Engineering 101 Fall 2002
Gayle Ermer
Calvin College

Course Goals, Grading, Expectations and Ethics Lecture

Course Goals: In this course you will be introduced to the wide range of opportunities in the engineering profession and the characteristics of the field. You will also learn to use some of the methods and tools commonly used by engineers today as you work individually and in groups on two design projects.

Grading:
Homework 10%
RIT Tutorial Quizzes (pass/fail) 5%
Project 1 45%
Project 2 25%
In-Class Quizzes 10%
Participation 5%
Note: There is no final exam for this course.

Calvin College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students should notify the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities located in Student Academic Services. Students should also notify their instructors during the first two weeks of class.

Course Expectations and Academic Integrity:
See Engineering Department "Guidelines for Professionalism"

Ethics Lecture
I. Introduction - what do we mean by engineering ethics?
Martin and Schinzinger: "The study of moral issues and decisions confronting individuals and organizations engaged in engineering and ...the study of related questions about the moral ideals, character, policies, and relationships of people and corporations involved in technology activity."

Can you imagine what kinds of moral dilemmas might be presented in engineering work?

In professions and in engineering (as in all of life) there are opportunities for "right" or "wrong" behavior - studying what constitutes right and wrong and encouraging engineers to do right are necessary/important because:

Unethical behavior can have catastrophic consequences a construction engineer decides to cut corners by substituting an inferior concrete for the required material and later the bridge fails.

Engineering and the professional/business worlds are complex. It is not always obvious what the right thing to do is, and inexperience can make it easier to fall into actions which are wrong.

II. Case Study- imagine yourself in this situation (handout)
Discussion - what is the morally right thing to do in this situation?

• Is there a moral dilemma here? What is it?
• Why do engineers care about doing the right thing? How about Christian engineers?
• Out of gratitude obeying God's law (being the kind of people God wants us to be)
• If we do the wrong thing we sabotage our witness
• When we are not sure what is right,   what do we look to when we have to decide how to behave (as Christians)
• The Bible (keeping in mind the dangers of quoting verses out of context) - principles
• Reformed confessions/church/traditions
• Our conscience
• None of these may be very specific to technical/engineering issues
• The code of ethics of our chosen profession
• Many engineers have thought about these issues and together have formulated standards to guide all engineers

III. Definition of a Profession An occupational group that provides for society a service that involves the pursuit of one or more moral ideals. What are the moral ideals for engineers'? (finish by handing out code)

IV. Solving an Ethical Problem
Just like with the design process, it helps to have a structured approach (hand out the Seven Step Guide)

Apply the steps to the case study.
State the problem-what is the real issue here?
Check the facts - what do we know about the situation (what is it reasonable to
assume from a one-page summary)

List the relevant factors
Finish by finding the paragraphs in the code of ethics that might apply
• 1. serving with fidelity their employers
• 2. perform services only in the area of their competence
• when qualified by education or experience
• not affix signatures to plan in which they lack competency
• 3. public statements in objective and truthful manner
•truthful in all reports - include all relevant and pertinent information

List some options
•Write the report as boss suggests
•Write the report but refuse to sign it unless it mentions B
•Refuse to write the report
•Refuse to write it and go over Alex's head
•Write the report but write a memo for your file explaining that leaving out B was against your wishes
•How do these options fare on the tests? Vote on a choice.

V. Followup
Once you make a choice (and act on it) you have to deal with the consequences.
(hand out Phase II and III)
Phase II assumes you made the choice to write the report without including data for B
Phase III assumes you wrote the report including the B data