The ACPA ethical code has four basic standards:professional responsibility and competence, student learning and development, responsibility to the institution, and responsibility to society.
The ACPA code is meant to serve student affairs professionals, any faculty of staff member who is involved with student conduct and behavior, by presenting potential ethical problems which occur in relationships with students and providing practical standards of behavior which can be used in daily college activities.
The purpose of the ACPA "code", according to the Ethics Committee, is to increase awareness and dialogue about issues of ethical decision-making in higher education. The ethical code, and other related resources, have been designed to be applicable to professional development and adaptable to specific populations.