ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING

ANDERSON AND DAVIES MODEL

Steve Nunez
Troy Boquette
Jon Mandrell
IDSL 825
Ferris State University

1. IDENTIFYING THE ETHICAL DILEMMA

(ID THE PROBLEM)
The teacher inappropriately changed a grade
Student exhibits odd behavior, intimidates
teacher
VP of Student Services has tolerated disruptive
student behavior
Disciplinary action against teacher would create a
political backlash

2. GATHER FACTS, SELF-MONITORING, AND

CONSULTING
(GATHER INFORMATION)

Interview campus security/counseling to determine how

disruptive student has been on campus
Interview the teacher to understand her perspective
Interview the VP of Academics to determine if teacher has
documented classroom management issues
Interview the VP of Student Services to determine if
documentation of poor student behavior exists & to
determine why issue was not handled sooner/more strongly
Interview the student to discuss disruptive behavior &
determine if teacher been responsive to needs
Interview other faculty that had confrontations with student
Talk to another college president to get perspective

3. ASKING IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

a. Our personal feelings
This incident went on for too long before being addressed appropriately

b. impact of decisions
Teacher: fired, disciplined, no consequences
Student: no consequences, formal academic discipline F grade, counseling session
(informal discipline), academic expulsion
Community: the student is a potential threat to others
c. Potential political ramifications
Any discipline to math teacher will lead to political turmoil with faculty senate and
faculty union.loss of faith in administration, possible vote of no confidence.
If grade is not changed, then students would believe they have free reign to address
grade issues.
Precedence being set
d.

Ethical guidelines
Refer to college ethical codes about expected behavior
Discuss with Chair of Board of Trustees
Discuss with another College President

4. CREATING ALTERNATIVE COURSES

OF ACTION
(CONSIDER DIFFERENT ACTIONS)

Grade change vs. no grade change

Teacher punished, student punished
Teacher not punished, student punished
Teacher punished, student not punished
VP of Student Services punished, VP of Student
Services not punished
VP of Academics punished, VP of Academics not
punished

5. EVALUATING THE ALTERNATIVES

The grade must be changed back to a C.
If student admitted intimidating the teacher or if the
evidence is overwhelming that he has been regularly
intimidating teachers, he is expelled.

VP of Student Services- If student has history of

erratic/intimidating behavior and it was not addressed, VP
of SS should be disciplined.

VP of Academics has evidence of teacher not running

classroom appropriately, then VP needs to be disciplined.

6. IMPLEMENTING THE COURSE OF ACTION BY

MORAL FOLLOW-THOROUGH
AND VIRTUE ETHICS
Ethical Lens (Justice)
Follows rules of law
Are decisions just?
More worried about community impacts than individual
impacts
Based on lens:
Grade is changed and the teacher is disciplined (but not
fired)
If student behavior is documented, then student is expelled.
VP of Student Services is disciplined, which hopefully
placates Faculty Senate & Faculty Union

6. IMPLEMENTING THE COURSE OF ACTION

BY MORAL FOLLOW-THOROUGH
AND VIRTUE ETHICS
Ethical Lens (Caring)
Focuses on how decision affects all groups and
constituents.
Emphasizes who will gain from decision, as well as
who will be disadvantaged
Long-term implications of the decisions
To what degree should one reciprocate support?
Based on lens:

Teacher not disciplined

VP of Student Services disciplined
VP should not tolerate such behavior as stated
Student is disciplined, restoring faculty integrity

6. IMPLEMENTING THE COURSE OF ACTION BY MORAL

FOLLOW-THOROUGH
AND VIRTUE ETHICS

Ethical Lens (Profession)

Are there professional standards for addressing this
dilemma?
What would the community want?
What is the student centered approach?
How should ethical codes be taken into account?
Based on Lens
Faculty disciplined-student counseled/grade changed
VPs assigned to investigate and set new standards
and processes
Professional development for faculty on dealing with
these types of student issues

THANK YOU!

Any Questions?