Code of Conduct and Ethics for the Deans:

The Deans must always be truthful, objective, supportive, protective, and law-abiding. They must demonstrate exceptional and powerful leadership and empower all staff members and learners to realize their full potential. They need to:

1. Implement the new concepts and strategy for achieving the vision and mission of the university.

2. Encourage university collaboration and instill research development initiatives.

3. Listen to the ideas of the learners and teachers and adopt a supporting stance.

4. Ensure that faculty and learners are informed of the university's rules, policies, and processes.

5. Be impartial in disciplinary measures against all teaching faculty, non-teaching personnel, and learners.

6. Recommend and transmit the message to the authorities.

7. Monitor, supervise, and educate the university administration, and take corrective action based on stakeholder feedback.

8. Perform any additional qualitative and quantitative tasks for the benefit of the learners and university.

9. Enable the university staff and learners to reach their fullest potential.

Code of Conduct for the Chairpersons/ Coordinators:

Although there are particular requirements in the statute, regulations, and act of the University, State Government, and UGC, the following code of conduct must also be followed for the benefit of the academic environment of the Institution. All department heads and coordinators will be accountable and responsible for the following:

1. To fulfil his /her responsibilities, such as teaching, research, or innovation programmes for the department and the university, each faculty must closely adhere to the workload.

2. The department must hold regular department council meetings (at least once in a month). The following subjects must be considered at departmental meetings:

• • Contact Programme, Assignment valuation, term end valuation, assignment questions

• • Learners' grievances (if any) at departmental level

• • Acquisition of Textbooks, Reference Books, and Journals

• • Calendar of events given by university

• • Academic difficulties involving department

• • Annual budget planning of department

• • Any other issues in best interest of teachers, learners, department and university

3. Plan training programmes, seminars/ workshops/ lectures etc., both at the Departmental level and university level, for the purpose of enhancing the academic competence of learners, faculty, and non-teaching staffs.

4. Maintain communication pertaining to the administration / evaluation of the Department and forward it to the proper authority.

5. Compliance with the Act, University Statutes, Government Ordinances, Regulations, Rules, and other Orders issued from time to time pursuant thereto.

6. Forward and encourage the right proposals from teachers

7. Any additional duties pertaining to the Department/university that are allocated to him/her from time to time by the Competent Authority/ statutory bodies/ various committees.

8. Timely submission of information to University.

Code of Conduct for the Teachers:

As our university is the only one in the state specifically designed for open and distance learning, especially higher education, teachers play significant roles in the academic growth of the university as a whole. For intra-departmental and inter-departmental quality enhancement; and for academic assurance, excellence, and its upliftment, both teachers and learners must play a vital role in the university’s effective functioning, and teachers must maintain contact with university management. In accordance with the needs of the various committees/subcommittees, teachers should participate in and play a significant role in the administration of a variety of duties and obligations from time to time. Although there are specific guidelines in the statute, regulations, and Act of the affiliating University, State Government, and UGC, the following code of conduct must be observed in addition to these rules and resolutions for the benefit of the Institution's academic environment.

1. A faculty member is responsible for conducting contact classes, counselling classes, laboratory courses, tutorials, and seminars for the programmes allocated to him or her as contact programme coordinator in an efficient manner so as to enhance the learners knowledge.

2. Use multi-media teaching aids to make instruction more effective and engaging for learners.

3. Motivate the learners and assist them with any other general issues

4. Everyone must closely adhere to the work assignment given by chairperson

5. Carry out his or her tasks, such as teaching, research, or innovation programmes for the department and the university

6. The Lesson Plan/ Unit Plan should be made so as to cover syllabus in contact programme and develop audio video lessons to supplement lectures

7. Participation in the Department's teaching, research, and training programmes.

8. As research is an integral part of the university's mission, each faculty member must make active efforts to make research contributions in his or her area of expertise. As research publications in worldwide, peer-reviewed journals enhance not only the reputation of the individual, but also that of the institution, every faculty member should endeavour to produce such publications.

9. Assisting in the planning and implementation of academic programmes, such as arranging contact classes, seminars, project work, remedial classes, and tutorials; organizing training programmes, seminars/workshops/lectures etc., both at the Departmental and university levels, for the purpose of enhancing the academic competence of learners, faculty, and non-teaching staffs through faculty development programmes.

10. To aid pre-admission counselling

11. Supervision of Examinations, setting of question papers, moderation and evaluation of answer papers, and any other Examination-related duties as given by the Department / University.

12. Any other work pertaining to the Department that may be allocated from time to time by the Competent / Statutory Authority.

13. To protect the interests of instructors, non-teaching professionals, and administration personnel.

Code of Conduct for the Non-Teaching Staff:

The non-teaching staff contributes significantly to the realisation of the vision and objectives of Karnataka State Open University via their hard work and dedication. The university believes that the non-teaching staff will uphold high standards of professional behaviour, act with honesty, and contribute to the university's favourable public image.

Every staff member shall, therefore, have to:-

1. Remain on duty during office hours.

2. Maintain administrative honesty, integrity, and impartiality.

3. Adhere strictly to the university's policies and regulations.

4. Communicate effectively and favourably with employees, learners, and parents.

5. Absences from work without official authorization or approved sick leave are prohibited.

6. Every member of staff must have a specific function in order for the efficient functioning of University

7. There shall be no interruption or delay in emergency services such as electricity and water supply due to absences. In such situations, the engineering section should take immediate action.

8. Adhere to the university’s rules and regulations, and be diligent and prompt in doing all obligations, ideally on time.

9. To complete all allocated tasks in a timely way in order to assist the University, Department of Higher Education, and UGC in resolving the matter.

10. Be kind, honest, and forthright in interactions with people. Any problem reports received from any individual should be conveyed quickly to the immediate higher authority at their level, with no personal involvement.

11. Avoid spreading rumours and unofficial circulation of office matters in social media.

12. Official secrets should be kept secure. Confidential papers should be kept at the proper custodian level, and distributing a confidential document to a third party without permission from the competent authority is considered a criminal offence.

13. No promises or assertions regarding consideration for admission, examination, or award of financial aid inconsistent with existing policy or within the jurisdiction of the university framework shall be made.

14. The Regional directors and their staff shall remain on duty during office hours and abide by university rules and regulations strictly and shall not take privileges in the code of conduction mentioned above as they away from headquarters.

Code of Conduct for Learners:

1. Attend all online and offline classes as per the instruction by the department

2. Learners are required to carry their Identity Cards at all times when on campus, and must provide them upon request from security officers or any university authority.

3. In lecture halls, seminar rooms, libraries, computer labs, examination rooms, common areas, etc., mobile phones must be set to silent mode.

4. Learners must enter the classroom prior to the specified start time. No learners will be permitted to enter the classroom five minutes after the planned start time.

5. Any form of ragging is strictly prohibited and will result in severe punishments. The university has a zero tolerance policy on ragging. Any student found guilty of encouraging or participating in any type of ragging shall face severe actions ranging from session cancellation to expulsion from the university.

6. Late submission of assignments disqualifies a student from internal assessment. No further justifications will be accepted thereafter.

7. Learners shall participate in sporting and socio-cultural events organised by the university authority.

8. In accordance with the UGC ODL Regulations for 2020, in order to take the University Examination, learners must have attained a minimum of 75% class lecture attendance for each subject.

9. Learners are required to park their vehicles within the university-designated parking place.

10. Both male and female learners must maintain harmonious relationships in order to enhance the quality culture of a typical coeducational institution.

11. Any complaints should be reported promptly to the Student Welfare and Grievance Redressal Cell for immediate action.

12. On campus, smoking is strictly prohibited and shall be handled as a criminal offence.

13. The campus is free of plastics. Carrying any type of plastic bag or carry bag (thickness less than 70) on campus is strictly banned.

14. Garbage should be placed in the appropriate bins based on its categorization, e.g., biodegradable, non-biodegradable but recyclable, and non-recyclable in green, yellow, and red bins, respectively.

15. All sorts of fee payments should preferably be made online, and offline payment methods should be avoided as much as possible.

16. When utilizing a laboratory facility, specifics must be placed into a register. In case they break aby laboratory glassware’s they shall be penalized accordingly.

17. Learners must take care of their possessions. The institution will bear no liability for any losses.

18. Learners are not permitted to communicate with media representatives on behalf of the Institute or invite media personnel onto campus without permission from university authorities.

19. Without prior authorization, learners may not record audio or video of classroom lectures or the conduct of other learners, instructors, or staff.

20. Learners may not transmit audio and video clips of any campus activity to the media without prior authorization.

Library Code of Conduct:

1. Upon entering the Library, visitors, learners, and teachers must sign the appropriate register and leave their bags and other belongings etc. at the entrance counter.

2. Maintain order and silence throughout the Library.

3. Cell phones, audiovisual materials, and food are prohibited in the library.

4. All library materials, including books, periodicals, newspapers, chairs, etc., should be returned to their respective locations before leaving.

5. Do not place any pencil markings or book marks in a book or journal/periodical/magazine.

6. Learners will face severe punishments for misbehavior and mischievous actions in the library, up to and including expulsion from the Library.

7. When getting learners must present library card. Users are not permitted to borrow a book on behalf of a friend or anybody else.

8. When receiving or returning books, examine their condition and report any damage to the employees of the library. After that, no further complaints will be accepted, and the final borrower will be held accountable for the act.

9. Books that are lost or overdue by a reader or borrower for more than one semester will be recouped in the form of a replacement copy or the printed cost of the book. A clearance certificate from the librarian is required to obtain the university's marks sheet.