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Publications, Marketing and Promotion
Promotional materials used with students shall be clear, accurate, and current, and should emphasize the educational programs and services available. Materials shall not, by commission or omission, provide false, incomplete, or misleading information.
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Principles of Good Practice
Electronic and print versions of promotional materials should:
- be reviewed frequently to ensure they are consistent and that they objectively and truthfully reflect the programs and offerings of the institution
- provide enough candid and pertinent information that students unfamiliar with practices in higher education in a particular country may make informed academic judgments.
- be sensitive to other cultures
- make it clear how information can be verified and/or additional information can be obtained.
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Member institutions shall exercise great caution when dealing with agents or third-parties and shall contract only with individuals or organizations whose practices and behaviors conform to the CIS Code of Ethics.
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Principles of Good Practice
Direct cash payment to third parties on a per-admitted-student basis is not encouraged and institutions are urged to use great caution when using agents for recruiting students.
Institutions using third parties in the recruitment process should:
- provide them with a copy of the CIS Code of Ethics and instruct them that they shall be bound by the Code
- monitor the actual practices of third parties to insure they operate in adherence with the CIS Code of Ethics.
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Non-Discrimination
Member institutions shall not discriminate with regard to race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, political opinion, or disability. They will also endeavor to understand and protect the civil and human rights of all individuals.
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Principles of Good Practice
Member institutions should:
- maintain a high degree of multicultural awareness and shall be knowledgeable about and adhere to all applicable laws and statutes with respect to non-discrimination
- periodically review practices, procedures, and actual results to assure that discrimination has not occurred and is not occurring.
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Institutional Policies and Programs
Member institutions shall establish appropriate policies governing foreign student recruitment, admissions, and support activities, specialized programs and curricula.
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Principles of Good Practice
Institutional policies and programs dealing with students should:
- be documented
- deal with all aspects of recruitment, admission, financial aid and on-campus support
- be available for review by volunteers and third-parties acting on behalf of the institution
- make certain that appropriate information and support services are provided to students in order to ensure a smooth transition to a to a new educational and cultural environment.
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Professional Competency and Behavior
Individuals shall be knowledgeable about the institution, its policies and programs, admission requirements, costs and fees, on-campus support, and other relevant factors that will impact a student's decision-making process. (This applies to professional staff, faculty, alumni, current students, volunteers and third parties.)
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Principles of Good Practice
Institutional representatives shall:
- be educated in all aspects of their institutions or the institutions they represent
- be provided with accurate and current statistics about the institution
- be provided with instructions where and how to get additional information or answers to questions they cannot handle.
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Individuals shall act at all times in the best interest of students or prospective students and shall offer advice and counseling in order to provide information in a manner consistent with this principle.
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Principles of Good Practice
As official representatives of an institution, dealing with students may require counsel on many levels. Representatives should:
- be polite, honest and candid in their interaction with others
- refrain from offering information outside their area of competence or authority
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Individuals shall maintain high standards of professional conduct, act with integrity, and in a manner that will contribute to the positive image of CIS and the member institution.
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Principles of Good Practice
When traveling abroad or interacting with an international community, representatives should:
- demonstrate awareness, sensitivity to and respect for other educational systems, values and cultures
- appropriately distinguish, in both written and/or oral public statements, between personal opinions and those representing CIS, their own institutions, or other organizations
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Individuals who act on behalf of an institution shall represent their credentials, purposes and position or affiliation with the institution clearly and accurately, and shall use their office, title, and professional associations only for the conduct of official business.
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Principles of Good Practice
It is important to:
- clearly convey the role and responsibility held by anyone in direct contact with a prospective student
- make no promises or assertions with respect to consideration for admission, placement, or award of financial aid that are not consistent with existing policy or within the authority of the institutional representative.
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Individuals shall conduct themselves with due respect to relevant legal and regulatory factors, and official policies, and shall be sensitive to other educational systems and cultures.
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Principles of Good Practice
Institutional representatives shall:
- be provided copies of the CIS Code of Ethics and counseled about and/or be provided with any other codes, laws and practices they will be expected to follow.
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Individuals shall behave in a respectful and courteous manner when dealing with all professional colleagues or other member institutions.
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Principles of Good Practice
Ethical behavior should :
- be accompanied by respect and courtesy to others in the profession.
Professional behavior includes :
- showing respect for the diversity of viewpoints found among colleagues
- refraining from unjustified or unseemly criticism of fellow members, other institutions, and other organizations
- making certain when participating in joint activities that collaborators receive due credit for their contributions
- using their office, title, and professional associations only for the conduct of official business.
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Individuals shall adhere to the CIS Code of Ethics when institutional practices conflict with the Code, or colleagues are observed to be in violation of the Code.
Individuals representing non-member institutions shall be required to agree to the follow the CIS Code of Ethics when participating in any CIS-sponsored event or program.
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Principles of Good Practice
Anyone representing an CIS member institution should:
- attempt to bring inappropriate behavior or a violation of the Code to the immediate attention of any individual whose behavior or institution whose practices appear to be in violation of Code.
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Dealing with Complaints or Grievances
Any individual or group, whether a member of CIS or not, may file a complaint or grievance against a CIS Higher Education Member for a perceived violation of the Code of the Ethics. The grievance may be filed by telephoning or writing to the Director of any CIS Office or the Executive Director at the Secretariat. Anonymous complaints will not be accepted.
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Principles of Good Practice
Resolving complaints or grievances should:
- be done with the same degree of professionalism required for all other aspects of recruitment and admission.
An individual or institution having received a complaint should:
- respond to the complaint in a timely fashion
- give credence to the opinions or positions taken by the complainant
- treat the complaint as a confidential matter
- resolve to carry the complaint process through to completion.
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