Center for Ethical Development Forums
Internet Privacy? Ethical Implications
of Social Networking, May 5, 2009
Who Owns My Life, March 4, 2008 Video
Center for Ethical Development: Past, Present and Future
The Beginning
Recognizing the burgeoning need for values-based decision-making skills, and an increased awareness of ethical choice making, the idea for an ethics resource center located at Tacoma Community College (TCC) was initiated in conversation with faculty and community members by President Transue in 1999. A community needs assessment was conducted during 2000 to identify the external level of support for such a resource. The results of this concept test were very positive.
The development phase of the project began in the spring of 2002 with the first meeting of a select Planning Committee which included TCC faculty, staff, management, and invited members of the community in business and government.
In 2003, the vision, mission and goals of the CED were created reflecting assessed needs and specific goals for an ethics resource of value to both the campus and region. The name chosen for this program was the TCC Center for Ethical Development (CED).
An Acting Director, faculty member Dr. Christopher Gilbert, was appointed at the beginning of the concept development phase in the fall of 2003. An Operating Plan for the CED was finalized in September 2005. The Operating Plan reflected the following initiatives on:
- Community seminars, training and education programs customized to meet ethics and social responsibility needs of private and public practice, business, city and state agencies, community organizations, and NGO’s.
- Open public forums, informal discussions and faculty/consultant led ethics seminars, conferences, workshops and guest lectures incorporating professionals from diverse fields of expertise.
- Interdisciplinary courses and trainings offered on ethical issues in the practice of a wide-range of professions.
- Resources and other materials, including case studies, which provide opportunities to grapple with complex ethical dilemmas and gain a new appreciation for the importance of ethical conduct.
Participants in the activities of the CED will enhance their ability to identify and explore ethical issues in their work and personal lives and to assess their own actions and responsibilities.
Current Situation
In the Spring of 2006, planning began to form an Advisory Council for the Center for Ethical Development consisting of community leaders and TCC faculty and Administration to implement the Operating Plan. A part-time consulting director from outside the TCC college community was hired. The Advisory Council, consisting of 14 community leaders and 6 TCC faculty/administrators, was created and is now meeting monthly.
Advisory Council
In early 2007, following in depth discussions, the Advisory Council revised the Mission and Vision Statements, created Core Values and an Advisory Council Charter for the CED.
In June 2007, through thoughtful discussion, the Advisory Council further defined its role as primarily an advisory group. The Advisory Council members are looking for opportunities to contribute knowledge on ethics gained through their respective business, professional and personal experiences in order to enhance the teaching and delivery of ethics messages for the College.
Focus for the Near Future
The Advisory Council felt that for the next 18 months, it would focus on campus activities that benefit the college community. Within this context, the Advisory Council determined that its focus for the near future will be on:
- Creating a series of on-campus “Brown Bag” seminars focused on ethical topics of student interest
- Creating a highly visible Lecture Series in Ethics
- Advising on an ethics core component for the HD101
- Helping form a Speakers Bureau of community leaders who would be willing to share ethical perspectives in the classroom.
- Encouraging faculty and staff to present concepts for developing ethics initiatives on campus for Advisory Council interaction, community perspective and sharing ideas/advice.
Moving Forward
As the Advisory Council moves forward, it will be:
- Researching other “Centers for Ethical Development” and programs at other colleges that incorporate ethics into college life to help better refine the direction of the CED at TCC.
- Seeking ways to bring the college community and the community at-large together for mutual benefit including the Speakers Bureau and taking ethics discussions to the community.
Faculty and administration can have a major role in the success of the CED. We would ask that you become actively involved by:
- Embedding ethics in your course work (discussions on plagiarism, environmental ethics, etc.--not the focus of the course, but a recognition that there is an ethical element in all their course work)
- Encouraging students to attend the brown bag lunch series
- Putting forth ideas through your faculty/administration representatives or the CED consulting director, Roy Kimbel, on how the faculty would like to see this initiative evolve
This is a work in progress that will continue to unfold for the betterment of the Tacoma Community College family and the community at large.
For additional information please contact:
Roy Kimbel
rekimbel@net-venture.com
253.732.1604
