Public health professionals have a responsibility to use their knowledge and skills and high ethical standards to assure conditions that protect and promote the health of populations through organized individual and community effort, including actively working through personal and professional efforts to eliminate disparities in public health.

The students, faculty, staff, Community Advisory Council members and other affiliated with the UNMC/UNO Master of Public Health Program are dedicated to excellence, integrity and the highest possible standards of conduct related to its operations and outcomes.

All professionals are expected to be aware of and abide by the codes of ethics for their respective professions. The following core values & principles of conduct &service are intended to provide a shared framework for all persons affiliated with the MPH Program. They are intended to provide guidance for how the MPH Program operates internally as well as how we strive to prepare our graduates to function as competent, professional and ethical public health practitioners, including:

• providing guidance to enhance ethical sensitivity, judgment and the ability to identify and analyze ethical dilemmas; and
• supporting sound ethical decision-making in situations which involve conflict between principles

The aim and primary focus of public health policy and practice is the overall health of the public.

We strive to eliminate or reduce barriers to access to educational

We strive to instill in our students the need to assure prevention services and access to care for the populations they serve.

Community collaboration and service is essential. We have a responsibility to promote public health by participating in collaborative community service projects and working to see that there are a variety of service learning opportunities for our students.

We have a responsibility to practice justice, equality and fairness in all we do, using our collective personal and professional efforts to actively and assertively advocate for reform in policies/practices that conflict with these principles.

We honor the principle of treating individuals with dignity and respect and the practice of actively engaging individuals in the decision and policy -making process within the MPH Program. We trust that our graduates will take that value with them into their professional roles.

We embrace diversity and acknowledge that we all have a responsibility to pursue cultural competence and to continually address racism and social injustice.

We have an obligation to act in ways that merit trust, confidence and respect, acting with honesty and integrity and avoiding conflicts of interest.

Individually and collectively, we have a responsibility to maintain competence with regard to our work

We have a responsibility to gather and use the data at our disposal effectively and honestly to make a positive contribution to public health and to help our communities reach their stated goals.

We encourage a high level of professionalism, ideals and a spirit of dedication to service and support students with knowledge, professionalism and mutual respect in addressing ethical dilemmas and value conflicts as they arise in practice.

We are expected to demonstrate trusteeship, stewardship and openness to new opportunities as effective community leaders, innovative educators, and creative researchers.

We are committed to demonstrating stewardship with respect to the public, private and environmental resources at our disposal and to functioning efficiently and without waste.

Individually and collectively, we have a responsibility to help shape public policy in social, environmental political and economic arenas that impact public health.

We demonstrate accountability and a commitment to continuous quality improvement in all that we do.

We are dedicated to providing an educational environment in which we strive to model these values and principles of conduct and service.

We are dedicated to providing an educational environment of discovery, learning rigorous academic preparation and student engagement that is science-based and which prepares students to function as well rounded, competent public health professionals.

Students will be involved in planning, monitoring and evaluating all aspects of the MPH Program.

Life-long learning is valued and encouraged.