Analysis of the scope and sanctions of ethical codes for the prevention of harassment at universities

Abstract

A study of ethical codes at universities reveals that most documents bind all members of the university community and establish disciplinary sanctions for violations. An analysis of the link between the scope of the code and the types of sanctions indicates that this link is meaningful, especially when the code binds students. The question of separate documents for different groups remains open, but clear delineation of the scope should contribute to the effective operation of codes. Findings suggest that about one-third of the reviewed documents do not specify sanctions, which can critically impair the effectiveness of ethical codes.