Appendix
National Conference on Computing and Values
Report on the Track: Policy Issues in Campus Computing
Report on the Discussions of the Working Group
on Policy Issues in Campus Computing
Marvin J. Croy
Many of the difficulties involved in computer ethics on campus require particular decisions in response to practical problems. The foundations for these decisions are connected to ethical principles and theory. Members of our working group recognized this diversity and proposed that the future activities of the Research Center be broad enough to speak to all levels of computer ethics as it relates to campus computing. A number of the proposals made by this group are listed below.
3.1 Providing Access to a Wealth of Information
One widely agreed upon view of the future activities of the Research Center revolves around its function as an information resource. The Research Center is seen as a repository for a wealth of information concerning computer ethics. This information should be categorized and stored for easy access and should be wide-ranging in scope. A number of different types of information should be included. First, the repository should contain an annotated bibliography plus abstracts of relevant books and articles. These should include not only recent works on computer ethics but also empirical studies of the social and psychological effects of using computers. Second, a collection of cases for analyses should also be stored and categorized. These cases would include descriptions of dilemmas and conflicts which arise within the realm of campus computing. Third, statements of existing policies and procedures in effect at various universities should be collected.
3.2 Reviewing Proposed Policies
Providing collections of existing works, dilemmas, and policies can be thought of as a descriptive function of the Research Center. But there is also a normative function to be served. The Research Center is in a unique position, by virtue of its close ties with philosophers, university administrators, and experienced computing professionals, to offer evaluations of existing dilemmas and policies. These evaluations would provide a form of peer review particularly for those in the early stages of formulating their own policies or guidelines. For example, after consulting a number of relevant examples, a draft of a set of guidelines might be drawn up and then submitted to the Research Center for forwarding to those with experience in designing and implementing such policies. These reviewers would provide assessments of the strengths and weaknesses or potential difficulties of the documents submitted, with particular reference to their own experience and to existing policies at various universities. Statements of those policies, of course, would also be on file for easy reference. Reviewers might also offer advice concerning strategies for building a consensus on campus which would lead to adoption of the formulated policies.
3.3 Supporting Online Consultation
Another possibility which the Research Center should explore is that of providing a means for ongoing, ad hoc consultation. This consultation would function as a hot line for the resolution of pressing problems and could constitute an online service by means of one of the established computer networks.
3.4 Establishing Relationships with Other Organizations
The Research Center should establish a working relationship with organizations having similar aims or concerns, such as the EUIT (Educational Uses of Information Technology) group of EDUCOM. Representatives of the Research Center should be sent to major conferences sponsored by such groups. When different organizations are involved in similar projects, ways of supporting collaboration on those projects should be explored.
The Research Center should play a role in increasing the awareness of computer users on campus of ethical issues. This goal might be achieved by the Center’s publication of pamphlets or the production of videotapes, short courses, and other training materials or by assisting others involved in this endeavor. This activity might also carry over into the development and distribution of syllabi and other materials for courses on computer ethics and professional ethics for both students and professionals. It might additionally take the form of summer seminars held at the Research Center for the purposes of continuing education for faculty, computer professionals, and administrators.
3.6 Obtaining Private and Federal Grants
There are two possibilities in respect to the role the Research Center could assume in the execution of externally funded research. First, individual researchers would submit their own proposals to various agencies while using the Research Center as a supporting consultant. Second, the Research Center itself would submit proposals for projects supported in part by the expertise of professionals at other institutions. One federal agency that should be targeted for such proposals is the Ethics and Values Studies in Science division of the National Science Foundation. In addition, a program in support of visiting scholars should be established. This program would facilitate creative work and productive interactions among researchers in the field of computer ethics. This work should be diverse, sometimes focusing more upon practical problems and sometimes directed toward analyses of ethical principles and theories.
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