Ethical Principles
The members of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) are subject to many sets of laws, regulations, standards, and codes of conduct related to their professional responsibilities. The principles presented in this document supplement these other sets in representing the high standards of conduct according to which ASHE members expect each other to conduct their professional lives. This list of principles should not be viewed as exhaustive, nor is it supported by a formal regulatory process; rather, the principles should be interpreted as hortatory reminders of the expectations and standards that support the professional work of the association and its members in their roles as scholars, educators, students and other professionals.
Integrity: ASHE members should conduct research and other inquiry in such a way as to maintain the integrity of the work, the people involved in the work, and the field of higher education.
Credit: ASHE members should fully and appropriately acknowledge the contributions of others in their work, whether the contributions are made through collaboration, publication of previous work, or other means.
Responsibility: ASHE members should take full responsibility for all aspects of their work and other professional activities.
Honesty and accuracy: ASHE members should value and demonstrate the highest levels of honesty and accuracy in their work.
Originality: ASHE members should accurately represent the extent of originality in their work, as well as its dependence on their own or others' previous work.
Respect: ASHE members should maintain professional respect and civility in their relationships and interactions with others.
Fairness: ASHE members should fairly and carefully judge the merit of others' work and qualifications on their own merits, without discrimination or prejudice related to personal characteristics or professional bias.
Advancement: ASHE members should aim to advance the study of higher education and its contributions to its constituents, including through participation in and service to ASHE.
Responsibility to clients and to the public interest: ASHE members, as professionals, have a principal responsibility to serve as best they can the best interests of their clients and of the public interest.
Conflict of interest: ASHE members, as professionals, should declare any possible conflict of interest that emerges from any financial interest they may have with regard to any particular professional decision or judgment.
Posted: November 4, 2003
ASHE Resolution at the November 2011 Board Meeting
Through its peer-reviewed publications, annual conference sessions, presidential invited sessions, and other intellectual and professional fora, the Association for the Study of Higher Education promotes scholarly discourse and debate about important issues and ideas, questions, problems, and possibilities in the study of higher education. At its 2011 opening meeting, the ASHE Board of Directors reaffirmed its commitment to diversity in point of view and perspective in scholarly deliberation. The editors and editorial boards of ASHE publications carry out their responsibilities in accord with these commitments. The ASHE Board reasserts its belief in and support of the intellectual, academic, and professional freedom and judgement of the appointed ASHE editors and editorial boards charged with carrying out all aspects of work associated with production of the scholarly products for which they bear responsibility.