VCOM Faculty Handbook

development of students. Employees are encouraged to be familiar with and support those policies directly affecting students. VCOM expects faculty, staff, students, and administration to exhibit professional behavior. VCOM believes that an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect between students and faculty is essential to a healthy medical school environment where students may flourish. Employees will serve as role models to students in the application of ethical principles in the classroom, at the patient’s bedside, and in the community. VCOM’s goal is to produce highly qualified and knowledgeable osteopathic graduates who are dutiful and who exhibit integrity and compassion. Education at VCOM is conducted for the common good and not to further the interest of an individual teacher or the financial initiatives of VCOM. Faculty will devote their efforts to developing and improving scholarly competence and should use self-discipline and judgment in using, extending, and transmitting knowledge to students. Faculty will be accurate and intellectually honest in their presentations to students. Employees will exercise professionalism in all interactions with students as outlined. The environment of trust between students and faculty can be diminished when persons in positions of authority abuse their power. Employees will not exert their authority to further a personal cause. Faculty will not misuse their authority to bring about an amorous relationship with students. An amorous relationship between a faculty member and a student is generally regarded as misconduct and is defined as a relationship that extends beyond the expected professional relationship. The faculty member has professional responsibility (i.e., grading or advising) for the student. Even if consent is present, a clear conflict of interest that creates the appearance of discrimination, favoritism in grading, or inappropriate access to educational opportunities exists. Faculty engaged in unethical conduct of this type are subject to disciplinary procedures. This may include dismissal from VCOM. Relationship to the College Community VCOM is a professional osteopathic medical college where expectations of the medical community are often higher than that of the general population. Professional and ethical behaviors are expected of the college students, faculty, and staff always, whether at work or in the community. Illegal acts, unethical acts, and acts that discredit VCOM, and are not worthy of a professional college employee are reasons for suspension and possible dismissal. The employee should not represent themselves as acting as an agent of VCOM, except when the program is deemed to be a VCOM program or is preapproved by VCOM. Employees wearing VCOM attire should be mindful of their behavior in public settings. Social Media Policy The VCOM Policy on Social Media Usage is to provide clarification on how to best enhance and protect personal and professional reputations as well as intellectual property of VCOM’s students, faculty, and staff when participating in the social media environment. This policy defines the rules and procedures for the use of official college social media sites to ensure that college-sponsored social media is both legal and in compliance with college policies. In addition, this policy defines the guidelines for students and employees who participate in other forms of social media such as posting to his/her personal media or when commenting on other community or public sites. VCOM encourages the use of social media to connect with others, including students, employees, alumni, and the college. Social media sites are excellent venues to communicate and encourage engaging discussions about college current events, issues, accolades, organizations, and people. However, these technologies must be used with caution, as what students, faculty, or staff write can disclose protected information, damage reputations, offend, and be considered unethical or unprofessional. In addition, what individuals post can have legal ramifications. Damage can be done to students, faculty, staff, VCOM and/or the profession. VCOM reserves the right to consider how a prospective student, faculty or staff candidate, current faculty or staff member, or current student presents themselves via social media. This information can be used to determine

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