Letter from the Dean

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

An important responsibility of a professional academic institution such as SARUP is to provide its members with the ethical foundation for appropriate behavior in the architecture and urban planning professions. Occasional lapses in behavior or exhibitions of poor judgment suggest a need for a yearly affirmation of basic principles of professionalism.

This document, which is given to all students, faculty and staff, is not a set of rules; rather, it contains guidelines derived from the expressed needs of our students, staff and faculty, who have collectively outlined proper standards of professional behavior. Situations are described which reveal the ethical dilemmas presented in following a Code of Conduct. Please note that punitive procedures are limited to those outlined in University regulations. In addition, this booklet lists related services and materials available to you on the UWM Campus and in SARUP.

As you read the Code, many of its provisions are self-evident; others may come as a surprise or might seem irrelevant. However, the contents of the Code reflect the concerns and needs of all School members and should be respected. I am confident that the desire on the part of all School members to practice mutual respect for one another will result in a better academic experience for everyone. The Code is reviewed each year for appropriateness and effectiveness in serving the needs of the SARUP community.

Welcome to the new academic year. I hope this Code will help you reflect on the needs of others and reassure you that your personal right to an environment appropriate to the pursuit of scholarly excellence is being respected.


Bob Greenstreet, Dean
School of Architecture & Urban Planning

In 1994, after a careful review of professional codes of conduct, other university honor codes, and the regulations of the UW System and UW-Milwaukee Campus, a committee of staff, students and faculty wrote the Code. Before the Code was finalized, it was reviewed at an all-school meeting. The Code and this pamphlet are updated each year.

Please read the contents carefully bearing in mind the importance of respecting the rights of others as you pursue your studies. Similarly, be aware of your rights as an individual and do not be afraid to voice your concerns when those rights are challenged. This section contains the Honor Code and provides examples of situations and expected behaviors. The second section summarizes the Official Rules and Regulations of the UW System, which have the effect of law and often include specific punishments.

The Code represents the collective desires of both students and faculty to create a safe and productive workplace. You also can help others do the same by doing the following:

• School based complaints: Speak with someone in authority who will be a helpful and confidential recipient of your complaints/concerns such as your instructor, teaching assistant, adviser, Department Grievance Officer or Chair, or the Dean.

• Further inquiry: Contact Office of Student Life (229-4632) or the UWM Office of Diversity/Compliance (229-5923).

• Be sure to read the booklets: UWM Student Handbook; and Student Conduct Regulations and Disciplinary Procedures located in the first floor lobby of Mellencamp.

• Bring any suggestions and comments about the Code or the process to the Dean, your student association leadership or Susan Weistrop (229-6165).

The following criteria represent the collective thoughts and desires of our community in regard to appropriate professional behavior:

Respecting Your Colleagues

Working in a high pressure, academic environment with the worthy intention of eventually joining a professional body, it is extremely important to respect the rights of those who are working towards the same goal and, of course, those who are helping you to achieve your goals. These include fellow students, faculty, staff, secretaries, and maintenance personnel. Education, like design, is a collaborative process, and everyone in the School community should be accorded due respect. The following areas of interaction are of particular concern:

Sexual Harassment

University, Federal, and State Laws prohibit behavior which creates an uncomfortable or untenable atmosphere for women or men in the School. Since respecting the rights of others is important, any irresponsible behavior, inappropriate comments or activities which adversely affect members of the School, and any abuse of power will not be tolerated. This could include offensive posters and websites, certain types of music or humor, and any intimidating behavior.

Discrimination of Any Kind

Every member of the SARUP community has the right to pursue an education without harassment or discrimination of any kind, and as an equal to all others.The academic environment is enhanced and enriched by the mix of individuals from a variety of cultures, countries and backgrounds. Racial slurs, bad attitudes, and offensive jokes reflect poorly on the values of the School and/or the professions and cannot be tolerated.

Q. Studio A contains a rowdy bunch who have been together for several semesters. They are all good friends, like to hang out together, and are prone to outbursts of loud music, questionable jokes, and raucous language. Is this a problem?


Possibly not. If everyone in the studio is comfortable with the level of music, language, and humor, there really isn't a problem (unless the noise, jokes, etc. are so loud they filter into adjoining spaces). However, even if one person in the studio is offended or discomforted by the general behavior, there needs to be some change in behavior. Each studio member is entitled to use the allotted space quietly and comfortably.

If you find that the noise or atmosphere is affecting your work, speak out either to the group, if that is comfortable for you and possible, or confidentially with the studio instructor. If you are part of a group that has lively interaction, be aware of the feelings of others in your space. Ask them if they will be or are bothered by the noise, a topic of conversation, or language used.

While the majority of the School community is honest and conscientious as befits professional aspirations, it would be foolish to ignore the aberrations that exist. The following indiscretions, which cause great disruptions to the student body, will not be tolerated:

Theft

At all times care and caution should be taken to safely secure all personal property. Remember to lock up all your valuables, including drawing equipment, tapes, laptops, and other personal belongings whenever you leave your desk, and always lock studio doors if the space is unattended. If any member of the school community is caught stealing, the appropriate authorities will take over and the University's nonacademic misconduct procedures will be implemented. Remember that theft also includes removing all or part of books and magazines from the Resource Center or a library.

Plagiarism and Cheating

UWM disciplinary procedures will be used against those who are caught cheating or claiming the work of others as their own This includes copying another person's homework, accessing anothers computer files, claiming another's work as your own, including tracings of existing drawings. Advancements in technology may add confusion to this issue. If in doubt, ask your instructor. Don't allow the ease with which you can copy sections or sentences from electronic articles or other materials lull you into plagiary.

Q. Student A sees Student B copying the answers to a quiz from a friend before handing the sheet into the instructor. Student A is concerned about the behavior but is not keen to squeal. What should happen?

Typically, victims of cheating are the most accomplished students whose hard work is being stolen by others. Ratting on another person is never easy, even anonymously, but is preferable to ignoring and thus abetting the deception. Remember, an individual who isn't bright enough to know not to cheat is unlikely to fool people for long. Faculty spot changes in writing style, unexpected jumps in performance, and startlingly original design work quite quickly. Celebrated SARUP plagiarists were so misguided that they even handed in purloined work that belonged to the faculty who were reviewing it! This level of cosmic stupidity is perhaps rare, but more subtle forms of cheating are also usually unmasked.

This building (your home for the next few years) provides a variety and quality of facilities rarely granted to architectural programs. One such example is the woodworking stations, which remove the need to cut on desk surfaces! Computer labs, which are constantly being updated with new equipment and software and accessible to most students whenever needed, are also major assets. In addition, twenty-four hour access is now available to a copier in the building.

Careless or mindless abuse of the building fabric, such as graffiti and vandalism, cannot be allowed if the high quality of this building is to be maintained. Engaging in these careless activities will create severe problems in the care and upkeep of the building and necessitate monetary deposits by all students to offset destruction of property costs in studios. With your cooperation,
we can avoid this.

In order to solve the conflict of the School's responsibility for safeguarding life and property with students' need to access the building 24 hours a day, high quality pass key and security systems are in place. Your cooperation in responsible use of these systems is essential.

To ensure that this building will serve many generations of students, please follow these guidelines:

• Smoking is prohibited throughout the building.
   
• Do not use sprays (paint, adhesives, etc.) in the building.

• AUP's exterior doors must not be propped open; tampering with the security system diminishes everyone's safety and may also cause major damage.

" ... an action which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation, uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic exercise, forges or falsifies academic documents or records, Intentionally impedes or damages the academic work of others, engages in conduct aimed at making false representation of a student's academic performance, or assists other students in any of these acts."

From Academic Misconduct UW-Milwaukee Guide for Instructor, December, 1992

Conduct on University Lands

Actions on any UW campus designated as criminal and civil violations are listed in the "Revisions of Conduct on University Lands." Rules specific to theft, parking, vandalism, smoking, animals, keys, sound amplifying equipment, bicycles, skateboards, roller-skates, and rollerblades are clearly spelled out. Policies have also been developed for the use and maintenance of furnishings and equipment.

When in doubt about a policy, check the University Rules and Regulations (lobby, Mellencamp) or discuss it with Uriel Cohen, Associate Dean. Questions also may be directed to the Office of the Dean of Students.

There are seven emergency-only phones (little red boxes) strategically spread throughout the AUP Building.

Note their locations and how to activate them.

Please remember that the use of aerosol sprays such as paint, fixatives, or even underarm deodorant is not allowed anywhere in the building. In addition to the considerable environmental problem associated with these materials, they mar the quality of the floors and are incredibly difficult to remove. In fact, it is about as socially responsible as tagging, twice as unhealthy, and is almost always not the best way to accomplish the job. Speak with Uriel Cohen, Associate Dean or Jim Wasley, Associate Professor, to learn about better alternatives than sprays for achieving specific results.