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Faculty Handbook
The George Washington University
Responsibility and Accountability
University trustees, senior officials, faculty, principal investigators, staff, student
employees, and others acting on behalf of the university should assume and exercise
responsibility appropriate to their positions and roles. We are accountable to each
other, to the university, and to ourselves for our actions and our decisions not to act.
When roles or responsibilities are unclear, we should take it upon ourselves to obtain
clarity. We should exercise sound professional judgment in the performance of our
responsibilities, to the best of our ability.
Conflicts of Interest and Commitment
All trustees, senior officials, faculty, principal investigators, staff, student employees,
and others acting on behalf of the university hold positions of trust, and should conduct
their activities accordingly. Activities that impair or appear to impair the ability to
perform our duties or affect independence and objectivity of judgment in the discharge
of our responsibilities to the university should be avoided. We should demonstrate
sensitivity in identifying potential conflicts of interest, whether of a financial, personal,
or professional nature. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed, reviewed, and
appropriately managed or eliminated in accordance with the reporting and other
provisions of applicable university policies.
Harassment and Abuse of Power
The university supports an environment in which harassment of others is not tolerated.
Trustees, senior officials, faculty, principal investigators, staff, student employees, and
others acting on behalf of the university may not use positions of authority to violate or
to influence others to violate laws, regulations or university policies.
Stewardship
As stewards of university resources, all trustees, senior officials, faculty, principal
investigators, staff, student employees, and others acting on behalf of the university
have a responsibility to ensure that all university resources are used prudently, ethically,
and for their designated purposes. We have a responsibility to contributors to the
university, including federal, state, and local governments, to treat university property
with care, and to expend funds prudently. We should avoid waste and improper use,
and should not use tangible or intangible university assets, funds, property, or facilities
for our personal benefit or for the benefit of a non-university organization without
proper approval. Our acts should reflect the recognition of a special obligation to use
university property responsibly and consistent with the tax-exempt status conferred on
the university in light of its educational, research, and service missions. It is imperative
that those with access to confidential, proprietary, or private information not make
unauthorized disclosures or use of this information.
Reporting
All trustees, senior officials, faculty, principal investigators, staff, student employees,
and others acting on behalf of the university are expected to report violations of laws,