Ethics and the college Student Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ethics and the college Student - Essay Example These resources are used to enhance and promote conversations and curricula on issues relating to ethics designed for college students, staff, and even the administration. Among the code of ethics include integrity which is to be present in any manner of relationship. Moreover, must treat others in respect, fairness and honesty. Competence is paramount any college for it to realize its educational objectives. Students in any college are to ensure equality and acceptance so as to prevent harassment, discrimination, and intimidation. Finally, it is honor and trust in all academic assignments thus avoiding plagiarism in any given assignment. Discussion A code of ethics must be there in colleges so as to curb cheating and related vices. Cheating is an epidemic in most of the colleges as it affects almost fifty percent of the total student population. The code of ethics is affected by the social characteristics and demographics of students like sex, age, levels of test anxiety, academic s tanding, and internal social control. Thee factors have been found to contribute to cheating in colleges which is unethical (Loveland & Rayna, 2000). This is because many students have rationalized their behavior in cheating and they do so without having to challenge the norm of honesty that is required. Most of the commonly cited technique they use is the denial of responsibility. In addition they use the neutralization technique of appealing to the higher loyalties. Here, they have been arguing that it is more vital to aide a friend than to avoid cheating which quite unethical. By the students recognizing and accepting cheating as a very undesirable behavior but nonetheless they see it as an excuse under certain circumstances thus the presence of situational ethics. To some students cheating is planned, expected and their opinion it is rewarded by good grades. This leaves the ethics and internalized control of the student as a barrier to cheating (Corll, 2007). However, the neutra lizing attitude gives the students the green light to side step issues of guilt and ethics and going ahead to place the blame for their behavior on another front. This concept of neutralization in relation to the ethics of college students permits them to state that cheating is wrong but to some extent in special circumstances it is acceptable, and even necessary. David Matza and Gresham Sykes (1957) are the first who developed the concept of neutralization so as to explain the concept of delinquent behavior. They explained the expression of delinquent behavior through the process of situationally defining deviant behavior in this case the college students through naturalization justify the violation of accepted behavior (Labeff et al, 2010). Plagiarism is considered as an act of dishonesty in academic spheres whereby a person takes the work of others and presents them as his or her own without proper attribution. Plagiarism can have numerous effects on both the student and the educ ational sector as a whole. Plagiarism leads to the student failing to develop sharp critical thinking skills which are paramount in any learning process. Also, it damages the relationship between the students and teachers by eroding their mutual trust and the students who legitimately earn their grades. Plagiarism can lead to loss of a degree or a job. This includes the college students, the college faculty members who may plagiarize the work of other scholars, and finally professors who face