Graduate Ethics Training at the University of Alberta Teresa Krukoff, PhD Associate Dean Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research University of Alberta

The Process – an Overview Early 2003: FGSR Council discussions Early 2003: FGSR Council discussions Fall, 2003: Resolution passed at FGSR Council Fall, 2003: Resolution passed at FGSR Council Planning committee formed Planning committee formed Summer, 2004: Curriculum developed Summer, 2004: Curriculum developed Fall, 2004: Implementation Fall, 2004: Implementation

Council Resolutions Graduate degree requirements include a mandatory component that provides training in the areas of academic integrity and ethics. Graduate degree requirements include a mandatory component that provides training in the areas of academic integrity and ethics. Each student is normally expected to complete the equivalent of at least 8 hours of structured academic activity for this training component. Each student is normally expected to complete the equivalent of at least 8 hours of structured academic activity for this training component. Training is mandatory for all graduate students first registered in September, 2004 or later. Training is mandatory for all graduate students first registered in September, 2004 or later.

Issues Duplication of effort Duplication of effort –Basic topics Departmental resources for course development Departmental resources for course development FGSR would develop vehicle to provide training in basic topics FGSR would develop vehicle to provide training in basic topics

Working Committee Faculty representation from across campus + graduate and undergraduate ombudspersons Faculty representation from across campus + graduate and undergraduate ombudspersons Role Role –In what basic topics should all students be trained? –How should the training be delivered? WebCT computer course to accommodate large numbers of students WebCT computer course to accommodate large numbers of students

WebCT Course Topics Topics –Integrity and scholarship –Conflict resolution –Supervisor-graduate student relationships –Conflict of interest –Intellectual property

WebCT Course Development Subcommittee: 2 ombudspersons + Associate Dean Subcommittee: 2 ombudspersons + Associate Dean Curriculum development Curriculum development –Summer 2004 Construction of course Construction of course –Experienced summer student hired Course tested by staff and students Course tested by staff and students

Implementation Summer, 2004: call for program proposals to Associate Dean (FGSR) by Fall, 2004 Summer, 2004: call for program proposals to Associate Dean (FGSR) by Fall, 2004 WebCT course = optional resource WebCT course = optional resource –Credit of 5 hours –Programs invited to test the course Other resources (existing or new) Other resources (existing or new)

Implementation Vast majority of departments chose to use WebCT course Vast majority of departments chose to use WebCT course –Exceptions: programs with specialized requirements (e.g. Nursing, Secondary Education) Other existing resources being used Other existing resources being used –Animal ethics courses –Faculty of Medicine/Dentistry: Ethics and Integrity day-long workshop –Human ethics workshops –Tri-Council Ethics on-line course (human)

Implementation Resources developed by departments Resources developed by departments –Discussion groups based on WebCT course –New courses –Revision of existing courses –Seminars

WebCT Course Password-protected Password-protected Introduction of topics Introduction of topics Case studies and quizzes for each topic Case studies and quizzes for each topic Students must attain 100% correct answers Students must attain 100% correct answers Students may return as many Students may return as many times as necessary

Implementation Initiation: Fall, 2004 Initiation: Fall, 2004 Completion of training monitored by departments Completion of training monitored by departments FGSR notified of completion of students FGSR notified of completion of students –Completion form developed by FGSR Comment of completion placed on transcript Comment of completion placed on transcript