Ethicalissues

Ethics in the UWC

Aggies do not lie, cheat, or steal, nor do they tolerate those who

do.

We make better writers, not better writing.

Student-centered

• Records go directly to the student.

• Conferences are confidential.

Consultants do not have enough information to intelligently assess comments or grades or assignments.

• Time sheets must accurately reflect your hours.

• Only you can sign your time sheet.

• Arrive at work on time.

• Notify others if you’ll be late or absent so clients don’t have to wait.

Be guided by:

• The Aggie Honor Code

• Our motto to make better writers

• Our employee policies

Dimitria brings a paper to the writing center advocating racism. The paper is laced with racial epithets and oozes intolerance. Given Dimitria’s right to ownership of her text, what do you say?

Donna’s paper is written in informal English, makes poorly supported (and generally unaccepted) arguments, and lacks discernable organization and coherence. A cheerful and optimistic Donna shrugs off your suggestions. At the end of the consultation she asks with a smile, “So, do you think this is a good paper?”

You that suspect Barbara, a client you have worked with three times, has a learning disability. Do you notify other consultants? Suggest she be tested? Ask her to admit to being dyslexic?

Alicia’s paper alludes to a violent incident during which someone was injured. The paper makes it clear that Alicia has not notified the authorities and that felony charges might be brought against her if the information were to be made known. Is it your business?

A professor drops by one evening when you are on desk duty, to let us know she is requiring her students to come to theUWC. She gives you a stack of forms and explains thatconsultants should fill in students’ names, sign them, and give them to students to return to her. And while she is there, she gives you a copy of her assignment,so consultants will know what she wants.

• Refuses to read her paper aloud?

• Keeps asking you to tell her what the professor wants?

• Says he is contemplating doing “something drastic” because he is such a failure?

• Brings in a paper with points deducted for “errors” that were really not errors at all?

What if a student . . .