Statement of Ethics

While any individual's sense of ethical behavior is most likely situational and interpretive, the Literacy Studies Department has articulated a series of shared ideas concerning ethical conduct within our department. We urge faculty, staff, and students to reflect upon these shared ideals as they go about their daily professional and scholarly activities, and to be mindful that creating an ethical environment requires each of us to always act responsibly and in good faith, and to expect the same in return.

1. The success and worth of our professional activities (teaching, scholarship, service, and research), as well as our professional relationships, are contingent upon honesty, regard for others, and a sense of fair play. Faculty, staff, and students should not act in ways that prejudiciously jeopardize the well-being of members of this community.
3. In order to promote trust and earn confidence, we should avoid making false, indiscrete, or misleading statements. This includes maintaining confidentiality, collaborating with and obtaining consent from all stakeholders in the community.
5. We acknowledge the worth and potential contributions of all people. This means working to eliminate bias and any form of discrimination based on race; class; religion; age; national origin; ethnicity; linguistic variance; gender; sexual orientation; or physical health/handicap. In this setting, we value collaboration and should avoid struggles for supremacy.
7. We recognize the contributions, competence, and expertise of teachers and families in the schools and communities. As members of a department that regards literacy as a human right we are pro-active within, and responsible toward, the communities in which we live and work. We are activists and advocates who regard every member of the communities in which we live and work to be capable of learning, and deserving of our best efforts.
9. We believe that to achieve our mission of creating more equitable educational opportunities and practices in both schools and communities, we must first strive to maintain and sustain fair and ethical behavior in our day-to-day dealings with one another.