When they speak or act as private persons they avoid creating the impression of speaking or acting for their college or university. As citizens engaged in a profession that depends upon freedom for its health and integrity, professors have a particular obligation to promote conditions of free inquiry and to further public understanding of actions taken. The fundamental purpose of a statement of professional responsibility is to establish a guide to responsible performance that is consistent with the highest ideals of the academic profession. When cases of gross disregard for principles of professional responsibility occur, members of the university community have both a right and a duty to call the lapse to the attention of the individual concerned and to expect that the irresponsible behavior will be discontinued. A. Informal Resolution 1.
Informal resolution is always preferable.
B. Formal Resolution 1. As quickly as may be feasible and in accordance with the process described in Section III.B, a Committee of the Panel on Professional Responsibility should begin an inquiry into the facts of any case it is asked to investigate. The committee shall immediately notify the principals involved and the Vice President for Academic Affairs that an investigation is to be conducted. If the University intends to conduct an investigation which may lead to a formal notice of disciplinary action, the Vice President for Academic Affairs shall so notify the committee and the committee shall take no further action. The committee shall work informally and shall keep only those notes and records that are needed for their own purposes.