EDH 6407

Ethical and Legal Issues In Student Personnel

Summer 2005

Office Hours

LeVester Tubbs, Professor Tuesday 2-5 p.m.

Education Complex, Suite 222 Wednesday 12-2 p.m.

Telephone: (407) 823-1466

Fax: (407) 823-4880

Ethical and Legal Issues in Student Personnel Administration

The purpose of this course is to provide an in-depth examination of the moral

development of students enrolled in post-secondary educational institutions, of the

institutional factors that affect moral development, and of legal and ethical issues in

student personnel. This course critically examines the principles and strategies that

student personnel staff members can use to sensitize students to the moral aspects of

their decisions and behavior and to understand moral behavior in professional contexts as

well as laws and legal implications pertaining to the college student personnel field.

Text

Kapling, W. A., and Lee, B. A. (1997) A Legal Guide for Student Affairs Professionals.

San Francisco: Jossey Bass.

  1. Goals
  1. To increase student’s understanding of the theoretical foundations of moral

development, with specific application to college students.

  1. To increase the students’ awareness of the moral, ethical and legal issues that face

student personnel staff members, and of the ways moral judgement theory and ethical principles can help increase their understanding of these issues and decisions.

  1. To increase students’ understanding of the body of research that exists on the moral

development education on college students.

  1. To enable students to identify and create appropriate educational interventions

designed to promote moral development on college campuses.

  1. To provide students with the necessary skills to research and identify laws, statues,

and ordinances that impact post-secondary educational institutions.

IICompetencies to be achieved

  1. Ethical Issues and professional roles in higher education
  • The American college personnel association statement of ethical principles and standards
  • The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators standards of professional practice
  • The American College Personnel Association statement of ethical principles and standards
  1. Legal Foundations of Student Personnel
  • Laws influencing administrative decisions in student personnel
  • How public and private institutions differ under the law
  • Student conduct issues
  • Governance and Regulation

III.Means and Resources by which Competencies are Achieved

  1. By reading and studying related materials
  2. By classroom discussion
  3. Through classroom presentations by working professionals
  4. Through case study analysis
  5. Through written reports of observations and related questions for discussion or further investigation
  6. Through oral classroom presentations to inform others and to promote discussion

IV.How Achieved Competencies are Evaluated

  1. By an evaluation of each student’s response to assigned readings and discussion
  2. By quality and quantity of individual class participation
  3. By individual growth and contribution through projects and presentations
  4. Through an assessment of cogency and depth of written reports
  5. Through written examinations

Discussion Topics:

  • The American College Student Personnel Association Statement on Ethical Principles

And Standards

  • The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Standards of Professional Practice
  • Character Development in Higher Education
  • Moral development in Higher Education
  • The Four – component Model of Morality
  • Ethical Issues and Professional Role in Student Affairs
  • Factors influencing Moral Behaviors
  • Being an Ethical Professional: Obligations and Ethical Ideas
  • First Amendment on Campus
  • Freedom of Information: Records and Meetings
  • Safety and Security of Campus
  • Student Conduct
  • Risk Management
  • Health and Disability Concerns
  • Governance and Regulations

Grading

Students are required to complete course assignments in a timely manner unless there is a

recognized and accepted reason for deferral; to actively participate in class discussions from

a contribution and learning prospective; and to complete examinations as administered for

the class.

Since classroom presentation and discussion are an integral part of the class, attendance is

Essential

Grades will be based on the following criteria:

Course ActivityPercent of Grade

Class Attendance and Participation20%

Written Reports20%

Oral Presentation of Report20%

Content Exam25%

Final Exam (Case Analysis)15%

Group Assignment:

  1. Contractual Rights of Students
  2. Affirmative Action, Civil Rights or Discrimination
  3. Student Speech/Student Press
  4. Risk Management/Student Activities
  5. Sexual Harassment
  6. Americans with Disability Act

Each group is expected to prepare a class presentation that includes a legal reference guide on their topic. This should include; materials (articles, law cases, etc.) found through the search process; case studies from real or hypothetical situations. In addition to these items, the group may include such items as training materials, list of web sites, abstracts of books or other key sources.

References

“Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards,” Journal of College Student Development, No 31. 1990 American College Personnel Association.

Canon, H. J. 1993 Maintaining High Ethical Standards. In M. J. Barr (Ed.), The Handbook of Student Affairs Administration (pp. 327-339). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Fried, J. (1997). Ethics for today’s campus: New perspectives on education, student development and institutional management. New Directions for Student Services, No. 77. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Kitchener, K. S. (1985). Ethical principles and ethical decision in student affairs. In Canon, H.J., & Brown, R. D. (Eds.) (1985). Applied ethics in student services. New Directions for Student Services, No. 30, pp.17-29. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Canon, H. J., & Brown, R. D. (1985). Applied ethics in student services. New Directions for Student Services, No. 30. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Brown, R. D. & Krager, L. (1985). Ethical issues in graduate education: Faculty and student responsibilities. Journal of Higher Education, 56 405-418.

American College Personnel Association: Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards. (1993) Journal of College Student Development, 34, 89-97.

Black, D. R. (1997) Maintaining Perspectives: A Decade of Collegiate Legal Challenges. Madison, WI. Magna Publishing, Inc.

Educational Record, Summer/Fall 1997, vol. 78, Nos. 3,4 (all articles).

Supplemental Readings: Many additional readings are referenced in the Educational Records articles; I suggest starting here. The following articles (some of which are “oldies but goodies”) may be useful to you in your Independent Projects, or to help you construct your response to your Character Development position paper.

Bok, S. (1978). Conclusion. Lying: Moral choice in public and private life pp. 242-249). New York: Pantheon.

Brown, R. D., & Canon, H. J. (1978). Intentional moral development as an objective of higher education. Journal of College Student Personnel, 19, 426-429.

Hesburg, R. M. (1979). The moral purposes of higher education. The Hesburg Papers: Higher Values for Higher Education. Kansas City: Andrews & McMeel. [Originally appeared in the New York Times, copyright 1973, The New York Times Company].

Levine, A. (1991). Trends in college student values and higher education’s role in shaping values. Proceedings, Institute on College Student Values, 1991. Florida State University: Tallahassee, Florida.

Coffin, William Sloane (1992). Career versus calling. Proceedings. Institute on College Student Values, 1992, pp3-7. Tallahassee, Florida: Division of Student Affairs, Florida State University.

Kohlberg, L., & Mayer, R. (1972). Development as the aim of education. Harvard Educational Review, 42, 449-496.

Sandeen, A. (1985). The legacy of value education in college student personnel work. In Dalton, J. (ed.), Promoting values development in college students (pp.1-15). NASPA Monograph Series, 4, National Association of Student Personnel Services.

Rest, J. R. (1979). Development in judging moral issues. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Developmental Features of Moral Development

Fried, J. (1997). Ethics for today’s campus: New perspectives on education, student development, and institutional management. New Directions for Student Services, No. 77. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Kitchener, K. S. (1985). Ethical principles and ethical decision in student affairs. In Canon, H. J.. Brown, R. D. (Eds.) (1985). Applied ethics in student services. New Directions for Student Services, No. 30, pp. 17-29. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Welfel, E. R. (1990). Ethical practice in college student affairs. In D. G. Creamer and Associates, College student development: Theory and practice for the 1990’s. Alexandria, VA: American College Personnel Association Media Publication No 49