Background

The mission statement of the College of Business Administration, at Rafik Hariri University, specifically states, “We aim to foster an educational culture and environment of innovation and collaboration which enables the development of leaders and professionals, capable and willing to become agents of principled, ethical and socially responsible human progress.”

Moreover, one of the College’s core values is Ethical and Socially Responsible Conduct, whereby the College commits to “exercise all efforts possible to ensure the awareness and practice of ethical and socially responsible norms.”

In line with the College’s commitment to ethical conduct, as expressed in its mission statement and core values, this code of ethical conduct establishes guidelines for those acting as part of the College including administrators, faculty, staff, and students.

This is not meant to define specific behavior but rather to communicate and clarify expectations of proper professional and student conduct.

Policy

Those acting on behalf of or as part of the College of Business Administration, at Rafik Hariri University, are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will uphold the law, adhere to university policies and regulations,  and conform to the College’s guidelines of ethical conduct.

Guidelines of Ethical Conduct

Members of the College community (administrators, staff, faculty, students) should demonstrate:

• Integrity in themselves and through their actions by maintaining a commitment to honesty, accuracy, and professionalism in their actions and communication.
• Diversity by tolerating and accepting differences, and refraining from any acts of discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, culture, national origin and handicap.
• Trustworthiness by acting in a reliable and dependable manner.
• Fairness by treating others with impartiality and distinguishing between their personal beliefs and professional responsibility to ensure the fair treatment of others.
• Respect by treating others with civility, decency, and good faith.
• Stewardship by exercising respect for university property and resources and using these resources for purposes to further the mission of the College.
• Confidentiality by protecting the security and privacy of information such as student records, employee files, and other appropriate information.
• Citizenship by following applicable university rules and policies, as well as compliance with the law.

Grievance Process

In the event of a suspected violation of this code, members of the College community are responsible to bring that up to the attention of the appropriate individual or office. If a college community member, including administrators, faculty, staff, and students is uncertain of appropriate ethical conduct or suspects a violation of this code; he or she should actively seek guidance by contacting a member of the faculty, a department chair, the dean or other appropriate administrators.

In the event of a grievance concerning suspected violation of this code, college community members shall report in a written statement the grievance to a full time faculty member, or an advisor, or a department chair or the dean or the vice president for academic affairs.

Once a grievance is reported, it shall be forwarded in writing to the dean, who will initiate an investigation and convene a three-member committee of himself/herself, one full time faculty member and one chair.  The committee will meet, deliberate about the pertinent facts and issue a recommendation to the vice president for academic affairs.  Committee recommendations may range from issuing a documented verbal warning to dismissal from the college.

In the event that the grievance is reported to the vice president for academic affairs, he/she shall determine the appropriate process to address the grievance.

Awareness and Communication of the Code.

This code of ethical conduct shall be printed in the form of a letter, which shall be signed by all college community members, upon joining the college.  The signature must clearly indicate that the member read the code, understood it and agreed to conform to it.  The letter will be maintained in the member’s file in the college.

Moreover, this code shall be printed in the form of a poster, which shall be posted in various locations in the college; and posted on the college’s section of the university’s website.