Ethics Education
The Association of American Colleges and Universities has recently issued a “new vision for learning,” designed to guide our nation's educators. In their “Greater Expectations” national panel report, the AAC&U called for educational practices that foster “intellectual honesty, responsibility for society's moral health and social justice, active participation as a citizen of a diverse democracy, discernment of the ethical consequences of decisions and actions, and deep understanding of one's self and respect for the complex identities of others, their histories and their cultures.”
Penn State's own commitment to ethics education is reflected in President Spanier's firm belief that a Penn State education must include the development of character, conscience, citizenship and social responsibility .
The Rock Ethics Institute has responded to the AAC&U's and President Spanier's challenge by providing faculty across Penn State with resources for integrating ethics into their classes. Our model of teaching the teachers is designed to provide pedagogical resources and training to a wide range of faculty, in order to encourage the incorporation of ethics issues within their classes. This model ensures that ethics education is not only relevant, but sustainable . Our aim is to make ethics education effective by weaving it throughout the curriculum so that students learn to understand the centrality of ethics to all aspects of their life—personal, professional, and civic.
We join President Spanier in urging students to reflect upon the importance of academic integrity and respectful community. The best place to begin this process is through the Penn State Principles Curriculum .
Because we research, develop, and teach about tools for dealing with ethical issues, our activities are wide-ranging. But whether focused on the environment, medicine, business, or the academy, and whether working with students, researchers, or professionals in the community, our purpose is the same: to help people meet the challenges they encounter and have the confidence and knowledge to stand up for themselves, their ideals, and the interests of others.
Our efforts to integrate ethics across the Penn State curriculum include:
