What is the Role of Higher Education?

Today, I begin the third of my blogs, Higher Ed Ethics Watch. Some of you have read my ethics sage blog that addresses a variety of ethical issues facing society. Others are readers of workplace ethics advice that deals with business ethics in the broadest sense. My Higher Ed blog is devoted to ethics issues in academe. I rely on my 30+ years as a teacher and administrator to discuss ethics issues that affect faculty, students, and the community at large. There are many hot-button issues facing the academy today including: Can (or should) colleges and universities teach ethics.

I will critically analyze hot button issues such as: What is academic freedom? Should students shout down or prevent speakers from speaking on-campus? Should they be allowed (encouraged) to protest against those who don't agree with prevailing points of view? What about designating safe spaces to protect against violent reaction to free speech by one group or another.

Many of these issues address the overriding question of: What is the Role of Higher Education in Today's Society? I will examine questions surrounding the teaching of ethics and ethical behavior of faculty, students and administrators. I hope you will join in the discussion by posting comments on my blogs.

For those of you who are not familiar with my work, here is a brief synopsis.

Known as “The Ethics Sage” to many with a reputation as an expert in ethics, Dr. Steven Mintz is a Professor Emeritus from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo. He received the Accounting Exemplar Award from the Public Interest Section of the American Accounting Association in 2015. His blog, Ethics Sage, was recognized as number 49 out of 100 top philosophy blogs and one of the top 30 blogs on Corporate Social Responsibility. Steve shares insights into business ethics through his Workplace Ethics Advice blog and special take on ethics in colleges and universities in a new blog, Higher Ed Ethics Watch, that begins next month.

Steve’s credentials include:

• Dozens of research papers published on ethics.
• Author of a textbook use in many colleges and universities, Ethical Obligations and Decision Making in Accounting: Text and Cases.
• Developer of courses for continuing education in ethics and business and accounting ethics.
• Speaker on ethics and professional responsibility.
• Litigation consultant and expert witness on ethics matters.

To communicate with me directly send an email to: [email protected]. Please visit my website. Like my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter.