Based on a review of publications of Russian and foreign researchers, the authors highlight the most significant topics on the deontology of university life. The article presents the results of an analysis of the texts of ethical codes of some leading universities in Russia (National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University, Kazan Federal University, Ural Federal University), as well as the results of an online survey (N = 297) of teachers of these universities. The survey was conducted to study the attitude of the teaching staff towards the tools for standardizing the moral culture of universities and the implementation of the values enshrined in the ethical standards of universities and ideals of academic community. Conclusions are made about the ethical attitudes of teachers and the effectiveness of moral regulation, as well as proposals for improving the ethical codes of universities are made.