Principles of Ethical Practice in Overseas Educational Advising

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, EducationUSA certified overseas educational advisers 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 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 such accreditation is unavailable, programs of established quality; and make available information on all such U.S. institutions
3. Use his or her office, title, and professional associations only for the conduct of official business
4. Ensure that statements of personal opinion or judgment 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 nonjudgmentally
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 reentry to 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 that is clearly publicized to students and other paying clients and that is reasonable by host country standards
13. Provide, if available, a 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 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 that follow them
18. Operate in accordance with the NAFSA Code of Ethics and the NAFSA Principles for International Educational Exchange

Revised by the Committee on Ethical Practice and approved by the NAFSA Board of Director's on May 27, 2001.