What are the goals and objectives of the Ethics in Teaching & Learning program?

The Ethics in Teaching & Learning (ETL) program, housed in the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center (TLPDC) at Texas Tech University, is designed to support faculty by providing dedicated time to study ethical challenges in their teaching environments and explore strategies to address them.

The ETL program continues the mission of Texas Tech University's first Quality Enhancement Plan “Do the Right Thing: A Campus Conversation on Ethics” (2005-2010) and the work of the former Ethics Center (2009-2020) as we sustain conversations about ethical behavior in the academy and at our institution. The ETL program upholds the 2005 Strategic Plan commitment “to the values of mutual respect; cooperation and communication; creativity and innovation; community service and leadership; pursuit of excellence; public accountability; and diversity.” Furthermore, ETL addresses the strategic plan “A Foundation for the Next Century: A Pathway to 2025” by equipping faculty to educate and empower a diverse student body whereby “student success will reflect the University's commitment to fostering an environment that promotes inclusive access while attracting committed and high-achieving students.”

Ethics in Teaching & Learning will engage a yearly cohort of faculty fellows in professional development activities held in person at the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center each month during the Fall and Spring semesters. Fellows will receive support from TLPDC staff, other members of their cohort, and other colleagues on campus who will share their expertise. In addition, fellows will receive a stipend upon completion of the program, which culminates in a symposium presentation at the end of the Spring semester.

What are people saying about the Ethics in Teaching & Learning program?

 

 

How do I apply for the Ethics in Teaching & Learning program?

ETL is open to all full-time teaching faculty at Texas Tech University, including tenured and tenure-track faculty, full-time lecturers, and full-time professors of practice.

Applications for the 2024-25 Ethics in Teaching & Learning cohort are due by 11:59 pm on Sunday, September 15, 2024. Late applications will not be considered by the selection committee. Cohort members will be announced by September 23.

Apply now!

If accepted into the program, you will be expected to participate in professional development activities each month during the 2024-25 academic year, which will be held in person at the TLPDC. Full details about the program, including meeting dates and times, are included in the application form.

Instructions for completing the application:

After signing on with your eraider username and password and providing the name and email address of your department chair/director/area coordinator, you will be asked to share some basic information and respond to five questions. As you respond to these questions, you might consider ethical challenges related to academic integrity, classroom climate and (in)civility, attendance and participation, academic freedom, societal conflicts that manifest in the classroom, ethical dilemmas that are specific to the teaching of your discipline, or other ethical challenges that come to mind. Please note that “ethical challenges” is conceptualized broadly for the purposes of this application. The questions are intended to provide the selection committee with information about the challenges you and your students are facing and your goals in applying for this program. These questions are merely the starting point for conversations that will continue throughout the program – and beyond – and you are not expected to address them exhaustively, nor are you required to present them in a systematic way. Your responses will remain confidential; however, there will be many opportunities for you to express and discuss them as part of the ETL program.

1. What are your responsibilities in your current position?

In 100-300 words, please provide a brief description of your responsibilities in your primary appointment at Texas Tech University, including research, service, and especially teaching.

 

2. What ethical challenges do you currently face in your teaching contexts?

In 100-300 words, please elaborate on 1 or 2 ethical challenges that you have observed or suspect that your students have faced within the past year. Please share some details and indicate how you would categorize these challenges.

 

3. What ethical challenges to you currently perceive that your students face?

In 100-300 words, please elaborate on 1 or 2 ethical challenges that you have observed or suspect that your students have faced within the past year. Please share some details and indicate how you would categorize these challenges.

 

4. How will completion of the Ethics in Teaching & Learning program help you to navigate ethical challenges you and your students face?

In 100-300 words, please share what you hope to gain from participation in the ETL program. What do you hope to learn? What do you hope to better understand? What outcomes do you envision? How does this program fit into your ongoing development as someone who teaches in higher education?

 

5. What expertise and experiences will you bring to the Ethics in Teaching & Learning program that will enhance the experience of other cohort members?

In 100-300 words, please share information about formal training (academic / professional) or practical experiences you have regarding ethics. While these are not required for participation in the ETL program, it would be helpful to understand your level of expertise when it comes to ethics in the context of teaching, learning, and related areas.

After digitally signing the application, the form will be routed to your department chair/director/area coordinator for signature.

Note: The selection committee will expect and consider a broad range and variety of experiences from the applicants. The selection committee will use this rubric to make final selections from the applicant pool.

Questions or concerns?

Please contact Dr. Alec Cattell at alec.cattell@ttu.edu.

Apply now!

Application Deadline: Sunday, September 15