Code of Ethics

Preamble

The National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics is an educational, service and professional organization dedicated to support and enhancement of the academic achievement of intercollegiate athletes. Members serve in various roles in this capacity, but are primarily responsible for the counseling and advising of student-athletes. The primary goal of the profession is to provide a support service for student-athletes to ensure that they have as much academic success as their ability can afford. The profession seeks to offset any educational disadvantages incurred as a result of participation in an intercollegiate athletic program.

To this end, the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics, as a group, possesses a body of specialized knowledge, skills, and attitudes known and practiced by its members. These are acquired through professional preparation, generally through graduate study, in an appropriate academic discipline at a college or university. Additionally, they are acquired through experience, in-service training and personal development after the completion of formal education.

The development of a professional organization and the increasing numbers of people and institutions involved in this function have given rise to the need for a set of organizing principles, an operational code of ethics. The development of such standards will inevitably create concern and generate discussion among members about appropriate behavior and professional conduct. Ethics is defined as a body of principles of right or good conduct. With the creation of this statement, the standards for members and for all who would aspire to membership, have been established.

Purpose of Code of Ethics

The purpose of the Code of Ethics for the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics is to avoid confusion in practice, and minimize dispute by, specifying standards of accountability. While allowing for individual preferences and style, it should clarify appropriate behaviors, provide basic philosophical and theoretical premises and elucidate the proper role and function of the Academic Advisor in an intercollegiate athletic program. A professional organization exists through the voluntary association of its members. One of its main purposes shall be to examine, evaluate and improve the quality of its professional preparation and the delivery of its services. It is in this spirit that the code of ethics is established. Any person who is a member of the profession, or is aspiring to membership, shall examine these statements and review his or her own philosophy in light of these principles.

Article I - Responsibility to the Profession and its Membership

Section 1: The member shall attempt to promote the development and improvement of the profession as well as continue personal and professional growth throughout his or her career.

Section 2: The member should expect ethical conduct from other members of N4A and act accordingly.

Section 3: The member is obligated to uphold ethical standards when dealing with others within respective institutions and with non-members.

Section 4: The member should not seek self-enhancement through the public critique of other members.

Section 5: The member should not misrepresent personal professional qualifications to exceed those actually possessed and act to correct any mistakes.

Section 6: When the member provides any information to the public, subordinates, co-workers or superiors, there is an obligation to present an accurate and truthful account in accordance with the situation.

Article II. Responsibilities to the Student-Athlete

Section 1: Counseling

1. In this relationship, the student - athlete retains full freedom of choice and decision and the advisor has no authority or responsibility to approve or disapprove of the choices or decisions of the student - athlete.
2. The member's main concern is the integrity and welfare of the student- athlete.
3. The act of counseling and any information that is disclosed by the student-athlete must be kept confidential.

Section 2: Advising

1. Advising is the area where the member exercises professional judgment and experience to suggest alternatives, strategies and behavior for the student. In this situation, the advisor can be more directive and
   assist the student-athlete to understand the consequences of their decisions.
2. The member should always be aware of academic policies, procedures, requirements, programs, course offerings and any other elements of the institution that can impact the student.
3. The member should always represent program offerings, course offerings and majors in a truthful and appropriate manner, especially when dealing with recruits.
4. The member should keep the students' interests and aspirations in mind when scheduling, rather than impose personal values.
5. Advised of eligibility parameters, the student should be allowed to enroll in the program he or she chooses. Students should never be forced into programs not of their choosing, merely to ensure eligibility.
6. Students should be encouraged to challenge themselves academically, rather than taking the easiest courses available.
7. The member should realize that academic and athletic interests are not always compatible and may come into conflict. The member should constantly seek to minimize any educational disadvantages incurred through athletic participation.

Section 3: Non-Discrimination

The member should not discriminate against student-athletes in regard to race, creed, color, age, sex or national origin.

Section 4: Objectivity

1. The member should remain objective and open when working with a student-athlete regardless of previous academic background, test scores or evaluative comments from others.
2. The member should not let athletic ability or performance or specific team membership influence his or her attitudes or work with a student- athlete.
3. The member should regard each student-athlete as an individual with unique emotions and needs and act accordingly.

Section 5: Privacy

1. The member should be aware and honor the students' legal rights to privacy of their academic records, especially grades.
2. The member should respect student privacy and counselor confidentiality in disclosing information to coaches or faculty.
3. The member should take precautions to ensure that records, transcripts, reports and correspondence relating to students is secure from public inspection and not shared inappropriately.

Section 6: Professional Conduct

1. The member should not interact with students in any manner that jeopardizes or compromises their professional relationship; for example any interaction of a sexual nature.
2. The member should always be cognizant of the importance of serving as a role model and act as an advocate for academic standards and achievement.
3. The member should not tolerate cheating, plagiarism or any other acts of academic dishonesty.
4. The member should not participate in any form of sexual harassment, nor tolerate it by subordinates or tutors. Such conduct by faculty or coaches should be addressed in an appropriate manner.
5. The member should never engage in any attempt to bring pressure to bear on an instructor to assign a grade or change a grade for a student. The member can make instructors aware of certain conditions or situations, but only to clarify the student's position an din the spirit of cooperation to work with the instructor in helping the student succeed.
6. The member should never be party to the offer of tickets, trips, sideline passes, autographed memorabilia or any other items that would constitute bartering for a grade with an instructor.
7. The member should act in the best interest of the student, to motivate them, to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, to encourage them to acquire knowledge and understanding, and to develop goals.

Article III. Responsibility to the Institution

Section 1: The member should always attempt to fulfill the mission of the institution they serve and reflect the values and standards for which it stands. The member should be committed to the concepts of teaching, research and service and be aware of how they may fit into the development of programs.

Section 2: The member should encourage the student to take advantage and be part of the total life of the institution. Though providing a service to students, member should continually direct students toward self-reliance, self-discipline and responsibility for their own lives and actions, and discourage dependence on others to take care of them or make their decisions for them.

Section 3: The member should ensure that the Athletic Advising Program is in compliance with academic requirements of the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA or any other associational governing body, as well as any conference standards or requirements of the particular institution.

Section 4: The member should inform appropriate persons of any violations of academic or athletic rules as soon as they are discovered.