IMPORTANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:

Ethical Concerns at UW

Policy on Academic Freedom and Responsibility

On December 2, 1971, the Faculty Senate passed a resolution concerning academic freedom and responsibility. This resolution affirms the obligation of all members of the academic community to respect the dignity of others and their right to free speech; in addition it emphasizes the importance of intellectual honesty, and freedom of inquiry and instruction. Both students and teachers are thus entitled to a proper environment for learning in which all opinions are respected. The expression of dissent is to be allowed except in cases where it disrupts the learning of others. The resolution declares that it is a teacher's "mastery of his subject" which entitles him to teach, and he must be allowed to do so unimpeded. This freedom carries with it a responsibility to the established curriculum as announced to the students and approved by the faculty.

Standards of Student Conduct

Part of your job as a TA is to facilitate learning by maintaining a suitable classroom environment. Just as the University of Washington adheres to certain academic standards, its standards of behavior are no less important for a suitable atmosphere for learning. You must, therefore, be concerned with whether or not your students feel comfortable and are able to concentrate upon the tasks at hand. If a student disrupts this learning environment in any way, the Student Conduct Code empowers you to ask the student to leave the classroom.

It is very possible that at some point in your teaching career you will have to deal with such a disruptive student. It is important to understand your obligation as teacher to maintain the integrity of the classroom, and your right to do whatever is necessary to that end.

Policies on Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is defined as the use of one's authority or power, either explicitly or implicitly, to coerce another into unwanted sexual relations or to punish another for his or her refusal, or as the creation by a member of the University community of an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment through verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Undergraduates will see you as being in a position of power whether or not you do, because you are the source of the good or bad grade at the end of the quarter. The best strategy is to wait until the quarter is over before engaging in a romantic relationship, or anything that might possibly be construed as one, with a student. The Faculty Senate's Class "C" Resolution on Faculty/Student Relationships and Conflicts of Interest (University Handbook, vol. II, section 24-33, footnote) is a good guide.

If a student comes to you with a harassment complaint against another instructor, you are obligated to report the case to your department chair. This is imperative, even if the student requests otherwise. There are two key reasons for this: if you say nothing, the alleged harasser may go on to harass other students and thus continue to cause great damage; and the University can be held liable for unreported cases of harassment. You are, in such an instance, a member of "management," and thus a representative of the University. Your actions therefore reflect on the institution's legal liability in such a case.

Should you decide to advise a student to pursue a case of sexual harassment or pursue such a case yourself, the Ombudsman for Sexual Harassment (543-0283) investigates informal complaints quickly and quietly and will help you decide if the evidence warrants a formal grievance.

Privacy of Student Records

Federal and state law requires the confidentiality of student records. This means that no one but the instructor may see class grade records unless identifying features have been removed. Among other things, this means that it is not advisable to leave graded student papers and exams out for all students to rummage through, since this too exposes students' grades to those not authorized to see them.

Photocopying and Copyright Laws

The Copyright Revision Act, passed by Congress in 1976, allows individual photocopies of parts of books or periodicals as long as they are for personal use. In the case of instructional material, the act bars the systematic reproduction of material in such quantities that they substitute for subscriptions or purchases; excerpts must be brief, and the copying cannot be repeated from term to term.

In order to be sure any xeroxing you need to do for your class falls within what is allowed by this law, check first with the Copyright Permission Center (http://www.pubserv.washington.edu/copy/cpc/) as to what is permissible and how, if necessary, they can help you obtain permission to use necessary materials.