Preamble: Concordia University strives to employ Christian men and women who acknowledge the Lutheran heritage of the institution and who support the doctrines of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Therefore, members of the Division of Student Life are expected to demonstrate their Christian faith through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are expected to ensure that programs and staff interventions are grounded in Student Development Theory. In order that this may be accomplished the following Standards of Professional Practice have been established for all members of the Division of Student Life.
1. Professional Services: Members of Concordia University Wisconsin fulfill the responsibilities of their position by supporting the educational interests, rights, and welfare of students in accordance with the mission of the University.
2. Agreement with Concordia University Mission and Goals: Members who accept employment with Concordia subscribe to the general mission and goals of Concordia University Wisconsin and the Division of Student Life.
3. Management of University Resources: Members seek to advance the welfare of Concordia through accountability for the proper use of its funds, personnel, equipment, and other resources. Members inform appropriate officials of conditions which may be potentially disruptive or damaging to the University’s mission, personnel, and property.
4. Employment Relationship: Members honor employment relationships. Members do not commence new duties or obligations at another institution under a new contractual agreement until termination of an existing contract, unless otherwise agreed to by the member and the member’s current and new supervisors. Members adhere to the professional practices in securing positions and employment relationships.
5. Conflict of Interest: Members recognize their obligation to Concordia University Wisconsin and seek to avoid private interests, obligations, and transactions which are in conflict of interest or give the appearance of impropriety. Members clearly distinguish between statements and actions which represent their own personal views and those which represent Concordia when important to do so.
6. Legal Authority: Members respect and acknowledge all lawful authority. Members refrain from conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, and misrepresentation or unlawful discrimination. Concordia University recognizes that legal issues are often ambiguous, and members should seek the advice of counsel as appropriate. Members demonstrate concern for the legal, social codes and moral expectations of the communities in which they live and work even when the dictates of one’s conscience may require behavior as a private citizen which is not in keeping with these codes/expectations.
7. Equal Consideration and Treatment of Others: Members execute professional responsibilities with fairness and impartiality and show equal consideration to individuals regardless of status or position. Members respect individuality and promote an appreciation of human diversity in higher education. It is recognized that disagreements between members of the community will occasionally occur. In redressing these disagreements, members of the Division will employ Biblical and professional principles in managing disputes. In keeping with the mission of the University and remaining cognizant of federal, state, and local laws, they do not discriminate against other members of the University community. Members do not engage in or tolerate harassment in any form and become familiar with the University harassment policy. Further, members of the Division should exercise professional judgment in entering into intimate relationships with those for whom they have any supervisory, evaluative, or instructional responsibility.
8. Student Behavior: Members demonstrate and promote responsible behavior and support actions that enhance personal growth and development of students. Members foster conditions designed to ensure a student’s acceptance of responsibility for his/her own behavior. Members inform and educate students as to sanctions or constraints on student behavior which may result from violations of law or the University’s policies.
9. Integrity of Information and Research: Members ensure that all information conveyed to others is accurate and in appropriate context. In their research and publications, members conduct and report research studies to assure accurate interpretation of findings, and they adhere to accepted professional standards of academic integrity.
10. Confidentiality: Members ensure that confidentiality is maintained with respect to all privileged communications and to educational and professional records considered confidential. They inform all parties of the nature and/or limits of confidentiality. Members share information only in accordance with Concordia University Wisconsin’s policies and relevant statutes when given the informed consent or when required to prevent personal harm to themselves or others.
11. Research Involving Human Subjects: Members are aware of and take responsibility for all pertinent ethical principles and University requirements when planning any research activity dealing with human subjects. (c.f. University’s IRB Protocol.)
12. Representation of Professional Competence: Members at all times represent accurately their professional credentials, competencies, and limitations and act to correct any misrepresentations of these qualifications by others. Members make proper referrals to appropriate professionals when the member’s professional competence does not meet the task or issue in question.
13. Selection and Promotion Practices: Members support nondiscriminatory, fair employment practices by appropriately publicizing staff vacancies, selection criteria, deadlines, and promotion criteria in accordance with the spirit and intent of equal opportunity policies, established legal guidelines, and University policies.
14. References: Members, when serving as a reference, provide accurate and complete information about candidates, including both relevant strengths and limitations of a professional and personal nature.
15. Job Definitions and Performance Evaluation: Members clearly define with subordinates and supervisors job responsibilities and decision-making procedures, mutual expectations, accountability procedures, and evaluation criteria.
16. Campus Community: Members promote a sense of community among all areas of the campus by working cooperatively with students, faculty, staff, and others outside Concordia University Wisconsin to address the common goals of student learning and development. Members foster a climate of collegiality and mutual respect in their work relationships. It is recognized that disagreements between members of the community will occasionally occur. In redressing these disagreements, members of the Division will employ Biblical and professional principles in managing disputes.
17. Professional Development: Members have an obligation to continue personal professional growth and to contribute to the development of the profession by enhancing personal knowledge and skills, sharing ideas and information, improving professional practices, conducting and reporting research, and participating in association activities. The University encourages members of the Division to gain advanced degrees beyond job requirements. Members promote and facilitate the professional growth of staff and they emphasize ethical standards in professional preparation and development programs. Specifically as funds are made available, members of the Division are expected to do the following:
- Organize professional development experiences for members of the University community.
- Attend professional development programs sponsored by the University and the Division of Student Life;
- Hold membership in at least one professional association;
- Attend at least one professional development experience sponsored by a professional organization per year.
18. Professional Service: Members have an obligation to serve their University, profession, and church/community. Sharing ideas and information, improving professional practices, conducting and reporting research, and participating in association/church/community activities are examples of ways members can serve. Specifically as time and funds are made available, members are encouraged to:
- Serve on University/Division standing and ad hoc committees;
- Become active in a professional organization;
- Serve church and/or community needs;
- Make presentations - to the University community, at professional conferences and workshops, to church and civic groups.
- Write grants for the Division
- Conduct and publish research
19. Assessment: Members regularly and systematically assess organizational structures, programs, and services to determine whether the developmental goals and needs of students are being met and to assure conformity to published standards and guidelines such as those of the Council for the Advancement of Standards for Student Services/Development Programs (CAS). Members collect data which include responses from students and other significant constituencies and make assessment results available to appropriate University officials for the purpose of revising and improving program goals and implementation.
Adopted: May, 2001 Division of Student Life
