Faculty members will, when properly requested through duly authorized administrative and faculty agencies, comment in candor and fairness on the work of colleagues. In making evaluations of the professional competence of faculty members, they use criteria that are directly reflective of professional performance. They avoid personal attacks on their colleagues but have the responsibility to critically evaluate performance on a professional basis. Faculty members shall, when evaluating colleagues for initial appointment, promotion, tenure or general performance, be guided by the prime criteria of the candidate's professional status and potential worth to the University. Diversity of background and philosophy of faculty members should be considered among the chief means by which the University's offerings to students is enriched.
Faculty members avoid unlawful discrimination against colleagues.
Faculty members recognize that an institution of higher education is a community of scholars of great specialization of widely varied disciplines and that colleagues with different talents and training contribute importantly to the University's comprehensive offering. This should not be interpreted to disparage reasonable criticism of specific academic programs or disciplines. Faculty members help to preserve an atmosphere congenial to philosophical speculation, the reasonable interpretation of data and the uncensored exchange of views. They respect and defend the right of free inquiry of fellow faculty members. They do not permit the appearance that they are the author of the work done by others.