The committee tasked with developing a quality enhancement plan for
the university is set to deliver their report to the university's
accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Colleges. The report is the final step in the
reaccreditation process prior to a campus visit by the accrediting body. Madison
Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action is a five year plan that
focuses on teaching ethical decision making skills that students will be
able to apply across many personal, professional and civic situations
from people close at hand (friends, neighbors, co-workers) to people at a
distance (other Americans, global communities). The ability to
evaluate ethically the implications of different courses of action for
ourselves, others and the community is at the core of JMU's mission
statement, "preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens."
During the last year-and-a-half a team of faculty and staff from
across the institution assembled a plan that aims to teach every single
student at Madison ethical reasoning skills and how to put them into
action. From Freshman Orientation and programming in the residence halls
to advanced upper level courses in the majors, JMU students will be
steeped in learning how to apply ethical reasoning in their personal,
professional and civic lives.
Bob Kolodinsky director of the Gilliam Center for Free Enterprise and
Ethical Leadership at JMU and associate professor of Management
believes you do not have to look very far to understand why this plan is
so important. "If you look at the news on a daily basis there are
scandals in business, politics - in all aspects of life. I think every
university needs this and it is a way for JMU to stand out. We can
develop a reputation for it and it can become part of our brand."
Meg Mulrooney associate dean, University Studies and associate
professor of History sees the societal challenge Kolodinsky describes as
one that Madison is uniquely suited to face. She says, "There's a very
good chance we can have a powerful impact here. We're really well
positioned to make this work because among the many traditions on this
campus, one of the things we have done since the beginning is promote
civic engagement. Ethical reasoning skills are absolutely essential to
citizenship." The Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning In
Action already is live with faculty and staff engaged in developing ways
to integrate teaching and assessing ethical reasoning skills across
campus. The plan is for the program to be in full swing by the Fall
2013.
