PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
AND
IMPLICATIONS IN THE
CLASSROOM
Mining Engineering Seminar Series
January 13, 2010
WHY IMPORTANT
Cases of Unethical Behavior is
on the Rise
Unethical Behavior CAN COST
Lives, Property & Severe
Capital Losses
Industry & Society have taken a
Serious View of Unethical
Behavior
REPORTED UNETHICAL CASES
 A STUDENT
Signs PRESENT for an ABSENT Friend
Presents an Answer Sheet of Another
Copies the Work of Another
Cheats in an Examination Room
Copies Formulae onto Calculators for Use
Downloads and use Reports on the Web
Does not Complete Assignments on Time
Does not Attend Lectures/Expect to Pass
Fly By Students in Project Teams
REPORTED UNETHICAL CASES
 A STUDENT
Exchanges Information during Exams
Knowingly Presents Falsified Documents
Embellishes Resume
Overstates Age to Gain Advantage
Lies to Protect a Friend
Intentionally Performs Below Capacity
Cuts Corners in Solving Difficult Problems
Acts to Destroy another Student’s Work
Is Carelessness with his/her Education
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
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ENGINEERS’ CALL OF DUTY
ETHICAL STANDARDS
ETHICAL DIMENSIONS
NSPE CODE OF ETHICS
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
A WAY OF LIFE
RESISTING PRESSURES
CONCLUSIONS
ENGINEERS’ CALL OF DUTY
Discharge Your Duty with
Distinguished Professionalism
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Protect Life and Property
Protect Shareholders’ Investments
Protect the Environment
Advance the Cause of the Profession
Advance Career in Integrity & Honor
ETHICAL STANDARDS
Moral Standards or
Principles
Honorable Standards or
Principles
Rules for Proper
Professional Conduct
PRECURSORS OF UNETHICAL
BEHAVIOR
 Lack of Knowledge
 Professional Negligence
 Improper Design & Execution
 Outright Dishonesty
 Abuse of Human Faculties
PRECURSORS OF UNETHICAL
BEHAVIOR
 Time Mismanagement
 Failure To Document
 Laziness/Complacency
 Lack of Due Diligence
 Lack of Oversight
IMPLICATIONS
 Lives, Property & Opportunities
are at Stake
 Legal Ramifications
 Bankruptcy & Investment Losses
 Planning & Execution Difficulties
 Process Inefficiency
 Inability to Grow & Compete
Electric train
consisting of four
coaches with plenty
of passengers inside
was slowing down
due to electric
blackout.
A diesel locomotive
carrying 16 freight cars
moving at the same
direction appeared from
the bend in high speed.
The driver was rather too
late to realize that there
was another train in front
of him, so even after he hit
the brake the collision still
happened. Causing three
people died and several
injured.
CORE
CHARACTER
1
PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE
3
ETHICAL DIMENSIONS
2
PROFESSIONAL
KNOWLEDGE
CORE CHARACTER
 Core Beliefs and Values
 Strength of Core Boundaries
 Uncompromising Character
 No Flirtation with Disaster
 Awareness of Consequences
PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE
 Education towards Certification
 Informal Knowledge Acquisition
 On-the-Job Training/Apprenticeship
 Self-Study Challenge
 Continuous Learning
 Understand Area of Expertise
 Judgment on Competency
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
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Adhere to the Call of Duty
Set & Meet Standards
Provide Proper Oversight
Undertake Due Diligence
Don’t Cut Corners for Economics
Approval with Thorough Review
Rigor in Critiquing Your Work
Favoritism/Partiality Kills
NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers
 Preamble: As members of the
engineering profession, engineers are
expected to exhibit the highest standards of
honesty and integrity. Engineering has a
direct and vital impact on the quality of life
for all people. Accordingly, the services
provided by engineers require honesty,
impartiality, fairness, and equity and must be
dedicated to the protection of public health,
safety, and welfare. Engineers must perform
under a standard of professional behavior
that requires adherence to the highest
principles of ethical conduct.
NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers
 Six Fundamental Canons
 Public safety, health and welfare
 Services in areas of competence
 Objective and truthful public statements
 Faithful agents/trustees for employers
 Avoid deceptive acts
 Act honorably, responsibly, ethically,
and lawfully to enhance the honor,
reputation, and usefulness of the
profession
VISION 2020
Missouri S&T will be
recognized as a the global
university of choice in
Mining Engineering
Education, Research and
Graduate Employees
EXCELLENCE
ETHICS
EXPERIENCE
CORE
VALUES
EXPOSURE
LEADERSHIP
PASSION
TRADITION
COMMITMENT
Create a Superb
Working Environment
that will Provide
Total Quality
Education
REQUIREMENTS OF STUDENTS
 Execute Curriculum with Distinction
 Carry out Requirements Ethically
 Receive Diploma with Pride
 Enter Workforce with Preparedness
 Execute Professional Obligations
Ethically
Honor to Yourself, Your Profession, Your Alma
Mater and all who care about You
UNETHICAL CLASSROOM BEHAVIORS
 Academic Dishonesty
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Cheating
Plagiarism
Misrepresentation
Sabotage
 Negligence
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Failure to attend classes
Failure to complete assignments
Failure to contribute to a Team Project
Laziness and complacency
Failure to apply rigor to assignments
UNETHICAL CLASSROOM BEHAVIORS
 Abuse of the Human Faculties
 Use of drugs/narcotics
 Acts that impair judgments/decisions
 Moral Misjudgments
 Deception/lies
 Forging signatures
 Copying/misrepresentation
 Behavior Flaws
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Lack of respect for individuals
Profanity to disparage others
Gossip to cause hurts
Undercutting with impunity
CLASSROOM
ETHICS
MORAL COMPASS
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A WAY OF LIFE
MORAL COMPASS
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WORKPLACE
ETHICS
LACK OF
DISCIPLINE
CUTTING
CORNERS
PEER
PRESSURES
INABILITY TO
SIZE PROBLEM
PRESSURES
TO AVOID
INNER
URGES
IMPROPER
PLANNING
TIME
MISMANAGEMENT
INATTENTION
TO DUTY
CONCLUSIONS
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Requirement for Ethics
Impact on Bottom Line
Direct Value to Profession
Direct Value to Society
Direct Value to Organization
Direct Value to Individual
Classroom Ethics impact
Professional Ethics