These Professional Standards are copied from Sloan's site.
Some of them are also applicable beyond classroom context.
Please read ALL of them, they are very important!
MISSION STATEMENT
Mission Statement
Each member of the MIT Sloan community is responsible for creating a respectful and honest environment, both in and out of the classroom, while representing the school in a professional manner.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS: PERSONAL CONDUCT
Overall Expectations
MIT Sloan’s Professional Standards outline expected professional behavior by students, staff, and faculty both inside and outside the classroom. The MIT Sloan School is committed to maintaining an environment in which every individual can work and study in a culture of mutual respect. The goal in outlining these norms and expectations is to assist each community member in achieving success.
When making individual decisions we must keep in mind the interests of the many other stakeholders and the effect of our own behavior upon others. Implicit ambassadorship should underlie your actions, which will always reflect upon the entire MIT Sloan community. Individuals are expected to act with common sense, erring on the side of professionalism.
Consistent with the general goal of mutual respect, faculty, students, and staff are reminded to demonstrate:
• On-time arrival to classes and presentations, with uninterrupted attendance for the duration.
Those who arrive on time to an event or class and stay until it ends show courtesy to both the speaker and the audience, and avoid disrupting the session for others. There should be universal application of this expectation; it is as important to be on time to a club activity as it is to an employer presentation or a class.
• On-time initiation and termination of classes and presentations.
There is a 10-minute transition time period allocated between all MIT class sessions (this policy is officially stated here). A class session or any other public meeting is expected to formally end 5 minutes before its scheduled ending time, and the following class session or meeting is expected to begin 5 minutes after its scheduled starting time. Observance of this rule allows classrooms to be cleared, facilitates traffic flow between rooms, and minimizes disruptions to MIT Sloan’s tightly-scheduled facilities.
• Maintenance of a professional atmosphere. This includes, but is not limited to:
→ Using respectful comments and humor
Upon matriculating at MIT Sloan, you’ll be representing the MIT Sloan School and MIT for the rest of your life. Make a positive impact as an individual and School representative by extending respect to your MIT Sloan community colleagues and all other guests and strangers. For example, minimize misunderstanding by communicating thoughtfully and using humor carefully in a context of mutual respect with new acquaintances and strangers---and in the context of your preexisting relationships with your friends. Those who use the ‘Golden Rule’ (e.g., treating others as they would like to be treated themselves) as a starting point in their interactions with others will always have solid friendships and business relationships at hand.
→ Utilizing computers and technology suitably (e.g., silencing wireless devices, no web-browsing or emailing)
Those who switch off their cell phones before the start of class respect our academic environment by allowing uninterrupted learning to proceed. Similarly, those who turn off laptop computers before a class or meeting avoid ‘multitasking’ activities such as internet browsing and emailing that are unwelcome and distracting to their neighbors. Unless specifically permitted by a faculty member, an event organizer, or a presenter, laptops should remain closed during MIT Sloan class sessions, presentations, and meetings.
→ Refraining from distracting or disrespectful activities (e.g., avoiding side conversations and games)
As with the improper use of cell phones and laptops, side conversations and game playing during meetings, events, and classes are distracting and discourteous to colleagues, guests, and presenters, reflect poorly on the MIT Sloan School---and should be avoided.
• Courtesy towards all guests, hosts and participants both inside and outside the classroom.
MBA community members are expected to maintain decorum in interactions with members and guests of the MIT Sloan community. Such behavior should: 1)--reflect MIT Sloan Professional Standards, and; 2)--be consistent with North American business practices. Appropriate, courteous behavior enhances MIT Sloan’s reputation and encourages others to participate in our activities, hire our students, and contribute to our School. In MIT Sloan’s environment, students are expected to observe the proper dress, decorum, and etiquette that is appropriate to MIT Sloan Professional Standards and North American business customs for each setting they are in.
• Observance of the most conservative standards when one is unsure about which norms apply.
If you are unsure whether a faculty member allows the use of laptop computers in class, assume that laptops are not permitted unless/until you learn otherwise. Likewise, if you are unsure if your comments will be offensive to someone, particularly from another culture, refrain from sharing them.
• Observance of MIT’s Classroom Rules of Use
Please refer to Classroom Rules of Use from the Registrar’s Office.
These points offer specific illustrative examples to encourage broader reflection of each individual’s impact on the MIT Sloan community. For more guidance on these standards, please contact the MBA Student Affairs Office in E52-101 (253-5049), or the MIT Sloan Professional Standards Committee.
Upholding these expectations and the standards upon which they are based is a shared right and responsibility for all faculty, students and staff at the MIT Sloan School. As a learning and professional community, we seek and deserve no less.