Graduate Ethics Training at the University of Alberta

1
Graduate Ethics Training at the University of
Alberta

• Teresa Krukoff, PhD
• Associate Dean
• Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research
• University of Alberta

2
The Process an Overview

• Early 2003 FGSR Council discussions
• Fall, 2003 Resolution passed at FGSR Council
• Planning committee formed
• Summer, 2004 Curriculum developed
• Fall, 2004 Implementation

3
Council Resolutions

• 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.
• Training is mandatory for all graduate students
  first registered in September, 2004 or later.

4
Issues

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

5
Working Committee

• Faculty representation from across campus
  graduate and undergraduate ombudspersons
• 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

6
WebCT Course

• Topics
• Integrity and scholarship
• Conflict resolution
• Supervisor-graduate student relationships
• Conflict of interest
• Intellectual property

7
WebCT Course Development

• Subcommittee 2 ombudspersons Associate Dean
• Curriculum development
• Summer 2004
• Construction of course
• Experienced summer student hired
• Course tested by staff and students

8
Implementation

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

9
Implementation

• Vast majority of departments chose to use WebCT
  course
• Exceptions programs with specialized
  requirements (e.g. Nursing, Secondary Education)
• 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)

10
Implementation

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

11
WebCT Course

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

12
Implementation

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