Ethics for Students

ETHICS STUDENTS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
We believe strongly in applying what we learn and part of this is volunteering and engaging outside of the classroom. We encourage everyone to get involved in community organizations that make a difference. To that end, several instructors give alternative assignments or extra credit involving Service Learning. Service learning is not only volunteering, but also reflecting academically on the experience. What insights did the experience provide?

SERVICE LEARNING STEP-BY-STEP

1. Find an organization you would like to volunteer with from the  Preferred Organizations document. Other organizations may be considered. The instructor has the final decision. See the FAQ page for the requirements of organizations.
2. Sign the  Release of Liability and  Expectations Contracts. These MUST be completed before you begin your volunteer hours. The date for submitting these will be early in the semester.
3. Volunteer for the required hours. Typically, a professor will require 3 to 12 hours, giving more credit for more hours. The remaining documents will have to be turned in by the deadline assigned by the instructor, usually late in the semester, but before finals week. Check your syllabus.
4. Use the  Volunteer Verification form to keep a log of the dates and times you volunteered along with the proper signatures and turn it in to your ethics instructor.
5. Write a one-page essay reflecting upon your volunteer service. The  Reflection Assignment document will help as a guide. You should include what you learned about yourself, others and the organization you worked with. You should also include how your perceptions have changed through this experience.
6. Finally complete the  Service Learning Survey. After you complete the survey, you will receive a confirmation page print this or copy and paste into a drop box following your Instructor's guidelines. 

Learn more by reading our Service Learning FAQs. To have your organization listed or to learn more about the Applied Ethics Institute call 727-341-4335.

WHAT IS SERVICE LEARNING?

Service learning is a method for students to learn through active service in their communities. Students apply the leadership and critical thinking skills that they have honed as students to solve a problem or need that they see in their area, using discipline-specific skills that they have learned while studying in their major.

HOW IS SERVICE LEARNING DIFFERENT FROM COMMUNITY SERVICE?
Community service generally centers on volunteerism; that is, setting aside time or resources to assist a pre-existing group. The goal of community service programs in schools is to help students to reach a higher level of citizenship and teach them the importance of community involvement. While service learning also incorporates those goals, its primary aim is to teach the student skills relevant to his or her chosen field of study while illustrating the role those skills can play in strengthening their communities. Service learning does this by actively engaging student's minds and voices at all stages of the service learning project. Students are responsible for selecting their own projects and community organizations, and to reflecting on the experience through online discussions, journals, class presentations and papers about their projects.

I ALREADY VOLUNTEER WITH MY CHURCH, SCHOOL OR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION. CAN I COUNT THOSE HOURS TOWARD MY TOTAL?
You may volunteer at an organization you have worked with in the past, but previous hours do not count. You activity needs to be approved by your instructor and all forms filled out.

WHICH ORGANIZATION SHOULD I WORK WITH?
The Applied Ethics Institute works with many different local organizations to help students find service learning experiences that are both challenging and rewarding. Choose an organization that connects to one of your interests or passions. Look into organizations that match your career objectives. You may suggest organizations not on that list; this organization will need to be approved by your instructor. Among other requirements, it must be a It must be a non-profit organization meeting a community need. It must be an experienced and established organization.

CAN I DESIGN MY OWN SERVICE PROJECT, LIKE BEACH CLEANUP?
No. The service learning objectives include learning that cannot be obtained through individual work. Learning from others, learning about leadership, teamwork, diversity and such objectives cannot be obtained by individual projects. To meet the objectives, you should find an existing organization with a developed organizational structure, strategy and a proven track record.

CAN I WORK WITH A RELIGIOUS GROUP?
Yes, under certain conditions. For a faith-based community service organization, the organization must serve the community meeting a need that is not primarily spiritual. It must serve people regardless of creed or affiliation and without an effort to recruit to a particular religious belief or organization-no proselytizing. Joining a religious organization that feeds the homeless would qualify, whereas teaching the faith would not. Building homes for the poor would qualify, whereas paining the sanctuary or the minister's residence would not. If you have any questions, please ask.

CAN I SERVE SPLIT MY HOURS BETWEEN TWO OR MORE ORGANIZATIONS?
You instructor will have to make that decision. If you instructor approves, yes.

CAN I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT AFTER GRADUATION?
Yes! We hope that your service learning experience will be a positive and rewarding one that you will wish to continue. There is no reason for you to stop your service learning once you graduate. Indeed, we hope that the Honors College's service learning program is just the first step to a life full of enriching community activity and involvement!

Sometimes you can tell a book by its cover. The cover of Ethics Applied 8.0 displays a variety of navigational devices-past and present. These devices represent the authors' intent to help readers develop a heightened awareness of the risks and rewards of ethical decisions made in everyday life - often referred to as one's moral compass. A compass, map, or GPS can not only help you decide which way to turn, or which option is best for your purpose, they are particularly useful when you are lost or can't get your bearings. Navigational help makes getting back on track in the direction you want to go much easier.

Ethics Applied 8.0 encourages readers to consider situations carefully and apply ethical principles to the challenges of daily life. Designed for the undergraduate first course in ethics, this new edition offers students a strong foundation in classic and contemporary approaches to moral reasoning while also providing a wide variety of applications for further study. Developed by faculty at St. Petersburg College in Florida, the text has been thoroughly updated and revised to offer students the most current applications of ethics along with dedicated chapters covering the underpinnings of most ethical theories.

Ethics Applied 8.0 asks students to stop and think, reflectively, to use the powers of critical thinking and moral reasoning to apply ethical principles they've read about and considered thoughtfully. The chief outcome is that students will have a grasp of theories and - more importantly - be able to develop and apply their own approaches to moral decision-making.

Ethics Applied 8.0 is available for purchase at any St. Petersburg College bookstore, and online at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble's website (bn.com).

• ISBN: 9781323418857
• ISBN: 9781323781036 - Ebook

 Textbooks are also available at every St. Petersburg College library but must be read at the library.

ETHICS CLUB

Ethics-in-Action is dedicated to creating greater awareness about ethical issues on campus and beyond, and promoting action to help improve life for everyone. Meetings held on the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus. For more information, contact Professor Lee Miller at 727-341-4780 or  miller.lee@spcollege.edu.

Clearwater Ethics Club is directed by Professor Melissa Coakley. For more information call her at 727-791-2406 or  coakley.melissa@spcollege.edu.

SPC Dead Philosophers Society is directed by Professor David Monroe. For more information please contact the Ethics office at 727-341-4335 or  Monroe.david@spcollege.edu.

The Applied Ethics Institute has several scholarships available to students enrolled in its Ethics classes.

KEITH GOREE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH THE SPC FOUNDATION
Keith Goree Memorial Scholarship (F) - Established by the family of Keith Goree to celebrate his life and remarkable accomplishments. Scholarships will be available for students taking applied ethics courses who have a 2.5 or higher GPA and a demonstrated financial need. For application instructions and deadlines visit the  Foundation Scholarship website.

FALL APPLIED ETHICS SCHOLARSHIP
One $200 scholarship will be awarded at each of the five major campuses (CL, SPG, TS, SEM, DT/MT). Eligibility for this scholarship includes:

1. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an SPC Applied Ethics Institute course

• This includes electives
• Professional responsibility courses or ethics courses from other departments do not qualify

2. Applicants must be currently passing and participating in their ethics course to qualify.

• Students who are in danger of administrative withdrawal or are not meeting their instructor's academic standards should not be considered.

3. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The submission process and deadlines will be made available to students enrolled in the appropriate classes.

SPRING APPLIED ETHICS SCHOLARSHIPS

One $200 scholarship will be awarded at each of the five major campuses (CL, SPG, TS, SEM, DT/MT).
Eligibility for this scholarship includes:

1. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an SPC Applied Ethics Institute course

• This includes electives
• Professional responsibility courses or ethics courses from other departments do not qualify

2. Applicants must be currently passing and participating in their ethics course to qualify.

• Students who are in danger of administrative withdrawal or are not meeting their instructor's academic standards should not be considered.

3. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The submission process and deadlines will be made available to students enrolled in the appropriate classes.  

CERTIFIED FRAUD EXAMINERS ETHICS SCHOLARSHIP
One $250 scholarship will be awarded at each of the four major campuses (CL, SPG, TS, SEM).Eligibility for this scholarship includes:

1. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an SPC Applied Ethics Institute course

• This includes electives
• Professional responsibility courses or ethics courses from other departments do not qualify

2. Applicants must be currently passing and participating in their ethics course to qualify.

• Students who are in danger of administrative withdrawal or are not meeting their instructor's academic standards should not be considered.

3. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The submission process and deadlines will be made available to students enrolled in the appropriate classes.  

Community Partnerships

Through partnerships with community organizations, faculty and students are involved in activities designed to elevate the awareness of ethical issues locally:

1. Speakers Bureau
   Our 12 full-time professors are available to speak to your organization about a range of topics that will help your members consider, "What would I do?" Our Speakers Bureau can schedule a speaker for your members on a variety of topics like personal ethics, bioethics, business ethics, virtue ethics, Socrates and the ancients, critical thinking and more.
2. Partnerships with Pinellas County Schools to promote K-12 ethics and character education
3. Partnerships with local non-profits to promote community-based ethics programs

There is never a charge for our speakers nor will they sell anything or solicit donations. To schedule a speaker for your organization, please call us at 727-341-4335.

Community Service

Applied Ethics Institute sponsors student involvement in service organizations throughout Pinellas County. Thousands of volunteer hours have been donated to dozens of groups, including:

• All Children's Hospital
• The Arts Center
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• The Center for Women
• Children's Home Society
• Friends of Strays
• Habitat for Humanity
• Hospice of the Florida Suncoast
• Keep Pinellas Beautiful
• PARC
• Stavros Institute
• Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
• Trinity Cafe

Keith Goree Applied Ethics Lecture Series

The Keith Goree Applied Ethics Lecture Series is designed to provide thought-provoking presentations on ethics issues important to the St. Petersburg College community. The Keith Goree Lecture Series is named for the former Director of the Applied Ethics Institute who died in 2009. He taught ethics at St. Petersburg College for more than 20 years, co-authoring the ethics textbook which has been used by more than 100,000 students at six universities. Learn more about Keith Goree.