Rubric for Ethics and Social Responsibility Competencies
(students will become: Ethically Responsible and Socially Engaged Citizens)
*Adapted in part from AAC&U’s VALUE
Rubrics
Students will demonstrate the ability to:
Competency 1 –
Evaluate ethical
problems and
positions. (C1)
Competency 2 –
Address the contexts of
ethical perspectives.
(C2)
Competency 3 –
Articulate the
importance of social
responsibility. (C3)
Ethically Responsible
Ethical Self-Awareness
(C1) (C2)
Understanding
Different Ethical
Perspectives/Concepts/
Contexts (C2)
Ethical Issue
Recognition and
Application (C1)
identify, comprehend,
and resolve ethical
problems and their
ramifications in a
thorough and responsible
manner; and evaluate
ethical positions.
recognize and evaluate
the historical and/or
cultural contexts that
shape ethical
perspectives.
articulate views on the
nature of social
responsibility and its
importance.
High Achievement
Student discusses in
detail/analyzes both core
beliefs and the origins of
those core beliefs;
discussion suggests deep
understanding and
displays clarity of
communication.
Student identifies
multiplicity of historical
and/or cultural contexts
and is able to articulate a
complex evaluation of
how those contexts shape
overarching ethical
perspectives.
Student can identify
ethical issues when
presented in a complex,
multilayered context and
independently apply
varied ethical
perspectives or concepts
to articulate crossrelations among the
issues, eventually leading
to some satisfactory
conclusion about the
possibilities of resolution.
Subscore:
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Score (1 – 4)
Evaluators are encouraged to assign a
zero to any work sample or collection of
work that does not meet baseline-level
performance.
Comments
Evaluation of Different
Ethical
Perspectives/Concepts
(C1)
Socially Engaged*
Social Identity and
Commitment (C3)
Social Action and
Reflection (C3)
Social Contexts and
Structures (C3)
Student evaluates ethical
positions and can
articulate objections to,
assumptions and
implications of, and/or
defend positions clearly
and persuasively.
*While social engagement outside of the classroom is certainly encouraged, mastery
may be demonstrated via skillful articulation of benefits to and different types of social
engagement.
Provides evidence of
understanding of social
engagement and
articulates what she/he
has learned about her or
himself as it relates to a
reinforced and clarified
sense of civic identity
and continued
commitment to public
action.
Demonstrates
understanding of the
importance of experience
and initiative in civic
activities, accompanied
by reflective insight or
analysis concerning the
aims and
accomplishments of such
actions.
Demonstrates ability
and/or commitment to
collaboratively work
across and within
community contexts and
structures to achieve a
civic aim.