Academic Freedom and Integrity | Sabancı Üniversitesi

Statement of Academic Freedom

The University is, by tradition and definition, an autonomous center of learning and research devoted to examining, producing, disseminating and transmitting knowledge for the public good. The University's obligation to society and to the world community is to ensure scientific integrity and scholarly quality of education. To fulfill this obligation, its research and teaching must be "morally and intellectually independent of all political authority and economic power," as was expressly set forth in the "Magna Charta Universitatum" signed by the Rectors of 388 universities from Europe and beyond in Bologna in 1988.

Sabancı University started working on a position statement on Academic Freedom in May 2002. During the initial stage of preparation of the position statement, over 30 web sites of various universities and university associations were visited, and the varying approaches of these institutions were compiled. These texts were subjected to a meticulous screening process; as a result of which, a 32-page file was composed and presented to the Deans. Each Dean prepared his/her own Academic Freedom text. A committee of one academician from each faculty then worked on these texts, and the attached policy statement took shape. This text was presented to and approved by the Board of Trustees on December 23rd, 2002.

Statement

With these universal principles in mind, the Board of Trustees, faculty and administration of Sabancı University jointly take responsibility for assuring fullest protection of freedom of inquiry, thought, and expression. Sabancı University's commitment to academic freedom finds expression as follows:

All members of the University community involved in the practice of dissemination of knowledge are entitled to freedom in the conduct of their teaching in the classroom, of their research on or off campus, and in the publication, discussion and interpretation of research results.
The faculty and administration of Sabancı University are responsible for protecting the right of each member of Sabancı University to artistic expression or to freely expressing his or her personal scholarly opinion.
The University does not attempt to influence or control the personal opinion or public expression of that opinion of any member of the University community.
The University respects the expression of opinion and choice of association of members of the University community in their private, civic capacity.

The right to academic freedom carries with it the duty to use that freedom in:

Commitment to ethical obligations and responsibilities to the University community and to one's profession.
Commitment to excellence, innovation, and to advancing the frontiers of knowledge in teaching and research at an individual level and in a collaborative spirit.
Making a clear distinction between one's responsibility to the University and one's rights as an individual, and making sure that the expression of views does not implicate or commit the University in any way.

Academic Integrity Statement

As an institution, the University is one of the foremost contributors to societal development, both at a local as well as a global level. This contribution accomplished through the fields of education, arts sciences and technology, manifests itself at two interconnected levels. The first, more visible role of the University is seen through the works of art and products of science and technology created by its stakeholders - both faculty and students. The University’s second role involves equipping students with the abilities they will need when generating original research and scholarly work; in other words equipping them with the means of exploring new intellectual paths that will shape our world. This second contribution, creative thought, which emerges from the accumulation of centuries of human progress, paves the way for the first.

We, as Sabancı University stakeholders, believe that the principle of academic integrity constitutes the most important component of any research, creative work and/or of the learning process. Academic integrity is the foremost of our responsibilities toward the world of knowledge, to the society in which we live, to each other, and to ourselves. Within this framework, therefore, we as Sabancı University faculty members, students, and administrators, declare that we will neither violate the principle of academic integrity nor allow others to do so.

After developing analytical-critical thinking and creativity in research as well as internalizing established knowledge, a university student adds his own unique perspective and learns to create new theories, scholarly output and works. Within this process, the young productive individual gains experience, skills and self confidence, in addition to the responsibility of bridging the past and the future as he uses previous knowledge as a foundation.

Faculty members -primarily responsible for the effective operation of this process- aim to help students acquire the same ethical approach they themselves have strictly adhered to during their own academic research and productivity, and one way of doing so is by means of a fair assessment system implemented at all phases of the learning process. At the evaluation and assessment stage -one of the most sensitive areas in terms of the integrity of the education process- the student is expected to base his/her exams, homework, reports, presentations, thesis and so forth on his/her own labor and ideas. Thus, the student recognizes the fact that during the process of academic labor, it is a sine qua non rule of academic ethics to accurately and clearly refer to each source of inspiration and information, wherever and whenever applicable. When students and educational staff are preparing materials, all types of information and information sources are used in accordance with intellectual property and commercial rights and the copyright holder is respected. Sources are not reproduced, copied, altered to another format or rented, nor are others allowed to carry out such acts.

Scientific and Applied Research Misconduct

Sabanci University (SU) positions itself as one of the most innovative and research-focused universities in Turkey. Therefore, ensuring an environment of continuous enrichment and development of scientific and applied research is a priority among the key strategies of SU. The functionality of this environment is only possible through the integrity and honesty of faculty members, students and other employees who take part in scientific and applied research. Therefore SU has developed and enforced the “Scientific and Applied Research Misconduct Policy”.

European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

Sabancı University adopts European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity as well. Please click to read European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity

Scientific and Applied Research Misconduct

Sabancı University has enhanced and applied "Scientific and Applied Research Misconduct Policy" procedure according to the misconduct definition below.

I. Definition of Scientific and Applied Research Misconduct

Scientific and Applied Research Misconduct at Sabanci University is defined as:

willful alteration of data and research methods in data analysis; data fabrication, and fraud, falsification or plagiarism in research propositions, the research processes, or assessments.
deliberate failure to protect researchers, human research subjects and the society in research and to achieve national and international guidelines for humane treatment of animal research subjects.
the use of research funds, facilities or personnel for unauthorized and/or illegal purposes.

Fabrication is defined as recording or reporting fictitious data or results.

Fraud is defined as manipulating research materials, equipment or processes or causing the misrepresentation of the research by altering or deleting data or results.

Plagiarism is assuming ownership of the ideas, processes, conclusions or words of others without providing specific reference.

II. Explanations

Misconduct does not include honest mistakes and discrepancies in the interpretation and assessment of data. This policy is only intended for original research, and does not replace or substitute academic integrity guidelines for coursework and course-related research.

“Inquiry” is defined as the effort to gather information and find out the truth to determine whether an accusation or an apparent misconduct requires or warrants further investigation.

“Investigation” is defined as the official examination and assessment of all related information to determine whether misconduct has occurred.

III. Determining Scientific and Applied Research Misconduct

The following are indicative of scientific and applied research misconduct:

Significant deviation from the practices accepted by the related research society (social sciences, humanities or natural sciences, among others);
Willful, deliberate or reckless misconduct;
Solid evidence that misconduct has occurred.

IV. Procedures

Allegations of misconduct are made in writing to the Dean of a faculty or the Research and Graduate Policies (RGP) Director. The President of Sabancı University is ultimately responsible for all research projects and activities taking place at the university; therefore, the Dean or the Director notifies the President of all research misconduct allegations. Additionally, the President will consult the legal counseling department throughout all inquiries and investigations, and is responsible for the management of these processes.

The procedures outlined herein do not preclude the enforcement of other measures against misconduct. In case of an investigation of the misuse of research funds, the findings of the investigation will be reported to the internal auditors of the university, and to the related parties of external auditors as required. In the event of an allegation of illegal activity, the President will have the authority to direct the investigation and enforce injunctions prior to or during the inquiry or investigation to protect public property or resources. If the investigation is to be propagated by other bodies or if there is inadequate evidence of misconduct, the President may decide to terminate the inquiry.

V. Administrative Procedures

1. In the event that there is evidence or allegations of possible misconduct, an inquiry is initiated immediately. The inquiry will be directed by the Dean of the faculty involved, or by the RGP Director when required.

Unless the President grants an extension, an inquiry must be completed within 60 workdays. The suspects are informed of the content and scope upon the initiation of inquiry. A report consisting of gathered evidence, interview summaries and conclusions will be prepared. The accused persons will be notified of the progress of inquiry, and will receive copies of the inquiry report. The responses, if any, of the accused persons will also be included in the inquiry report. If the inquiry should exceed 60 workdays, the inquiry records must include documents substantiating the reason of extension, and written consents of the President and the accused persons to such extension.

The identities of the accusers will not be revealed throughout the inquiry, and the accused persons will be kept confidential. The inquiry must be completed in a swift and thorough manner, and the accused persons will be entitled to comment on or respond to any accusations and findings.

If it is deemed that an investigation will not be required, all relevant documents and records will be kept for a period of one year to facilitate any reassessment.

The President will consult the Dean to call for an official investigation.

If no further investigation is to be conducted, the President and the Dean will take the necessary precautions to protect the accusing and accused parties. The President and the Dean may also decide to take additional measures to restore the reputation of the wrongfully accused party.

The President or the Dean may call for an inquiry of the accusing parties in case of wrongful or deliberate accusation.

1. If misconduct or wrongful or deliberate accusation is ascertained, the corrective provisions outlined in the Regulations on the Disciplinary Procedures for Administrators, Faculty and Employees of Higher Education Institutions numbered 2547 will be enforced.

Although the university is primarily responsible for the inquiry and investigation processes, other public bodies may undertake their own investigations prior to, during or after the investigation of the university, and enforce additional measures based upon its investigation.

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Academic Integrity Statement
Scientific and Applied Research Misconduct