Code of Conduct

CLAIRE TREVOR SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

This statement outlines the standards of professional conduct expected of graduate students in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts. Adherence to these principles of conduct – together with good academic standing – maintains a student’s “good standing” status in the School.

As a community, we respect the dignity, individuality, creative expression, and freedom of each member, and we strive to be a place in which individuals and groups learn with and from one another. We aim to foster a sense of shared experience and common purpose along with a collective responsibility for each other’s wellbeing and for the wellbeing of the University as a whole. Although we acknowledge the difficulties inherent in creating a community of individuals who are different from each other, we remain unwavering in our commitment to both diversity and community in a context of academic and artistic excellence. We seek to enable all members of this community to pursue their creative, educational, and career interests in an environment that recognizes both the distinctiveness of each person’s experience and the common humanity that unites us all and that permits us to take full educational advantage of the diversity of talents, backgrounds, and perspectives of each member.

In all activities, each graduate student is expected to be personally honest and respectful of the rights and interests of the others in the community. All students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the University’s function as an educational institution and to attend, make use of, and enjoy the facilities and benefits of the University without undue interruption or disruption to them or to others due to their actions. With their professional conduct, graduate students are expected to contribute to a School climate in which all community members feel personally safe, listened to, valued, and treated with fairness and respect.

The key principles of professional conduct include:

1. Professional Behavior: As artists and scholars, we strive to maintain the highest level of effort and investment in our work. Members of the UCI academic and artistic community are committed to teaching, learning, research, performance, and community engagement, and to assisting one another in the creation and maintenance of an environment that fosters and enables a professionalism and excellence. This includes communicating in a manner that is respectful and that in no way discriminates against, intimidates, or harasses others, and treats the ideas, scholarship, and creative pursuits of others with respect.
    
2. Integrity: The School is an institution of learning, research, scholarship, and creative pursuit that is strengthened by an environment of integrity. As members of this academic and artistic community, students are responsible for maintaining this environment, and are expected to subscribe to the practice of academic and artistic integrity and to accept individual responsibility for their work and actions. Violations are unacceptable and will not be tolerated because they devalue the teaching and learning experience for the entire community. Observing basic honesty in one’s work, words, ideas, and actions is a principle to which all members of the community are required to subscribe.

3. Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity: Respect for the rights, privileges, and sensibilities of each member is essential to maintaining the spirit of our community. Actions that create an intimidating, threatening, or hostile environment are therefore regarded as serious offenses. Free speech and peaceful assembly are basic requirements of the University as a center of free inquiry and the search for knowledge and insight; these rights involve a concurrent obligation on the part of all members of the University, guests, and visitors to maintain an atmosphere conducive to scholarly pursuits, and to respect the rights of all individuals.

4. Respect for Diversity: UCI seeks to promote full inclusion of all members and groups in every aspect of University life. Diversity – in terms of race, creed, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, physical or mental disability, veteran status, marital or domestic partnership status, affective or sexual orientation, socio-economic background, and other protected characteristics – is a source of strength for the School, and contributes to a positive creative and educational environment. We do not tolerate any discriminatory and/or harassing behavior based on protected characteristics, and will take immediate action to end a hostile environment if one has been created, prevent its recurrence, and remedy the effects of any hostile environment on affected members of the campus community.

5. Creative sensitivity: As artists, students in the Claire Trevor School of the Arts may be called upon to explore topics and practices that touch on deeply felt emotions and/or closely held personal beliefs; as a result, students may experience upsetting reactions or feelings of interpersonal conflict. Students must commit to working through such conflicts and challenges with open and respectful communication, addressing the topics at hand while honoring the personhood of all involved.

6. Appropriate Sexual Conduct: UCI does not tolerate sex or gender discrimination, including sexual misconduct such as sexual harassment or sexual assault, stalking, intimate partner violence, or offensive or intimidating sexual language. Graduate students must undergo mandatory sexual harassment compliance training.

7. Appropriate use of Electronic Media: When acting as representatives of the School or interacting on official UCI platforms, students must be responsible in their use of social media and should not violate our professional and academic standards in their social media activities. Students also must respect parameters set by professors or directors on the use of electronic devices during class time, rehearsal, and performance.

Accountability
The School will maintain a clear structure to address complaints involving professional conduct of graduate students, staff, and faculty. Allegations of improper behavior will be treated seriously and promptly. All members of the community are entitled to know what is expected of them and be treated to a timely, fair, and meaningful evaluation of their contributions to the issue at hand. Proper training and orientation will be available to all members of the community.

Observance of University Policies
No set of rules can possibly address all situations that may arise. The School reserves the right to find that other conduct not specified in this Code or UCI policies constitutes a violation of good academic or professional standing. If situations arise that seem ambiguous, please consult with departmental graduate advisors, Chairs, the Graduate Office, or the Associate Dean.

The UCI Student Code of Conduct defines behavior expected of all UCI students. It is each student’s responsibility to know and comply with the University’s Student Code of Conduct. In addition, the violation of the laws by any jurisdiction, whether local, state, federal, or foreign, may subject an individual to disciplinary action.