop coherent values and ethical standards
Set and Communicate high expectations for student learning
Use systematic inquiry to improve student and institutional performance
Use resources effectively to achieve institutional missions and goals
Seek and obtain educational partnerships which advance student learning
Build supportive and inclusive communities