WVSPS Bylaws

(Appendix III)

Code Of Ethics

I. Land Surveyors shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties.

a. Land surveyors shall recognize that the safety, health and welfare of the general public are dependent upon surveying judgments, decisions and practices incorporated into the field of land surveying.
b. Land surveyors shall not approve or seal plats that are not in conformity with accepted surveying standards.
c. Should the Surveyors' professional judgment be overruled under circumstances where the safety, health and welfare of the public are endangered, the Surveyors shall inform their clients or employers of the possible consequences and notify other proper authority of the situation, as may be appropriate.
d. Should Surveyors have knowledge or reason to believe that another person or firm may be in violation of any of the provisions of these guidelines, they shall present such information to the proper authority in writing and shall cooperate with the proper authority in furnishing such further information or assistance as may be required.
e. Surveyors should seek opportunities to be of constructive service in civic affairs and work for the advancement of the safety, health, and well-being of their communities.
f. Surveyors should be committed to improving the environment to enhance the quality of life.

a. Surveyors shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only when qualified by education or experience in the technical field of surveying involved.
b. Surveyors may accept an assignment requiring education or experience outside of their own fields of competence, provided their services are restricted to those phases of the project in which they are qualified. All other phases of such project shall be performed by qualified associates, consultants, or employees.
c. Surveyors shall not affix their signatures and/or seals to any surveying plat or document dealing with subject matter in which they lack
competence by virtue of education or experience, not to nay such plat or document not prepared under their supervisory control.

a. Surveyors should endeavor to extend the public knowledge of surveying, and shall not participate in the dissemination of untrue, unfair or exaggerated statements regarding surveying.
b. Surveyors shall be completely objective and truthful in all professional reports, statements, or testimony. They shall include all relevant and pertinent information in such reports, statements or testimony.
c. Surveyors, when serving as expert or technical witness before any court, commission, or other tribunal, shall express a surveying opinion only when it is founded upon adequate knowledge of the fact in issue, upon a background of technical competence in the subject matter, and upon honest conviction of the accuracy and propriety of their testimony.
d. Surveyors shall issue no statements, criticisms, or arguments on surveying matters which are inspired or paid for by an interested party, or parties, unless they have prefaced their comments by explicitly identifying themselves, by disclosing the identities of the party or parties on whose behalf they are speaking, and by revealing the existence of any pecuniary interest they may have in the instant matters.
e. Surveyors shall be dignified and modest in explaining their work and merit, and will avoid any act tending to promote their own interests at the expense of the integrity, honor and dignity of the profession.

a. Surveyors shall avoid all known conflicts or interest with their employers or clients and shall promptly inform their employers or clients of any business association, interests, or circumstances which could influence their judgment or the quality of their services.
b. Surveyors shall not knowingly undertake any assignments which would create a potential conflict of interest between themselves and their clients or their employers.
c. Surveyors shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one party for services on the same project, unless the circumstances are fully disclosed to, and agreed to, by all interested parties.
d. When in public service as members, advisors, or employees of a governmental body or department, Surveyors shall not participate in considerations or actions with respect to services solicited or provided by them or their organization in private or public surveying practice.
e. When, as a result of their studies, Surveyors believe a project will not be successful, they shall so advise their employer or client.
f. Surveyors shall treat information coming to them in the course of their assignments as confidential, and shall not use such information as a means of making personal profits if such action is adverse to the interests of their clients, employers or the public.
g. Surveyors shall admit and accept their own errors when proved wrong and refrain from distorting or altering the facts to justify their decisions.
h. Surveyors shall not accept professional employment outside of their regular work or interest without the knowledge of their employers.
f. Surveyors shall not attempt to attract an employee from another employer by false or misleading representation.

a. Surveyors shall not give, solicit or receive either directly or indirectly, any commission, political contribution, or a gift or other consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salaried positions through employment agencies.
b. Surveyors should negotiate contracts for services fairly and only on the is of demonstrated competence and qualifications for the type of service required.
c. Surveyors should negotiate a method and rate of compensation commensurate with the agreed upon scope of service. A meeting of the minds of the parties to the contract is essential to mutual confidence. The public interest requires that the cost of surveying services be fair and reasonable, but not the controlling consideration in selection of individuals or firms to provide these services.
d. Surveyors shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their, or their associates, academic or professional qualifications. They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their degree or responsibility in or for the subject matter of prior assignments. Brochures or other presentations incident to the solicitation of employment shall not misrepresent pertinent facts concerning employers, employees, associates, joint ventures, or their past accomplishments with the intent and purpose of enhancing their qualifications and work.
e. Surveyors may prepare articles for the lay or technical press which are factual, dignified and free from ostentatious or laudatory implications. Such articles shall not imply other than their direct participation in the work describe unless credit is given to others for their share of the work.
f. Surveyors may advertise for recruitment of personnel in appropriate publications or by special distribution. The information presented must be displayed in a dignified manner, restricted to firm name, address, telephone number, appropriate symbol, names of principal participants, the field of practice in which the firm is qualified and factual descriptions of positions available, qualifications required and benefits available.
g. Surveyors shall not maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, injure the reputation, prospects, practice or employment of another surveyor nor shall they indiscriminately criticize another work.
h. Surveyors shall not use equipment, supplies, laboratory not office facilities of their employers to carry on outside private practice without consent and appropriate compensation.

a. Surveyors should keep current in their specialty fields by engaging in professional practice, participating in continuing education courses, reading in the technical literature, and attending professional meetings and seminars.
b. Surveyors should encourage their surveying employees to further their education.
c. Surveyors should encourage their surveying employees to become registered at the earliest possible date.
d. Surveyors should encourage surveying employees to attend and present papers at professional and technical society meetings.
e. Surveyors shall give proper credit for surveying work to those to whom credit is due, and recognize the proprietary interest of others. Whenever possible, they shall name the person or persons who may be responsible for the accomplishments.
f. Surveyors should support the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.
g. Surveyors shall provide prospective surveying employees with information on working conditions and their proposed status of employment, and after employment shall keep them informed of any change.