Ethics And The College Student Essay Samples

Abstract

The essay titled “Ethics and the College Student” includes such parts as the expanded introduction, the main body and the conclusion. The introduction tells about ethics as one of the branches of philosophy, which studies the system of codes of conduct – the inalienable part of human life. In general, ethics can be represented as the science and method with the help of which people classify their own material and spiritual values and then have them as the object. The main body presents the information about the so-called student code of ethics. Such code consists of regulations, the rational discharge of which provides well-coordinated work between instructors and students giving the latter the necessary knowledge in the chosen sphere. The constituents of the student code of ethics are the following: representation, academic honesty of students, the respectful attitude towards open exchange of ideas and the respect and observance of local regulations. The conclusion introduces the fact that in order to ‘build’ the strong collective between students and instructors, both parties need to respect each other and demonstrate proper behavior to each other. The ethical rules and regulations in student life apply not only to students themselves, but also to lecturers and professors.
Key words: ethics, student code of ethics, student.
Ethics is one of the branches of philosophy, which studies the system of codes of conduct – the inalienable part of human life. As a science, ethics answers a question, “What am I doing in life?” and, at the same time, it investigates right and wrong person’s attempts concerning these or those activities. In general, ethics can be represented as the science and method with the help of which people classify their own material and spiritual values and then have them as the object (“Ethics”). The majority of people doesn’t pay a lot of attention to the presence of ethics in their everyday life, though ethics is an integral component here; in other words, it appears to be the necessary condition in life of a society and its members – ordinary people.
Ethics also defines the means for a person to decide and choose the specific line of conduct and actions. Without such choice, all actions of a person can be thought out to be devoid of any consistency and, as a result, pointless. It is quite clear, that without the peculiar choice of own actions, a person has a high probability of a lack of ways in order to reach goals, because, in such case, it is difficult to look into a vast quantity of goals. Not always the availability of ethical principles and standards means the successful possibility to reach our aims. The smallest failing in a person’s ethics can cause the result which will diminish a chance to achieve personal goals and be successful while endeavoring to do something particular (“Statement of Ethical Principles & Standards”).
A correct basis of ethics for every single person depends on the standard of personal values which directly determine the following actions and aims. Just this standard is the principal one which forms the model of life. Ethics of a person emerges to be the result of the combination of characteristic features of human nature and the recognition of a person’s needs. The whole scheme of ethics doesn’t include only situations of incidental character, but also daily choices which are made constantly. The above-mentioned scheme should also contain place for a person’s relationships to other people and acknowledge the importance of such relationships both for the physical persistence and well-being of a person (“Ethics”).
Life is the chain of human actions which, in its turn, cause consequences with a different level of significance. Life is action which needs values as the indispensable elements. In order to be satisfied with own life, a person has to learn which values are needed to achieve living goals (“Statement of Ethical & Standards”).
Ethics of a college student is, today, of interest not only for students themselves, but also for those who are responsible for the organization of student life: instructors, lecturers and scientific supervisors. As all other people, students have to observe the ethical principles and standards, the so-called student code of ethics. Such code consists of regulations, the rational discharge of which provides well-coordinated work between instructors and students giving the latter the necessary knowledge in the chosen sphere.
The first important constituent of a student code of ethics is the representation. A student should present himself/herself truthfully in every single situation; the same has to do with written and oral statements. Such truthful representation means that a student provides only reliable information which is required in all official applications, financial aid papers or any other documents connected with the administrative side of student life. The necessary factor of student ethics here is also the courteous behavior towards all college or university staff, other students and visitors. It is not rare occurrence when the behavior of one person, in this case of a student, gives an opportunity to form an opinion about the whole group or institution. Not always this opinion is correct, very often because of the improper student’s behavior. Taking into account this deduction, it is worth to mention about the facts that all college students should not misrepresent himself/herself (“Student Code of Ethics”).
The second constituent is the academic honesty of students who have to support and stick to the high standards and principles of academic uprightness. It can be illustrated in the example when students may hand in works written not by themselves; it is the direct violation of academic integrity. In the case when a student doesn’t know or is uncertain about the standards demanded, he/she always has the possibility to consult with an instructor or supervisor; though the complete ignorance is not the excuse for academic mala fides. The kinds of academic mala fides are the following: cheating, lying, stealing and the usage of unauthorized data on college assignments or/and examinations (“Student Code of Ethics”).
Cheating means dishonest actions called to obtain advantages in an unfair way. In particular, cheating includes such parts as an offer and acquisition of unauthorized help concerning every single examination or assignment. At first, students need to consult with their instructors and lecturers in order to learn which sources of information are credible and which ones are not. The utilization of mendacious information will result in suitable punishment fixed by an instructor or lecturer. Cheating also implies the repeated usage of the same information from previous works in the following ones, unless a student obtains a permit from a lecturer to do it. Plagiarism, which is also the part of cheating, appears when a student ‘borrows’ ideas and statements of other people and proclaim it as his/her own ones. All students are demanded to cite the sources according to the academic requirements (“Student Code of Ethics”).
Lying, in accordance with student code of ethics, is an admissible in all activities, should it be academic or non-academic. Students must understand that while lying they provide false information not only for others; sooner or later it will cause negative consequences for themselves. Stealing is one more violation of code of ethics. This act includes not only the theft of personal property, but also the academic works.
The next regulation in the student code of ethics is the respectful attitude towards open exchange of ideas. All students have to respect the liberty of speech of other students and professors. Also, students have the right to voice their opinions freely though, without using language with malevolent intent. The respectful attitude to the statements of others may also mean the fact that students should not interrupt the speech of lecturers and professors during classes, ridicule the points of view of instructors and hamper the work of educational process (“Student Code of Ethics”).
The fourth significant part of the student code is the respect and observance of local regulations. Students need to follow rules accepted by a college administration. Such rules may deal with the college property, the usage of illegal substances and the sexual harassment. In the case of damage of college property, students can be required to compensate damages financially or through the educational work. While noticing the violation connected with collage property, students also should inform about it. Concerning sexual harassment and illegal substances, both of the above-mentioned are forbidden; though, when the prohibition is violated, it can cause the disciplinary action in compliance with the college policy.
Though, instructors and lecturers hope that all occurrences with unethical behavior of students will vanish in future, it is worth for instructors to form the atmosphere of encouragement for students on order to behave properly taking into account ethical aspects (Prohaska, 2013).

References

Statement of Ethical Principles & Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.myacpa.org/sites/default/files/Ethical_Principles_Standards_large.pdf
Prohaska, V. (2013). Encouraging students’ ethical behavior. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/ptn/2013/05/ethical-behavior.aspx
Ethics. Importance of Philosophy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.importanceofphilosophy.com/Ethics_Main.html