On Professionalism

What "Professionalism" Means in a Pedagogical Context

Pedagogy is, almost inevitably, a personal and emotionally-loaded activity. Many of us teach because we feel a calling to it, and we are excited and rejuvenated by participating in formative moments in our students’ and colleagues’ lives. It is natural to students and teachers to develop a bond, and to be curious about each others' lives beyond the classroom. Indeed, our pedagogy may be even more effective when we develop a rapport with our students and an understanding of the personal interests and preoccupations that have brought them to our classrooms in the first place. Though they may not say so, students often look to their instructors for models not only of what it means to be a scholar, but also of what it means to be an adult. We hope that students develop relationships with at least one or two of their instructors that will persist even after graduation. (Indeed, an oft-cited Gallup-Purdue University report seems to demonstrate that students who felt that at least one of their professors had taken a personal interest in their well-being were happier and more successful after graduation.)

The same is true, albeit in a different way, within the teaching staff of a course: ideally, faculty who employ Teaching Fellows are offering them mentoring as well as a paycheck, and Teaching Fellows often develop a spirit of camaraderie and friendship while working as members of the same course staff.

But we must always remember that when we are given access to our students’ and colleagues’ personal information, and set in relationships of intimacy and authority, it is for a specific purpose—to achieve learning objectives in the classroom—and must handle the responsibilities that come with that privilege in an unambiguously professional way. This includes not only the expectation that we teach inclusively and respect the privacy of student information, but also that we respect the policies set by our departments and colleagues and enforce them consistently and equitably.

Title IX

Consistent with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Harvard University does not discriminate against students, faculty or staff based on sex in any of its programs or activities, including but not limited to educational programs, employment, and admission. Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a kind of sex discrimination and is prohibited by Title IX and by the University. Harvard also complies with Massachusetts laws that protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as well as on the basis of gender identity. The University's Interim Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and Interim Other Sexual Misconduct Policy applies to all Harvard University students, faculty, staff, appointees, or third parties. In addition, FAS has specific policy and resources available.

The University Policy provides that University officers, other than those who are prohibited from making such notifications because of a legal confidentiality obligation, must promptly notify the School or Unit Title IX Coordinator about possible sexual or gender-based harassment. This means that if those University officers learn about a possible incident, they need to contact the Title IX Coordinator, who will determine what steps, if any, to take next.

Student Privacy

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, commonly known as FERPA, mandates that the university take the utmost care in handling students’ private information, including their grades in our courses. As an instructor, you should make sure that students’ grades are not distributed or otherwise exposed in a public way; graded assignments should not be left unattended for students to pick them up, or passed back in such a way as to alert students to each others’ grades. Likewise you should be careful to protect your students’ private information: use Canvas or the BCC: field when emailing multiple students, for example, and do not make student ID photos or numbers available to public view. You may be contacted by a student requesting an accommodation sanctioned by the Disability Access Office. Insofar as possible, you should arrange the specified accommodation for the student (e.g. assistance with note-taking) in such a way that the identity of the student in question is not signalled to the rest of the class.