Ethics in University Life

ETHICAL VALUES IN UNIVERSITY LIFE

ETHICAL VALUES RELATED TO DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND EQUALITY

All university stakeholders (academic, administrative, technical and service personnel, and students) receive equal, fair, and dignified treatment without discrimination based on race, colour, gender, ethnic origin, religion, sect, marital status, political views or religious beliefs, family, social or cultural background, disability, immigration status, or any other factors.

Considering these factors, the university cannot engage in unfair practices:

Students are not excluded from any educational element, and employees are not excluded from any work element.
No student or employee is deprived of their benefits.
No privilege is granted to any student or employee.

STUDENT ETHICAL VALUES

STUDENTS REMAIN TRUE TO THE ACADEMIC HONOUR PLEDGE THEY MAKE WHEN ENROLLING IN OUR UNIVERSITY:

"Throughout my student life, I make this honour pledge.

to maintain a relationship with faculty members, research assistants, other university staff, and my peers based on mutual love and respect,
to avoid discrimination for any reason among people and to be understanding of all opinions,
to refrain from behaviours that do not comply with the principles of student conduct, such as cheating, giving or receiving unauthorised assistance, deception, or misleading,
to adhere to ethical rules in academic activities,
to reference all sources used in academic work (including the internet)”.

Students individually fulfil all requirements of the courses they take (excluding team projects).
Students do not cheat or engage in deceptive behaviour towards academic staff.
Students do not assist others in cheating or engaging in deceptive behaviour towards academic staff.
Throughout their education, students use all the knowledge and skills they acquire to benefit humanity and the ecosystem.
Students observe and remind others of workplace safety and health rules during laboratory work.
Students adhere to general health and work rules required by campus life and remind others to comply.
Students consciously avoid causing harm to public property at our university.
Students do not take books or other printed materials from the library without permission and do not damage them.
In team projects, students do not exploit friendships or student relationships to gain grades or benefits by taking credit for the efforts of their peers.
Students do not use unjust excuses, such as obtaining a false health report from their relatives (doctor parents, relatives, etc.), to participate in exams, classes, or other student performances.
Students do not request practices beyond valid laws, regulations, and guidelines by relying on reasons that serve their interests.
Students do not provide incomplete or incorrect information for scholarships or support funds, causing harm to others' rights.
During registration periods, students do not create unnecessary programs that cause the system to lock, depriving others of their rights.
During registration periods, students do not unnecessarily register for courses to transfer these quotas to others for personal gain during the add-drop period.
Our students behave towards our university's academic, administrative, technical, and service personnel within the rules of respect.

The main behaviours that do not comply with academic ethical values are defined below:

Cheating:

Collaborating with others in exams, individual assignments, projects, reports, etc., exchanging information.
Using unauthorised sources or information in exams (such as written notes and/or using tools like mobile phones, calculators) and/or writing information (formulas, text, etc.) on exam elements (desk, chair, board, etc.), adding extra information to allowed sources (tables, books, etc.).
In assignments, projects, and reports where teamwork is not allowed, inappropriately seeking help and support by working with other students.
Presenting an assignment, project, or report in its entirety or in part, obtained from another student, professional, or any printed, visual, or auditory source (book, internet, artificial intelligence/natural language applications, articles, etc.), falsely presenting it as one's own with incomplete/incorrect citation or without citation.
Presenting an entire or part of a previously graded assignment or project report as one's own.

Engaging in behaviors related to plagiarism:

Using information obtained from printed, visual, auditory sources with incomplete/incorrect citation or without citation.
Using quotations from different sources, with incomplete/incorrect citation or without citation (cut-and-paste).
Using information and/or results from a source as they are or partially modified with incomplete/incorrect citation or without citation.
Copying and distributing course notes, records, or materials belonging to an instructor without the instructor's permission.
Recording (audio recording, video recording, or taking photos) visual and/or auditory material during a class without the instructor's permission or sharing it.

Engaging in behaviors related to deception

Taking exams or attending classes on behalf of someone else or directing others to take exams or attend classes on behalf of another individual.
Presenting unused sources as if they were used.
Presenting someone else's ideas, creations, products, or performances as one's own.
Getting someone else to do their projects, assignments, or theses for money or in exchange for favors.

TEACHING ETHICAL VALUES

Course information form (syllabus), course description form, and course success evaluation criteria are given to students at the beginning of the academic term, and maximum care is taken to adhere to the information in these forms. The success determination and/or evaluation criteria specified in these forms are not changed later.
Courses are taught within the framework of academic freedom, in accordance with the requirements, goals, and expectations of the department/department/program, faculty, and university.
Instructors engage in teaching activities without discrimination to enrich and develop all students' knowledge, skills, and experiences, making efforts to create the necessary learning environment.
Teaching-related authorities and administrators provide instructors with sufficient support and opportunities to create these teaching conditions and environments.
Unless there is another official assignment, the instructor is present during the course exams they teach.
Success evaluation criteria are determined and shared with students at the beginning of the semester. Information regarding the student's performance and grade is communicated only to the student within the specified period and without a valid reason.
In cases where it is mandatory for an instructor to teach and/or conduct exams for their close relatives and relatives, as it may create hesitation and may lead to misunderstandings, the relevant instructor informs the department chair and other authorized persons about the matter, and the authorities ensure that necessary measures are taken.
Instructors and teaching-related authorities, administrators, take maximum care to ensure that their students do not fall into discriminatory or demeaning situations, and do not allow such situations. In case of such incidents, relevant individuals (instructors, teaching-related authorities, administrators) intervene as necessary and timely, take preventive measures, and implement solutions.
Instructors strive to be exemplary and reliable individuals and professionals in both ethical behavior and professional matters, serving as role models for their students, colleagues, and administrative staff.

ACADEMIC ADVISING ETHICAL VALUES

The instructor informs students in writing and/or announces the days and hours for meetings with students at the beginning of the academic semester in a way accessible to the relevant students.

The instructor adheres to the announced days and hours for meetings with students and dedicates this time entirely to students.
As required by the academic advising institution, the instructor provides accurate and sufficient information and support to advisory students in academic, administrative, professional, and personal matters. In cases exceeding the scope of academic advising, the instructor directs students to other sources where accurate information and/or necessary support will be provided, and issues will be resolved by appropriate and correct individuals/units.
As required by the academic advising institution, the instructor follows decisions made for students in academic and administrative matters.
The instructor supports students' participation in the instructor evaluation process.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND RESEARCH ETHICAL VALUES

All students, academics, researchers, and administrators observe and behave in accordance with the following principles and values:

Honesty: Honesty is a fundamental principle of scientific activities and academic life. Students, academics, and researchers behave honestly in their academic studies, research, and all interactions. Plagiarism, copying, deceptive behaviours, products, and academic-scientific fraud are not tolerated in any way.

Originality: Originality is essential in research and academic work. The works of others used in these activities are appropriately and accurately cited.

Fairness: The measurement, evaluation, and grading of research and academic studies are carried out with fairness, without prejudice or discrimination.

Privacy: The confidentiality and protection of personal data, individual sensitive information, research stakeholders, and research-sensitive information, as well as personal or institutional confidential information, are maintained and observed.

Ethical Assessment: All research involving human or animal trials is evaluated by the university's authorised ethics board and implemented after approval.

Data Integrity: Researchers are responsible for ensuring the truthfulness, honesty, and security of research data and making the data accessible for verification or replication. In necessary cases, administrators provide necessary and sufficient support to researchers regarding research data security and accessibility.

Authorship and Collaborations: In publications, reports, technical notes, etc., that are products of research, projects, etc., author names, order, and citations are arranged to reflect the primary and essential contributions of each stakeholder to the study or product.

Conflict of Interest: Researchers identify and clearly express potential conflicts of interest that may compromise the reliability of their work.

OTHER ETHICAL VALUES

The use of influence and power, harassment, and sexual harassment are evaluated within the ethical dimension, not just within the narrow framework defined by laws. In cases involving the use of influence and power, harassment, sexual harassment, and related situations, reports submitted by academic staff, administrators, students, and employees who have been subjected to such incidents are taken seriously and handled within the framework of confidentiality principles by the relevant department/unit, faculty, university authorities, and administrators. The reports are evaluated and resolved accordingly.
Academic, administrative, technical, and service personnel do not establish relationships with students based on personal interests.
Academic staff and administrators:

Do not misrepresent their careers and professional qualifications.
Do not disclose information obtained about colleagues during professional service unless required by laws.
Do not make false or malicious statements about any colleague.

Please adhere to the principle of honesty in all their professional relationships.
Those in managerial positions do not engage in activities that restrict the personal rights of individuals working in the institution, cause harm to their professional careers or personal lives, or use professional or personal power and influence in a harassing manner.

SOCIAL LIFE ETHICAL VALUES

Relationships among all stakeholders (academic, administrative, technical and service staff, managers, students, employees) are conducted within mutual respect and courtesy rules.
All stakeholders act with an awareness of the rights and responsibilities required by their duties and positions.
Pressure methods such as the use of influence and power are not employed among stakeholders.
Stakeholders do not guide each other in any unjust or inappropriate direction for personal gain.
All stakeholders of the institution avoid behaviours that could be deemed inappropriate.

Through the collaborative efforts of the Sustainable Education Commission, Student Dean's Office, and ABET Accreditation Coordination, the text 'Ethical Values in University Life,' which was created by the Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) Rectorate Ethics Committee during the 2017-2018 Academic Year, has been updated. It was discussed during the University Senate meeting on December 28, 2023 (Meeting Number: 852), and it was decided to be appropriate.