Community College Ethical Dilemmas

Community College Dilemma

The Lack of Formal Training in Ethics for Professors:

Based on the Journal of College and Character an article by Jacqueline Klein talks about an issue regarding how “most college instructors do not focus on professional ethics as they go about their daily duties as teachers, researchers, committee members, and advisors (Klein, 2005) Examples of irresponsible and unethical behavior by faculty include being late for class, using vulgarity, showing favoritism toward students, inappropriately using campus funds, plagiarizing, engaging in dual relationships with students, failing to uphold administrative duties, and refusing to uphold responsibilities of teaching and research (Klein, 2005).

As I investigate the

Woods, it spoke of the five ethical paradigms, ethic of justice, ethic of critique, ethic of care, ethic of the profession, and ethic of local community. While walking through how I would address the ethical dilemmas, I began to understand the connection of Ethical Decision Making with the five paradigms. Ethic of Justice guides your decision making by following policies, procedures, rules and laws. Ethic of Critique is critiquing the moral issues in pursuit of a resolution is fair and balanced. Ethics of care is ensuring the interest of the party is not affected and in this case it’s the student. Ethic of profession is understanding the responsibility of ethical conduct. Professors have a moral responsibility to act with integrity at all times. Ethic of Local Community is the understanding that community colleges serve the needs of the community and the greater good (Woods, 2012). Unethical behavior can never be tolerated if the college is to serve and represent the community. I was able to incorporate each of these paradigms in my decision-making process. Understanding that when someone thinks ethically, they take the time to think through situations, the effects and