Users Guide to the Principles for Professional Conduct
| Index to Ethics Guide |
|---|
Principles for Career Services Professionals
9. Charging fees to students and employers
"If the charging of fees for career services becomes necessary, such fees will be appropriate to the budgetary needs of the office and will not hinder student or employer access to services. Career services professionals are encouraged to counsel student and university organizations engaged in recruitment activities to follow this principle."
(Intent / Rationale / Resources)Career services and other campus offices, including student organizations, should not assess fees or develop fee policies that result in limiting students from using services or having access to all employers.
While outside fees are essential for many career centers, this need must be balanced with the primary obligation of equal and full access for all students. In addition, a career services office that claims it has an educational mission may be on thin ice if it charges students for basic services, given that tuition and fees are intended to cover a student's educational expenses.
Even if charges are acceptable within the framework of the institutional fee structure and philosophy, charging employers amounts well beyond the cost of running an event raises questions of honesty and fairness. Moreover, some organizations may not be able to or wish to pay these fees, thus depriving students of direct access to potential employers.
NACE Principles for Professional Conduct Committee. "The Commercialization of Career Centers: Ethical Consideration for Practitioners." Journal of Career Planning and Employment, Winter 2001.
NACE Principles for Professional Conduct Committee. "Playing Fair." Job Choices 2002.
Principle 10.
Advising students of their obligations in the recruiting process
