Ethics in Teaching and UIUC Ethics Guidelines

Robert G. Muncaster

(Spring 2007)

What is Ethics?

"Ethical standards are intended to guide us in carrying out the responsibilities that we have to the different groups with whom we interact"

Wilbert J. McKeachie, McKeachie's Teaching Tips - Strategies, Research, and Theory for College and University Teachers (eleventh edition 2002)

"Ethical or moral problems are often represented as conflicts between (usually two) opposing sides or opposing principles, but they are often better understood as problems in which there are multiple (ethical) constraints which may or may not turn out to be satisfiable simultaneously"

Caroline Whitbeck, Case Western Reserve University

Responsibilities to Students

• to encourage the free pursuit of knowledge
• to demonstrate respect for students
• to respect confidentiality
• to model the best scholarly and ethical standards
• to foster honest academic conduct and to ensure fair evaluation
• to avoid exploitation, harassment, or descrimination

Responsibilities to Colleagues, the Institution, and the Discipline

• accurate citation of references in research articles
• ethical representation of new research
• plagiarism issues
• proper respect of the ideas and positions of other teachers and researchers

University of Illinois Ethics Guidelines

Code of Policies and Regulations Applying to All Students

http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/index.html

A Handbook for Graduate Students and Advisors

http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/gradhandbook/

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DRES: Division of Rehabilitation Education Services

http://www.disability.uiuc.edu/

Sexual Harassment

http://www.provost.uiuc.edu/resources/campusconduct/index.html

http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/article_2/a2_2-802.html

Academic Integrity

http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/article_1/a1_1-401.html

http://www.oir.uiuc.edu/Did/Resources/Illini%20Instructor/Cheating.htm

Capricious Grading

http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/article_3/a3_3-107.html