UTSA Faculty Code of Ethics

Faculty Responsibilities and Expectations

The job of a faculty member is multifaceted, but is one of great privilege and accompanying responsibilities. Faculty deliver the core missions of the university, including but not limited to the teaching of undergraduate and graduate students, training graduate and professional students, scholarly discourse, conducting and disseminating original research and scholarly work through a variety of modes, creating and exhibiting works of fine and performing arts, and extending knowledge to the wider community. Faculty members have regular responsibilities toward others in the university community, including their students, their faculty colleagues, and the staff who support them.

A faculty member has a responsibility to participate in the day-to-day operations of the University, including being available for students, colleagues, and departmental responsibilities during the entire academic year. These responsibilities imply that the faculty member will be available on a daily basis to meet their teaching, research, and/or service workload through teaching, advising, collaboration, service, attendance at faculty meetings, and participation in the life of the department, College, and University based on the scheduled modality of the event or activity (on-campus or online) during the academic year.

Expectations:

  • meeting assigned classes in their scheduled modality, holding regular office hours in the modalities of the scheduled course, and being available for students and for departmental responsibilities during the entire academic year (and, if granted formal permission for absence, making provision for course coverage, TA supervision, and advising during the absence);
  • conducting class according to a syllabus, creating a milieu in which free inquiry is possible, evaluating student work impartially, and administering final examinations at the scheduled times;
  • establishing and maintaining an active program of research, scholarship or creative work, and respecting the intellectual property rights of others (dependent on assigned workload);
  • providing service to and engagement nationally with their discipline, the University, College and department, for the achievement of their missions and participating in faculty and shared governance processes.

It is expected that faculty members exercise good judgment in performing their duties. Department chairs and deans are responsible for ensuring the daily academic business of the university is carried out responsibly, ethically, and successfully, and that progress is made toward achieving the university’s longer-term academic goals and in meeting the public’s expectations. Department chairs and deans have a responsibility and authority to provide feedback when those judgments appear to be inexactitude, based on concerns about adequate contributions to teaching, research, or service broadly construed.

A faculty member understands a failure to meet these responsibilities and expectation may affect decisions about work assignments and performance evaluations and result in corrective action as applicable.

Sources:

  • University of Wyoming, Expectations for Faculty Members’ Presence on Campus
  • University of Iowa, Professional Policies and Faculty Responsibilities