Body
The Institution is devoted to the pursuit of learning in the broadest sense. Its public responsibilities include the transmission of learning, the creation of knowledge, and the performance of services in related endeavors. Traditionally, colleges have served not only as transmitters of learning and repositories of knowledge, but also as institutions for the development of that innovation and criticism without which civilization cannot progress. In the fulfillment of these traditional obligations, the Institution and its members are occasionally put in a position of apparent conflict among themselves and society. It is sometimes inevitable that new knowledge should find itself at odds with the old. Experimentation with new ideas and criticism of society is the inevitable and desirable result of a properly functioning institution.
These conflicts between the Institution and the community, and within the Institution itself, must not be allowed to interfere with the effective operation of the Institution. It is essential that the membership of the Institution be guaranteed freedom of expression, inquiry, association, criticism, and dissent without fear of reprisal, bodily harm, or physical disorder. The responsibility of maintaining academic freedom is shared by the Institution and through the persons of its students, its faculty, its administrators and its Regents and by society.
The members of the college community reaffirm that they have all the ordinary rights and obligations of citizens, and that they enjoy no special privilege to immunity as members of the community at large. The Institution is governed by regulations designed to safeguard its functions, and membership in the academic community entails a special obligation to support the Institution's general purpose. The faculty of the Institution recognizes that the possession of academic freedom imposes upon its members a special obligation to exercise that freedom through the practice of open and honest intellectual inquiry and expression. To assure the maintenance of conditions under which the Institution may successfully operate, we subscribe to the following Faculty Code of Conduct:
a. Members of the college faculty, whatever their rank and assigned duties, are expected to nurture, protect, and exercise academic freedom.
b. The privilege of the classroom must not be abused through neglect, exploitation or intellectual dishonesty.
c. As a teacher, the faculty member must adhere to his/her proper role as intellectual guide and counselor, and respect the confidential nature of the relationship between professor and student.
d. The use or threat of physical violence by faculty members constitutes behavior inconsistent with the integrity and continuity of the Institution.
e. Acts of discrimination for reasons of age, race, sex, religion, economic status, or national or tribal origin are considered unsuitable behavior.
f. Implementation of these principles shall be conducted by members of the Faculty Service Committee (as defined by Board of Regents) augmented with a representative from the Faculty Senate.
g. Faculty members shall not participate in ASMT elections or campaigns in any way that overtly favors any particular candidate or issue. This restriction applies only to scheduled class times or any other times in which the faculty member is acting in an official capacity.
In addition to this code, the faculty has a responsibility to interact with their peers in a congenial manner. In its statement on professional ethics, the AAUP addresses the collegial responsibility of faculty.
As colleagues, faculty members have obligations that derive from common membership in the community of scholars. Faculty members do not discriminate against or harass colleagues. They respect and defend the free inquiry of associates. In the exchange of criticism and ideas, faculty members show due respect for the opinions of others. Faculty members acknowledge academic debt and strive to be objective in their professional judgment of colleagues. Faculty members accept their share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of their institution.
The faculty of Montana Tech endorses this AAUP statement. All state employees are also subject to the Standards of Conduct for State Employees. (MCA 2-2-201).