O S E A S * E U R O P E
OVERSEAS EDUCATIONAL ADVISORS PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS
GROUP
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL PRACTICE IN OVERSEAS EDUCATIONAL
ADVISING
Revised 1997
Overseas educational advisers are responsible for the administration and delivery of
educational advising services on study in the United States and for the evaluation of information
provided to students. As professionals employed within varying organizational structures, members of
NAFSA's Overseas Educational Advisers Professional Educators Group (OSEAS) subscribe to the
following principles of ethical practice in the field.
Within the context of each particular professional situation, the overseas educational adviser
should
- 1. Provide to members of the general public accurate, complete, current and unbiased
information on the full range of educational opportunities in the United States.
- 2. Ensure that any promotional materials available in the advising office represent institutions
or programs that are accredited by associations recognized by the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education or, if this accreditation is unavailable, programs of
established quality and make available information on all such U.S. institutions.
- 3. Use one's office, title and professional associations only for the conduct of official
business.
- 4. Ensure that any statements of personal opinion or judgments are clearly designated as
such.
- 5. Clarify the adviser's role to all parties and limit advice to matters within the mandate,
making appropriate referrals when necessary.
- 6. Know and comply with the laws, regulations and policies of the United States and of the
host country and inform advisees of such information.
- 7. Demonstrate cross-cultural sensitivity, treating differences between U.S. and host country
educational systems and cultures non-judgmentally.
- 8. Respond to all inquiries fairly, equitably and professionally, respecting the confidentiality of
the adviser-advisee relationship.
- 9. Refrain from giving names of advisees to third parties, such as colleges, universities or
other agencies or organizations, without the advisees' consent.
- 10. Encourage advisees in a candid manner to make a realistic assessment regarding the chances
of obtaining appropriate education or training in the United States and the potential problems involved
in successful personal and professional re-entry into the home country.
- 11. Facilitate, when appropriate within the scope of adviser's job responsibilities or authority,
suitable academic placement, avoiding the guarantee of specific placements or financial awards.
- 12. Provide, if fees are to be charged, a fee structure for services which is clearly publicized to
students and other paying clients and which is reasonable by host country standards.
- 13. Provide, if available, general introduction to the advising process at no charge; such general
introduction may be in the form of a group session, video/CD-ROM
presentation, or another format
available to the specific advising center.
- 14. Provide professional services to educational institutions and recruiters acting on behalf of
these institutions at reasonable and customary fees.
- 15. Refuse reimbursement for expenses and fees for professional services such as lectures or
consultations for activities that imply endorsement of particular groups or programs.
- 16. Decline inappropriate gifts or gifts of
significant value offered for
services rendered, recognizing the implications attached to such gifts.
- 17. Understand ethical recruiting and placement practices and support only those organizations
or institutions which follow them.
- 18. Operate in accord with the NAFSA Code of Ethics and the NAFSA Principles for
International Educational Exchange.
1. The Overseas Adviser's Code of
Ethics was developed in 1987-88 by
members of the Overseas Educational Advisers Professional Educators Group
(OSEAS) of NAFSA:
Association of International Educators. In 1997, this Code was revised and re-titled "Principles of
Ethical Practice in Overseas Educational Advising."
2. Advisers who conduct recruitment activities in various regions for United States
Government-sponsored programs may receive reimbursement for expenses incurred as part of these
activities. Specific arrangements for reimbursement should be made with the appropriate
organization(s) before undertaking the activity. Questions about this
should be referred to the Regional
Educational Advising Consultant (REAC) or other appropriate oversight
office.
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