Statement on Academic Professional Ethics

Introduction

The AOA COCA standards effective September 26, 2023 include the following requirement:

Element 1.4: Governance & Program Policies: (CORE)

A COM must have a governing body, or part of a parent institution with a governing body, that defines the mission of the COM and/or institution, approves with strategic plan, provides financial oversight, and approves requisite policies. The COM must publish and abide by policies regarding:

  • Conflict of Interest for board members, employees, and institutionally employed faculty.
  • Due process for all employees, students, faculty, and credentialed instructional staff.
  • Confidentiality of employment, student, and medical records.
  • Fiscal management and accountability.
  • Ethics, incorporating the AOA Code of Ethic.

This document addresses Element1.4.e: Ethics. WVSOMS's governance and policies regarding ethics can be grouped into five separate sections as follows:

  • Adherence to policies and procedures of WVSOM
  • Interaction of students, faculty, and staff and administration
  • Ethical issues pertaining to medical education
  • Ethical issues pertaining to scholarly activity/research
  • Ethical issues pertaining to commercial relationships

In each of these sections, a brief summary statement is provided, and relevant West Virginia State Code, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC) Policies, and Institutional Policies and other documents are listed.

Section A: Adherence to Policies and Procedures of the COM

WVSOM recognizes the duty to adhere to policies governing academic professional ethics for its entire faculty, administration and staff, students, clubs, and organizations as set forth in Federal and West Virginia State Codes, rules and policies if WVHEPC, and WVSOM Institutional policies.

The State of West Virginia and WVSOM have many policies which include requirements regarding adherence to state law or policy and/or to Institutional policies.

These state laws, policies, and other documents are listed below.

Applicable State Laws, Policies and Documents Pertaining to the WVSOM Board of Governors

Applicable State Laws, Policies and Documents Pertaining to the WVSOM Administration

Applicable State Laws, Policies and Documents Pertaining to the WVSOM Faculty

Applicable State Laws, Policies and Documents Pertaining to the WVSOM Staff

Applicable State Laws, Policies and Documents Pertaining to the WVSOM Students

Section B: Interaction of Students, Faculty, Staff and Administration

WVSOM Administration, Faculty, Staff, and Students are required to maintain the utmost level of professional conduct in their interactions with each other. The following institutional policies encompass the interactions among the different constituency groups:

Applicable Institutional Policies that Pertain to the Interaction of Students, Faculty, Staff and Administration

Section C: Ethical Issues Pertaining to Medical Education

Student learning is central to the primary mission of WVSOM and protection of that process from unethical behaviors is essential to the institution.

Both faculty and students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct in teaching, learning, and the evaluation of student competency, including:

  • Observing honesty in the use and referencing of source material used in the learning process, including, presentations, handouts, reports, and any other materials that might involve the use of someone else's creative efforts;
  • Maintaining security of materials used in written and practical exams, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), and other forms of summative evaluation; and
  • Insuring the privacy of individual student scores on any materials used for assessment.

Applicable State Laws, Policies and Documents Pertaining to the Ethics of Teaching, Learning, and Evaluation:

Section D: Ethical Issues Pertaining to Scholarly Activity/Research

WVSOM values and promotes the free pursuit of knowledge through research and scholarly activity that identifies new medical and scientific information, current best clinical practices, and effective pedagogical strategies.

Faculty, staff and students at WVSOM engaged in research or scholarly activity must abide by the highest ethical standards when conducting such activity. This includes:

  • An obligation to establish and maintain objectivity in research/scholarly activity by declaring conflicts of interest and recognizing potential bias, and taking consequent actions to eliminate or minimize their effect on the activity.
  • Maintaining intellectual honesty by not fabricating, falsifying, or plagiarizing prior work, referencing prior contributions by others where appropriate.
  • Maintaining transparency when communicating results of research/scholarly activity.
  • Compliance with Federal regulations concerning the use of animals in research, including a commitment to replace, reduce and refine animal usage.
  • Compliance with Federal regulations concerning the ethical treatment of human subject in research.

Applicable State Laws, Policies and Documents Pertaining to the Ethics of Scholarly Activity and Research

Section E: Ethical Issues Pertaining To Commercial Relationships

The WVSOM adheres to the highest ethical standards regarding administration, faculty and staff relationships with commercial entities. These standards include:

  • Disclosure of all relationships with commercial entities by the administration, faculty, and staff
  • Approval of the relationship by the president or the president's designee on a case by case basis or when such activity are common within the institution
  • Disclosures shall be kept confidential as permitted by law

Applicable State Laws, Policies and Documents Pertaining to the Ethics of Relationships with Commercial Entities