PDF A Code of Conduct is not just for your college students
It is Saturday afternoon, and I am putting the finishing touches on my 3rd installment of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective College Instructors. As you will see, I bring up the issue of a personal, self-generated Code of Conduct for college instructors.
What occurred to me is that a self-generated code of conduct is an important form of soul searching that can help us all lead better lives. For example, something I consider to be exemplary conduct is to lighten up the room you are entering and put a smile on people’s faces. Is this the way others see me? Once in a while, sure. The point is that this is the way I want to be seen. This is an element of personal conduct that I wish I mastered and one for which I strive. Call it a stretch conduct goal if you will, but it is part of my personal code of conduct. By the way, I don’t think we should beat ourselves up if we don’t always model the ideal behaviors we for which we strive.
With that bit of pontificating in mind, I am giving you a preparatory assignment, which you must complete before you have my permission to read my next post. (Are you this tough on your students?) In preparation for The 3rd Habit of Highly Effective College Instructors, which I will post tomorrow afternoon (Sunday, April 18), start working on your own Code of Conduct for your role as a college instructor. What do you feel are the most important aspects of your conduct in that role? You know, you should ask your students what they think and take their inputs into consideration. Heck, I am making that part of your assignment. However, I don’t want to keep any of you from reading my next post. Therefore, in lieu of that assignment, you may take on an extra credit assignment, which is to submit a type written summary of all 44 of my previous posts.
Did I hear moans and groans? I did; I know I did! (Paul to self: You want good student evaluations, don’t you. Don’t blow it.) Okay, I will give you one other option. Be good to yourself. Deal? 
© 2010 Paul A. Hummel, Ed.D.
Posted April 17, 2010
