MEMORANDUM

TO: AISD2000 USERS

FROM: Associate Director

 DATE: 

SUBJECT: Ethical Use of Information

 
Please read the attached statement of Ethics and Confidentiality in Development Research. As a condition of access to AIS-D2000, it is required that you read and understand this statement. Please keep it when you return your Access Request form. Your access to information concerning alumni and donors requires that you treat that information with the utmost confidentiality, and that you not abuse the trust placed in you.

Inappropriate use of this information, even in the most innocent of circumstances could cause pain and suffering to other people. They should be free to choose what information they share, and with whom. Please do not hurt others, just as you would ask others not to hurt you.

If you have any doubts or questions about the ethical use of information on AIS-D, please call  at EXT..

Suite 400,11 Dupont Circle,Washington,DC 20036-1261

Telephone(202)328-5900 FAX:(202)387-4973

The Commission on Educational Fund Raising of the

Council for Advancement and Support of Education

While advancement officers have conducted research regarding potential donors to educational institutions for many years, CASE members have become increasingly aware that the research activities on which our success depends may be mis interpreted by those outside the advancement community. They have also become aware that all connected with research activities-those who solicit gifts and depend upon others’ research, those who spend all their time doing research, and those who must both conduct research and solicit potential donors-may act inadvertently to damage the reputa tion of an individual, an institution, or all of educational advancement.

After discussion spread over some two years, involving not only its own members but also dozens of other advancement professionals, the Educational Fund Raising Commission of CASE endorses the following Principles and Recommendations.

(a)    The principle of the right to privacy. Every individual has the right not to have personal information that is not  present in public sources divulged to others.

(b)    The principle of information necessity. Only information that has to do with the capacity or inclination of an individual to make a gift to an educational institution is the proper subject of research.

(c) The principle of individual ethical responsibility. Both those within institutions-including researchers and solicitors-and outside consultants in their capacity as aides to institutions are responsible for the ethical ramifications of their individual acts

(d) The principle of protection of confidential material. Records about individuals and organizations must be kept confidential, to be used only by those staff members who need to use them to further the legitimate mission of the institution.

(e) The principle of the sanctity of confidential material. Public information derived for use by one eleemosynary institution shall be shared with another institution subject to the restrictions set forth in section (2) below.     

 (f) The principle of record sensitivity. Records have power to improve and to ruin individual lives. They last long. They may become available to their subjects or to others who do not understand appropriate use of sensitive materials. Advancement officers must make certain records can do no harm to individuals or institutions.

(a) CASE advises advancement practitioners in member institutions to recognize their ethical responsibility to use information derived from non-public sources only for the benefit of the institution for which and within which the information was derived.

(b) CASE advises advancement practitioners to understand that a staff member’s inappropriate use of materials derived originally for use by another institution may by grounds for disciplinary action by the CASE member institution by which her or she is currently employed.

(c) CASE advises institutions working with outside consulting firms that they should assure that such firms are aware of these Principles and Recommendations and should insist that such firms abide by their requirements.

(d) CASE advises advancement practitioners that only routine directory information gleaned through their work for the member institution may be given as a professional courtesy to any other institution or person, and that no information may be sold or bartered to any other institution or person.

(e) CASE advises member institutions that to deal with a person who promises t o bring information derived at another institution, or who is known to posses hardcopy or electronic data gleaned at any other institution, may do irreparable damage to the profession of educational advancement.

(f) CASE advises individual professionals in educational fund raising that it is unprofessional behavior to accede to a request to act contrary to these Principles and Recommendations, even if that request comes from a supervisor or colleague.

(g) CASE advises each member institution to devise its own version of these Principles and Recommendations and to devise in addition a Code of Ethics derived from them.

(h) CASE advises that advancement personnel at CASE member institutions shall be apprised in writing of these Principles and Recommendations and those of their institution and that all personnel in supervisory positions maintain strict adherence to their letter and spirit.

                                        -For the Commission,
                                               William R. Lowery,Chair
                                               Vice President for External
                                               Relations
                                               Carleton College

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 

UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

CODE OF RESPONSIBILITY

The security and confidentiality of University Advancement records are matters of concern to USC employees. Those employees with access to the University Advancement Information System are in a unique position of trust in maintaining the security and confidentiality of these records. Each system user is expected to adhere to the following code:

Violation of this Code of Responsibility will cause loss of access to the system, may lead to reprimand, suspension, or dismissal consistent with USC personnel policies, and legal action where appropriate.

I have received a copy of, have read, do understand, and will comply with the above stated Code of Responsibility.

___________________________________ __________________________

Signature Date

___________________________________

Print Name

Instructions:

Completed form should be delivered to   . The signature of the Dean or Director must appear on the form. A signed copy of the Code of Responsibility must by on file before any password will be issued.