ETHICS CULTURE AND INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY AT DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY
Academic Year 2024-2025
De La Salle University upholds a strong culture of ethics and integrity through a comprehensive framework that guides the conduct of its academic community. Central to this is the University Code of Ethical Conduct, which establishes the principles of honesty, accountability, professionalism, and respect that govern the behavior of students, faculty, administrators, and staff. The Code serves as a foundational document that defines acceptable standards of conduct and promotes ethical decision-making across all levels of the institution, ensuring that academic and administrative activities are carried out with integrity and responsibility.
To operationalize ethical governance, the University has established structured mechanisms for ethical compliance and enforcement. To operationalize ethical governance, the University has established many structured mechanisms for ethical compliance and enforcement. The Office of the Vice President for the Lasallian Mission (OVPLM) core functions encompass holistic and comprehensive training across all stakeholder groups and levels based on the Code and Lasallian Mission of faith formation, social engagement, and community building. Oversight is primarily undertaken by the Integrity Board and Fact-Finding Protocol under the Risk Management and Compliance Office (RMCA), which serves as the highest body responsible for handling serious ethical violations. These include cases involving breaches of integrity, moral turpitude, conflicts of interest, misuse of institutional resources, and fraud. The presence of a centralized body ensures that investigations are conducted systematically and that appropriate actions are taken in accordance with due process.
In addition, the University adopts a multi-office approach to ethical governance, wherein specific types of ethical concerns are addressed by designated units with specialized mandates. Employee discipline cases are managed by the Office of the Provost and the Community, Culture, Human Resource Services Office (CCHRSO), ensuring that faculty and staff conduct is aligned with institutional standards. Cases involving sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination are handled by the Lasallian Center for Inclusion, Diversity, and Well-being (LCIDWell), reflecting the University’s commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment. Meanwhile, student discipline is overseen by the Student Discipline Formation Office (SDFO), the Student Discipline Formation Unit (SDFU), and the Integrated School (IS) Principal, ensuring that student conduct is guided by both ethical standards and formative principles. This structure ensures that ethical concerns are addressed by appropriate units with specialized mandates, reinforcing accountability and due process across the institution.
Although the University does not maintain a standalone anti-bribery and corruption policy, the Code of Ethics explicitly promotes honesty, integrity, and accountability in all transactions and interactions. These provisions act as safeguards against corrupt practices by discouraging behaviors such as bribery, fraud, and conflicts of interest. Through this framework, the University reinforces a culture where integrity is upheld across all operations.
The University also provides internal reporting mechanisms that allow members of the community to raise concerns regarding misconduct, ethical violations, and breaches of academic integrity. Through the Code of Ethics, individuals are encouraged to report unethical behavior through appropriate channels, ensuring that concerns are formally documented and addressed through established administrative and disciplinary procedures. These systems promote transparency, protect the integrity of institutional processes, and reinforce a culture of accountability.
Through its Code of Ethics, structured compliance mechanisms, and multi-level governance systems, De La Salle University institutionalizes a culture of ethical conduct and accountability. These efforts ensure that ethical standards are not only clearly defined but also actively enforced, contributing to a transparent, responsible, and values-driven academic environment.
