1. Ethics, Professionalism and Decision Making

2. Ethics?
“The rules or standards governing the conduct of the members of a profession” and/or “Any set of moral principles or values” (The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition).

3. Values
Often, ethics and values can be mistaken as the same thing. A value is defined as, “A principle, standard, or quality considered worthwhile or desirable” (The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition)

4. Ethics vs. Values VALUES ETHICS Define the individual
Translate values into action
Constant
Changing
Internally derived
Externally determined
Virtue - oriented
Justice – oriented
General
Specific
Stated morally
Shared behaviorally
Judged as good or bad
Judged as present or absent
Set priorities
Set boundaries

5. Test Your Ethics: Shape Up or Ship Out!
What’s Worse?
_____
You misrepresent a child’s age to get a discount
You pay for one newspaper and take two
You take silverware or salt & pepper shakers from a restaurant
You cut in line
You speed on campus
You park in 20-minute parking all day because you can’t find a space
You sneak Twizzlers & soda into a movie theater
_____
You “fudge” a deadline for a student and give them extra time to turn in required forms
You claim reimbursement money for a program that never occurred
You take staff office supplies (paper, pens, envelopes) for personal use
You lend a resident your ID because they can’t afford to buy a new one
You ask a resident to call you back when you know you won’t be available
You make an error on a student’s paperwork and don’t acknowledge your mistake, and later the student is held responsible
You keep leftover food from a program and eat it
You forge your residents’ signatures on bed check forms so you can turn them in on time
You have a glass of wine with dinner one hour before you begin RA duty
You make copies of class notes at the Service Desk using the Hall account

6. Residence Life Departmental Expectations
Staff ethics guidelines- RA manual pg. 17

8. Professionalism & Customer Service
What does it mean?

9. Always maintain good customer service, professionalism and positive attitude in everything you do. Remember you represent the department.

10. How Good Are Your Decision-Making Skills?
Take the quiz

11. 6 essential steps in the decision making process
1) Establishing a positive decision-making environment. 2) Generating potential solutions. 3) Evaluating the solutions (alternatives): risk, consequences, feasibility. 4) Deciding. 5) Checking the decision. 6) Communicating and implementing.

12. Scenarios
Time for you to face the music

13. Any Questions??