W H A T I S Y O U R E T H I C A L S T Y L E ?

Everyday Dilemmas:

Drew PurowayUniversity of St. Thomas

What is Ethics?

World English Dictionary accessed online via: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Ethics

1. ( functioning as singular ) See also meta-ethics the philosophical study of the moral value of human conduct and of the rules and principles that ought to govern it; moral philosophy

2. ( functioning as plural ) a social, religious, or civil code of behaviour considered correct, esp that of a particular group, profession, or individual

3. ( functioning as plural ) the moral fitness of a decision, course of action, etc: he doubted the ethics of their verdict

“Briefly put, ethics is the attempt to think

critically about what is right and what is

wrong, what is good and what is bad, in human

conduct...Ethics asks not only 'what is the right

thing to do?' but also 'How does one know

what is the right thing to do” (Gordon, Habley,

Grites, & Associates, 2008, p. 37).

Harold

Harold is a twenty year old transfer student, about to enter his second semester at your institution. When he first met with you as a newly admitted student, his mother came along and sat in on the appointment where you discussed the curricular requirements and assisted him with registration. While it is common for a traditional-aged transfer student to bring a parent to their initial appointment, you are a bit shocked when she arrives with Harold for his next appointment. You remember from your first interaction that, while his mother was a very pleasant person, she dominated the conversation and was very judgmental of his ideas about possible majors. You worry that Harold’s mother may be unintentionally impeding his development and undermining his autonomy.

Do you allow Harold’s mother into the appointment?

Principle Based Approach

Problem or dilemma oriented

Can be said of the three styles to be the modernist approach –think enlightenment

Focused on Actions

Two fundamental questions:

What are the principles?

Where do we get them?

Someone who “views moral norms as central”

Principles leave room for judgment

Do you subscribe to principles that proscribe actions and/or shape your behavior?

Advantages: Criticisms:

Concrete

Might have flexibility

Professional organization provides

Who sets?

What do we do when principles conflict?

Interests of individual vs. interests of the community

Rigidity

Principle Based Approach

Harold

Harold is a twenty year old transfer student, about to enter his second semester at your institution. When he first met with you as a newly admitted student, his mother came along and sat in on the appointment where you discussed the curricular requirements and assisted him with registration. While it is common for a traditional-aged transfer student to bring a parent to their initial appointment, you are a bit shocked when she arrives with Harold for his next appointment. You remember from your first interaction that, while his mother was a very pleasant person, she dominated the conversation and was very judgmental of his ideas about possible majors. You worry that Harold’s mother may be unintentionally impeding his development and undermining his autonomy.

What principles might be at play in this case? What policies, institutional values or common practices might

guide your actions? Is there a way to respect Harold’s Autonomy and respect his

mother at the same time?

Situation Based Approach

You look at cases to explore that paradigm

Post-modern

Inductive – or bottom up approach

Can involve a principle but that is not the focus

The particulars of the case itself and not the moral norms are of the greatest concern

Process: Describe the unique features of the case – clarity of facts

Place the case into a context of similar cases

Evaluate the movement between different cases

Advantages: Criticisms:

Allows for revision

Avoids making humans “slaves to the law or principles”

Avoids rigidity

Highly relativistic

Individual v. Community

From where can its moral authority be derived?

Situation Based Approach

Harold

Harold is a twenty year old transfer student, about to enter his second semester at your institution. When he first met with you as a newly admitted student, his mother came along and sat in on the appointment where you discussed the curricular requirements and assisted him with registration. While it is common for a traditional-aged transfer student to bring a parent to their initial appointment, you are a bit shocked when she arrives with Harold for his next appointment. You remember from your first interaction that, while his mother was a very pleasant person, she dominated the conversation and was very judgmental of his ideas about possible majors. You worry that Harold’s mother may be unintentionally impeding his development and undermining his autonomy.

What precedents or cases might guide your actions? Are there circumstances or is there information that would

change your mind about this case? Is there a way to respect Harold’s Autonomy and respect his

mother at the same time?

Virtue Based Approach

Qualitatively different

Focuses more on states of being rather than doing

Pre-modern mindset

Examples of virtues: Loyalty; Honesty; Kindness; Temperance

In this system of ethics, the right action taken for the wrong reason is not virtuous

Communally based or focused than problem based approaches

Harold

Harold is a twenty year old transfer student, about to enter his second semester at your institution. When he first met with you as a newly admitted student, his mother came along and sat in on the appointment where you discussed the curricular requirements and assisted him with registration. While it is common for a traditional-aged transfer student to bring a parent to their initial appointment, you are a bit shocked when she arrives with Harold for his next appointment. You remember from your first interaction that, while his mother was a very pleasant person, she dominated the conversation and was very judgmental of his ideas about possible majors. You worry that Harold’s mother may be unintentionally impeding his development and undermining his autonomy.

How ought one act in this situation? What does that virtue mean? What does the community of advisors expect? Do you have just intentions?

What informs our Ethics?

Ethical Checklist

Blanchard & Peale (1988)

Is it Legal? Will I be violating civil law or institutional policy?

Is it balanced? Is it fair to all concerned? Does it promote a win/win situation?

How will it make me feel about myself? Will I be proud? Would I feel good if my hometown newspaper published my decision? Would I feel good if my family know about my choice?

Non-maleficence

Enhance the student’s ability to make autonomous decisions

Seek to enhance the student’s learning whenever possible

Accord colleagues appropriate professional courtesy and respect

Beneficence

Enhance the student’s ability to make autonomous decisions

Seek to enhance the student’s learning whenever possible

Maintain the credibility of the advising program

Justice

Treat students equitably

Fidelity

Support the institution’s educational philosophy and policies

Maintain the credibility of the advising program

Advocate for the student

Respect for persons

Tell the truth (to students & others)

Respect the confidentiality of communication with students

Enhance the student’s ability to make autonomous decisions

Advocate for the student

Maryce is in her fourth year at your institution, but is only a junior by credits as she has retaken several courses. She is seeking a Biology major with the goal of going to medical school. In reviewing her record, she has a 2.8 GPA but her GPA in pre-med courses is about a 2.2/4.0 and that is taking into account courses that she has retaken for improved grades. When you meet with Maryce you learn that she was referred to you by her faculty advisor in Biology to “explore possible alternatives to medicine.” However, Maryce has no interest in anything besides becoming a doctor, saying “I have worked too hard already and I have wanted to be a doctor since I was a child. I just have to find a way into med school.” She has not taken the MCAT (partially because she is retaking Organic Chemistry), but you see from her record that she has been very average in her performance on other standardized tests. Maryce’s plan to retake O-Chem, Calculus and Physics will delay her graduation and at this point she is unlikely to get into medical school. What do you tell Maryce as she seeks your approval for her plan?

Do you frame this case in terms of ethics and does this case present a dilemma for you? If no, is there an added wrinkle that would make this a dilemma?

What feelings do you experience when you are advising students who are pursuing courses of study that do not fit?

By the standards of the average student, you are a novice facebook user. However, you do keep an account and have found it to be a nice way to keep up with family and friends. You have been working with an advisee, Eldora, for four semesters. Eldora has struggled in school and has reached out to you for help throughout her struggles. You have mentored Eldora and feel a nice bond with her. You know that she will be studying abroad next semester and want to be able to keep in touch. You are also worried that she might struggle while abroad. You know that she does not respond well to email, but know that she is an avid facebooker. What ethical issues, if any, do you see in “friending” Eldora on Facebook?

Would it make a difference if she was a graduating senior?

Would it make a difference if she you knew that her facebookover-use was a partial cause of her academic difficulties?

Would you accept her invitation if she friended you?

If you friended her, would you have any ethical or legal duties?

Your Cases?

References

Blanchard, K. & Peale, N.V. (1988). The Power of ethical management. New York: William Morrow & Co.

Gordon, V.N., Habley, W.R., & Grites, T.J. (Eds.). (2008). Academic Advising: A Comprehensive handbook(2nd ed.). San Fransisco: Jossey-Bass.

Lampkin, P.M., & Gibson, E.M. (1999). Mountains and passes:Traversing the landscape of student Affairs administration. Washington DC: National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

World English Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2011, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Ethics