UD Expectations and the Code of Conduct and Values and Ethics

Policy

1. Expectations
There are expectations for the behavior of UD community members. The UD community is comprised of all UD staff, faculty, and students. All are individually and collectively responsible for any behavior and fully accountable for any action.

UD is a multicultural community of people with diverse identities, backgrounds and beliefs. All members are committed to learning from one another in an atmosphere of positive engagement and mutual respect. This commitment is central to the campus life at UD whether in classes, programs, workplace, or everyday interactions with one another.

Each UD member must take responsibility for their own learning and awareness about multi-culture, ethics, conduct, character, and values. No one has the right to malign another person based on: race, gender, age, religion, nationality, disability or any other personal attribute. Any violations including verbal or written abuse, threats, harassment, intimidation or violence against any member or group will not be tolerated. To promote a healthy community, each person at UD should take the responsibility to identify and speak out against such behavior if it occurs.

The following sections describe the code of conduct, values, and ethics that all UD community members shall follow uniformly during their association with UD.

2. Code of Conduct

All members of the UD community shall exert utmost efforts to ensure:

Respect for the individual and commitment to equal opportunity in a diverse society.
UD organizational interests exceed our individual interests and differences.
Individual rights and privileges are to be exercised responsibly.
The conviction that no one is above the law.
Respect for the view of others.
Responsibility and accountability for one’s actions.

3. Code of Values

Allegiance to these values obligates the UD community members to refrain from behaviors which threaten the freedom and respect that every individual deserves. The UD community affirms the value of:

Integrity: We act with integrity in accordance with the highest academic, professional, and ethical standards.
Tolerance: We respect and honor the dignity of each person, embrace civil discourse, and foster a diverse, inclusive, and safe community.
Responsibility: We act responsibly and hold ourselves accountable for our decisions, actions, and their consequences.
Discovery: Through advanced research and scholarship, we seek and create new knowledge and understanding, and foster creativity and innovation, for the benefit of the society.
Excellence: We strive for excellence in all of our endeavors.
Social Commitment: We work together for the betterment of our University and the communities we serve.
Agility: We maintain a future-oriented, global and resilient mindset to meet the evolving needs of the market.

4. Code of Ethics

The purpose of the UD Code of Ethics is to set standards for the conduct of members of the UD community. It does not prescribe rules as to how members should act in all situations. Specific application of the code must take into account the context in which it is being considered.

Responsibility

This involves knowing the difference between choices and outcomes; evaluating short versus long-term consequences, and accepting those consequences without justifying actions or blaming others to escape disciplinary actions and/or accountability. To act responsibly, one should:

Distinguish between choices and outcomes. “Right and Wrong” concern choices- reflecting one’s values - over which an individual has much control. “Good and bad” concern outcomes - reflecting events set into motion by choices - over which an individual has little control.
Resist short-term consequences associated with temptation, greed, ego, ambition, pride or some other unearned power or achievement. Such choices usually provide quick-relief of personal and/or professional problems - at the expense of others.
Foresee long-term consequences associated with one’s actions or decisions. Such choices usually are in the best interests of the community and help an individual resist unethical actions or quick-fix decisions.

To embrace responsibility, a person has to:

Reflect on one’s choices or intended actions before setting them into motion.
Choose the most ethical course of action that causes the least harm to others and/or community - proceeding with, postponing, or rejecting a decision.
Assume responsibility for that choice - whether the outcome is good or bad.

In this background, staff and faculty members of the UD community have a responsibility to:

Maintain high standards of academic and professional conduct.
Resist pressures (personal, social, organizational, financial, and political) to use own influence inappropriately.
Seek appropriate guidance and direction when faced with ethical dilemmas.
Accurately represent their own areas of competence, education, training and experience.
Recognize the limits of one's own expertise and confine oneself to performing duties properly that they are educated, trained and qualified for, or otherwise, making referrals when situations are outside their own areas of competence.
Be informed of current developments in your own fields, and ensure continuing self- development and enhancement of expertise.
Stay knowledgeable about differences in cultural and value orientations.
Identify and provide appropriate referrals for students/staff who experience unusual levels of emotional difficulty.
Provide other community members with information, orientation, and support services needed to facilitate adaptation to a new educational and cultural environment.
Maintain confidentiality of private UD information accessed/disclosed during the course of work at the University.
Avoid defaming UD or its members: The employee shall not, during the course of the his/her employment at UD, nor at any time thereafter, directly or indirectly, in public or private, in any manner or in any medium whatsoever, deprecate, impugn or otherwise make any comments, writings, remarks or other expressions that would, or could be construed to, defame the University, its reputation or any of its members. Nor shall the employee assist any other person, firm or company in doing so.
Respect the values and laws of the UAE.

B. Fairness

Fairness is associated with:

Respect for the individual and commitment to equal opportunity in a diverse society.
Support for the freedoms of religion, of the press, of speech, and of the right to assemble.
Belief that individual rights and privileges are to be exercised responsibly, especially with respect to others.
Conviction that no one is above the law.

To resolve differences fairly with another person or group, one should:

Consider all viewpoints in an attempt to be impartial; evaluating how one’s actions might affect one’s self and/or other parties.
Seek advice from impartial mentors or experts and, if appropriate, common bonds with perceived adversaries.
Evaluate the impact and consequences of one’s action and/or decision, making proper adjustments to prepare for the next encounter.

To practice fairness, one should:

Accept truth as one finds it, even if that truth goes against everything that one has hitherto believed; peer pressure or self-denial cannot stand in the way of such acceptance.
Acknowledge, openly and freely, when one has been mistaken, tempted or biased; pride or ambition cannot stand in the way of such disclosures.
Admit whether one has preconceived notions concerning an issue or a dispute; desire for or anger over outcomes cannot stand in the way of conflict-resolution.

In this background, students, staff and faculty members of UD community shall:

Not discriminate with regard to race, color, nationality, ethnicity, gender, marital status, age, or disability.
Demonstrate awareness of, sensitivity to, and respect for other educational systems, values, beliefs, and cultures.
Not exploit, threaten, coerce or harass others.
Maintain confidentiality, integrity, and security of records and communications.
Respond to inquiries fairly, equitably, and professionally.
Provide accurate, complete, current and unbiased information.
Refrain from becoming involved in personal relationships with students.
Accept only gifts that are of nominal value (less than 500 aed) and that do not seem intended to influence academic and administrative decisions, while remaining sensitive to the varying significance and implications of gifts in different cultures.

C. Civility

Civility is an ethical conduct and discourse that honors others’ viewpoints and solves problems without creating greater ones. Civility is associated with:

Respect for the views of others.
Responsible exercising of individual rights and privileges especially with respect to others
Belief that common interests exceed our individual differences.
Esteem for the individual and commitment to equal opportunity in a diverse society.

A civil person aspires to:

Solve problems regardless of own benefit but for the benefit of the community.
Use appropriate but penetrating discourse, even when others are inappropriate.
Do the necessary analysis before judging others’ work or person rather than relying on summary judgment.
Solve problems via values of fairness, responsibility, and discretion (rather than through manipulation, deceit, and personal attack).
Embrace a shared set of values that analyzes or honors all viewpoints - even ones with which he or she disagrees - in pursuit of a higher and communal cause.

In this background, UD community members shall:

Show respect for the diversity of viewpoints among colleagues.
Refrain from unjustified or unseemly criticism of fellow members, other programs, and other organizations.
Use their office and title only for the purpose of conduct of official business.
Uphold agreements when participating in joint activities and give due credit to partners for their contributions.
Recruit individuals, who are qualified to offer the instruction or service promised, train and supervise them responsibly, and ensure by means of regular evaluation that they are performing acceptably.
Encourage and support participation in professional development activities.
Provide appropriate orientation, materials, and on-going guidance for participants.
Take appropriate steps to enhance the safety and security of participants.
Provide accurate, complete, current and unbiased information.

Academic Catalog

UD Expectations and the Code of Conduct and Values and Ethics