Higher education ethics Feed

The Immorality of the College Admissions Scandal

Put the Blame Where it Belongs, on the Parents Who’s to blame for the college admissions scandal? There’s enough blame to go around for lots of people but the parents are front and center. Their attempt to get their kids admitted to some of the most prestigious universities in the... Read more →


Should U.S. Schoolchildren Be Assigned Homework?

Results of Studies Highlight Deficiencies in Learning Experiences I can’t say I was surprised to read last week in a Wall Street Journal article, also reported on Today.com, that grade school teachers have been experimenting with a no homework policy for schoolchildren. In the article, a second grade teacher is... Read more →


Do Proposed Title IX Rules Protect the Accused or the Accuser?

Analyzing the Proposed Rules for Sexual Harassment/Assault Allegations on College Campuses Education Secretary Betsy DeVos made news last week when she released a rewrite of rules under Title IX governing campus sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations, narrowing the cases schools must investigate and giving the accused more rights. The... Read more →


It's Time to Get Serious About Civility

Building a More Civil Society Through Civil Discourse The Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary defines civility as polite, reasonable, and respectful behavior. Linda Fisher Thornton, a leading voice in ethical leadership, suggests that “these behaviors are the ones we use when we treat others with care,” thereby linking civility with ethical behavior... Read more →


What to Make of the Cal Poly Blackface Incident

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion on College Campuses I taught at Cal Poly for ten years and found it to be a welcoming place that values its students as individuals and promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. Admittedly, this is from a faculty member’s point of view. The incident that occurred two... Read more →


Refuting Caplan’s Thesis that College Education is a Waste of Time and Money

Why You Should Get a College Education George Mason University economist Bryan Caplan has created a firestorm by claiming a college education is a waste of time and money, and he suggests that ‘traditionalist’ education that prepares students for prestigious careers (i.e., author, historian, political scientist, physicist and mathematician) is... Read more →


'Pay to Play' Donations for College Sporting Events Are Unethical

Tax Reform Act Tackles a Thorny Ethical Issue In case you are not aware, the recently passed tax reform bill is likely to have a huge effect on funding college sports including the elimination of a tax break that benefits major athletic programs. Currently, donations made to certain booster clubs... Read more →


Charting a Course for Ethics in Society

It's Time for a National Dialogue About Ethics Do we, as a society, care about ethics anymore? My answer is a qualified ‘no.’ Ethics has been relegated to the back of the bus and is considered today only after a wrongdoing occurs, not before as is required to have an... Read more →


Racially Charged Language Inhibits Inclusive Cultures

We Need to Pay Attention to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Leaving home for the first time and going off to college is an exciting and stressful time for tens of thousands of students across the U.S. each year. Leaving the familiarity of family, friends and community behind and entering an... Read more →