I am a Freshman In College, at Millikin University, located in Decatur, Illinois. I was required to post one of my essay to a public audience, and since my essay is about Higher Education I thought that the The Chronicle would be the perfect place. The essay discusses Moral and Ethical Literacy, and Incorporating Ethical Training in Higher Education Curriculum.
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My Regards
Jordan M.
Freshman, International Business Major.
Millikin University
Ethics in Higher Education & Ethical and Moral Literacy in Higher Education
By Jordan A. Meadows
Some believe that ethics and moral reasoning is too broad of a topic to put a finger on, and some believe that the topic is not discussed enough. In Institutions of Higher Education, there are not many that promote moral and ethical values amongst the academic communities. Alternatively, we only get a chance to see the manifestation of true ethical values in ceremonies, written policy, and consequences for behavior contradicting the institution's set expectations. Few universities make it mandatory that their students, and even faculty, staff, and professors to learn or be educated about ethics & morals, when in actuality the teaching of values are equal in necessity for the success of any person. Universities have drawn away from the complex solidities of Ethical Literacy teaching, the knowledge of ethical reasoning, and moral reasoning in general. Many question whether or not Ethical Literacy can be taught to undergraduate students, and whether or not the experimenting students will actually grasp & maintain the teaching of ethical literacy. There are arguments that students are not interested in ethical reasoning and will not work to apply the principles to everyday life and careers. From the topics of plagiarism and underage drinking, to sexual relationships amongst faculty and students, it is easy to tell there is an apparent need for reevaluation in institutions of higher education. Institutions of higher education house a majority of young adults who will be the future leaders of the world, they have a responsibility to make sure that the value of ethical training and education continues to surpass standards and stays vivid. I believe that higher education institutions have become too commercialized and forgotten about some of the very important aspects of education, and the education of ethical literacy and reasoning that should be taught to undergraduate students before finally entering into the real world.
One of the biggest problems that we have in regards to ethics in higher education is the problems of Academic Honesty. Plagiarism has become an apparent and unambiguous problem amongst higher education communities over the United States. Donald L. McCabe and Patrick Drinan are founding presidents of The Center for Academic Integrity; they are the authors of Toward a Culture of Academic Integrity, published in The Chronicle of Higher Education. McCabe and Drinan state, “More than three-quarters of the almost 2,000 students whom they surveyed at nine large public institutions in 1993 admitted to one or more instances of serious cheating on tests or examinations, or to having engaged in serious academic dishonesty on written assignments. The percentage of students cheating on tests dramatically increased over the 39 percent of students whom William J. Bowers found had engaged in cheating on those same campuses in 1963.” (Drinan, Patrick; McCabe, Donald L. “Toward a Culture of Academic integrity, chronicle.com) These numbers are drastic and are not acceptable. Some blame the hold the loss of losing financial awards, and low grade point averages responsible for this significant increase in academic dishonesty in higher education. Although those may be intentions, they do not suffice for plagiarism, and reflects institutions directly. I feel that if institutions of higher education, professional organizations and others are going to hold such high standards, and have such acute and detrimental consequences they also must be in accord with that power, with the same amount of responsibility. When creating policies for academic dishonesty, plagiarism should be reevaluated and there should be no room for mediocrity. Higher Education Institutions currently have some of the most diverse communities ever, and those in these communities not all share the traditional view and perspective of plagiarism, and to truly be diverse, we must make sure that policies like that are in absolute respect to the many our communities. Higher Education Institutions are responsible for educating their students about the academic honest, and ethical reasoning in regards to academics. If they are going to hold such high standards, they must educate accordingly.
As a freshman in college, I know firsthand the amount of moral fiber that one may need in order to live healthy, successful, and survive in such a free environment. Institutions of Higher Education house youth that will soon be leaders of the world, while they simultaneously house many different distractions that will indeed either create beings of well roundedness or maturity, or that will destroy young beings that were once well rounded and mature. I feel that higher education institutions are responsible for teaching ethical reasoning and literacy. They should mandate that all the students are knowledgeable of how to make positive, moral decisions in the many different situations that are embedded in college campuses. McCabe and Drinan states “Only a handful of institutions have worked to promote a dialogue on integrity and its relationship to broader ethical issues, such as civility and cultural relativism.” (Drinan, Patrick; McCabe, Donald L. “Toward a Culture of Academic integrity, chronicle.com) Teaching Ethical Literacy and reasoning will do more than provide a foundation for students to reflect upon in regards to academic honesty but also while dealing with ethical issues on a plethora of college campuses nationwide. Unlike other institutions of Higher Education, here at Millikin University, the aspect of strong Moral and Ethical Literacy is established early on. During First Week here at Millikin University, the entire freshman had to attend a lecture on ethics and academic integrity. This set foundational mentalities that we as a whole may not have had, and I would be willing to assure that the percentage of academic dishonesty allegations or violations are much lower than they would be if programs like these were not incorporated into the community. By providing instrumental positive fundamentals like this to an environment, you force those with in it to be cognoscente of it, and to adapt accordingly. In other words, if Institutions of Higher Education incorporated Ethical Literacy and Reasoning Education into their curriculum not only would they be decreasing the amount of academic dishonesty or other academic or behavioral circumstances, but be providing their most important entities, their students with instruments that would increase chances of success during their college careers, and maintaining a positive livelihood.
In conclusion, I believe that Institutions of Higher Education are responsible for the eminent education of Ethical Reasoning, and Literacy for their students. The higher Education Research Institutes has researched and found that ethics training is a necessity for success. They state, “The challenge of higher education is to prepare students for a vision of the local and global society we aspire to become—one that is focused on advancing social progress and is equitable, interdependent, sustainable, innovative, and economically secure for the welfare of all.” This new vision of society calls for equipping students with the values, skills, and knowledge to become complex thinkers and ethical decision-makers in a society currently plagued with conflict and inequality.” (HERI, Diverse Learning Environments: Assessing and Creating Conditions for Student Success,
http://heri.ucla.edu/dle/) I concur, from personal experience I know that being supplied with Ethical Reasoning and Literacy Education, helped me to not only make better decision, and think critically, but also supplied me with the tools I needed for success during my college career, and that same Ethical literacy will last a lifetime.
Works Cited Page
Drinan, Patrick; McCabe, Donald L. “Toward a Culture of Academic integrity.” The Chronicle of Higher Education-online- (
http://chronicle.com/article/Toward-a-Culture-ofacademi/15639/). (1999):
http://chronicle.com Section: Opinion & Arts Page: B7. Web. 7 Dec. 2009
Higher Education Research Institute. “Diverse Learning Environments: Assessing and Creating Conditions for Student Success”:
http://heri.ucla.edu/dle/
