Code of Ethical Conduct

Code of (Ethical) Conduct for KNPRN Members

As members of the Korean Nonprofit Researchers Network (KNPRN),

Standard I. Professional Ethical Conduct and Practices

1.     We shall strive to be of good moral character and demonstrate that we are fit in seeking nonprofit and philanthropic values.   

2.     We shall avoid advocating any particular political party, candidate, institution, or any membership of political affiliations. This standard shall not restrict advocates for a variety of social and philanthropic causes.

3.     We shall not knowingly misappropriate, divert or use monies, personnel, property, or equipment committed to our charge for personal gain or advantage.

4.     We shall not use institutional or professional privileges for personal interests.

5.     We shall not offer services that we do not have the competence, qualifications, or resources to provide.

6.     We shall be objective and accurate in expressing and report­ing knowledge or opinions upon which we base our practices. We shall be knowledgeable about the appropri­ate assessment of the practices.

Standard II. Ethical Conduct Toward KNPRN

1.     We shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly engage in deceptive practices in any part of KNPRN activities and statements.

2.  We shall neither accept nor offer gratuities, gifts, or favors that impair the professional judgment or reputation of KNPRN. This standard shall not restrict the acceptance of gifts or tokens offered and accepted openly from individuals or organizations in recognition or appreciation of service.

3.  We shall communicate openly and truthfully about the nature and extent of activities and services that we engage in.

4.     We shall be familiar with laws and regulations that apply to the operation of KNPRN.

Standard III. Ethical Conduct Toward Professional Colleagues

1.  We shall promote diversity and inclusion and strive to present perspectives, behaviors, and activities that are respectful of diverse backgrounds: gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, and culture.

2.  We shall not exclude individuals from group membership, discriminate against a colleague, or granting an advantage based on gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, and culture.

3.  When we become aware of any discriminatory or harassment practice that endangers the health, safety, or well-being of students, educators, and/or professionals who are affiliated with KNPRN, we have an ethical responsibility to inform the KNPRN executive board and seek protective means.

4.     We shall protect/respect colleagues’ privacy, thus we shall not reveal their confidential health or personnel information unless disclosure serves lawful professional purposes or is required by law.

5.     We shall not use coercive means or promise of special treatment in order to influence the professional decisions of colleagues.

6.     We shall maintain appropriate professional relationships with colleagues. We shall refrain from excessive and/or inappropriate communication with colleagues.

Modified 10/25/2021

Background to develop the Code of Conduct 

In 2021, we became aware of sexual misconduct at Florida State University, with some of our members being directly and indirectly affected by the incident. In response, KNPRN immediately formed a task force to address the scandal. Esteemed members, including Drs. Sungdae Lim (Sam Houston State University), Jungwon Yeo (University of Central Florida), Jiwon Suh (University of Texas at Arlington), Eunsil Yoo (Penn State University), and Misun Lee (Florida State University), participated in this task force and helped establish an ad-hoc committee named the Professional Ethics Committee (PEC) in 2022. Dr. Lim, serving as the chair of the committee, led the team in developing a strategic plan to put this scandal on the table in our academia and devise practical ways to prevent the unethical conduct.

These efforts of the Professional Ethics Committee (PEC) have been stretched out,  going into partnerships with other Korean professional associations, including the Society of Korean Public Administration (SKPA) and the Korean Association for Social Welfare Education and Administration (KASWEA), as well as with the Chinese scholar group at ARNOVA, known as Emerging Scholars on Chinese Nonprofit Research.

Moving forward, the Professional Ethics Committee (PEC) formulated a Code of Conduct for KNPRN members. This Code will serve as a foundational bylaw, governing all activities undertaken by KNPRN members, ensuring ethical standards are upheld across the board.

In addition, the PEC organized a session on sexual misconduct at the 50th Annual ARNOVA Conference, further highlighting their commitment to addressing and educating on these critical issues. The following panelists were invited to the colloquium: Erynn Beaton (Ohio State University), Megan LePere-Schloop (Ohio State University), Sarah Young (Kennesaw State University), Kim Wiley (University of Florida), Ralph Brower (Florida State University), and Meeyoung Lamothe (University of Oklahoma). 

The discussions from the session were published as a commentary paper in the Nonprofit Policy Forum on 2022.
Lamothe, M., LePere-Schloop, M., Lim, S., Yeo, J., Beaton, E., Brower, R., Kim, S. J., Lee, M., & Yoo, E. (2022). Sexual misconduct: Policies to improve institutional accountability and reduce individual burdens. Nonprofit Policy Forum, 13(4), 361-370.  https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/npf-2022-0028/html