Module Introduction Class Absence Module Module Introduction According to the course syllabus, “Class attendance is compulsory. The University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, reserves the right to deal at any time with individual cases of non-attendance. Professors are expected to record the absences of their students. Frequent absences affect the final grade and may even result in total loss of credits. Arranging to make up work missed because of legitimate class absence is the responsibility of the student. (Bulletin of Information Undergraduate Studies, pp 39 1995/6.)” In this class (Computer and Engineering Ethics) students can miss three classes without losing points. After this, each further absence will result in four points being subtracted from the student’s semester point total. This module does not in any way affect the university policy or this syllabus policy; both stand as stated above. However, above and beyond University and syllabus policy, this module uses class attendance as the occasion to reflect upon and realize two important ethical values, responsibility and honesty. Students will print and fill out the form given below and turn it in to the class instructor upon each absence. Emphasis under responsibility will be on missing class only for morally legitimate purposes and on the student’s demonstrating a responsible attitude for the class missed by developing a corrective action plan. Under honesty, the student will make an affirmation that the reasons provided are, in reality, the reasons underlying the absence. Honesty will also come into play as the student commits to attending class in the future.

Exercise One Understanding Morally Legitimate Excuses The table below lists characteristics of what ethicists call "capacity responsibility." These conditions--presented by F.H. Bradley--describe when we can associate an agent with an action for the purposes of moral evaluation. They consist of (1) self-sameness, (2) moral sense, and (3) ownership. Only the last applies in the case of absences. Here excuses arise from compulsion or ignorance. Conflicting obligations,compelling circumstances, and ignorance serve as the basis of morally legitimate excuses. The table above correlates general excuses with the conditions of capacity responsibility that they deny. For example, since you are not morally responsible for actions performed under compulsion, and your car breaking down on the road is compulsion, then you are not morally responsible for missing class when your car breaks down. But you are responsible for falling under compulsion or ignorance if these present states have resulted from your past negligence. Aristotle, for example, allows for excusing actions performed out of compulsion and because of compulsion. But actions performed out of compulsion but due to past negligence fall under the umbrella of responsibility. So if your car broke down because you failed to check it for foreseeable mechanical failure, then the untoward action is due to your negligence, not to circumstances beyond your control. Retroactive Responsibility Table Retroactive Responsibility Excuse Excuse Statement (Some Examples) 1. Conflicts within a role responsibility and between different role responsibilities. I have a special project due in another class and finishing it conflicts with attending your class. 2. Overly determining situational constraints: conflicting interests. I am interviewing for a position after I graduate, and I must be off the island for a few days. 3. Overly determining situational constraints: resource constraints My car had a flat tire. My babysitter couldn't come so I had to stay home with my child. My alarm clock didn't go off because of a power outage. 4. Knowledge limitations Class was rescheduled, and I was unaware of the change. 5. Knowledge limitations I didn't know the assignment for class so I cam unprepared. (Not an excuse for missing class)

Exercise 1: Provide a Morally Justifiable Excuse for Missing Class Offer an honest and responsible ethical assessment of the reason you were unable to carry out your role responsibility for coming to class. Note that the default here is attending class and any departure from the default (i.e., missing class) requires a moral justification. Begin by examining whether your action can be classified as an excuse arising out of compulsion or ignorance. Your absence may not be morally excusable. In this case, you cannot excuse your absence but still must explain it. Remember that, following Aristotle, you must show that your action was done under and because of compulsion or under and because of ignorance. In other words, you must show that it did not arise from past negligence or recklessness.

Proactive/Prospective Responsibility In this class, it is not enough to offer a moral excuse to get "off the hook" for your absence. Expressing remorse, guilt, and regret help you to disassociate yourself from moral harms or wrongs. But it is also necessary to take measures to prevent the problem from reoccurring in the future. This can be put even more forcefully. According to the "Principle of Responsive Adjustment" (or PRA), failure to take measures to prevent past excusable wrongs from reoccuring leads us to reevaluate these past actions as no longer excusable but culpable. Showing an unwillingness to "learn from the past" reveals past negligence or recklessness as--if not intended--at least not unintended. (See Peter A. French, Corporate and Collective Responsibility) Responsibility as a virtue originates in the project of converting our moral weaknesses into strengths. If past wrongs occurred because of compulsion, future prevention requires extending control and power. If past wrongs occurred because of ignorance, future prevention requires extending and maintaining necessary knowledge. The table below describes the characteristics of a preventive stance where we begin by identifying potential wrongs and harms. Once we identify these then we take serious measures to prevent them from occurring. Finally, responsibility as a virtue opens up the horizon of the exemplary. Pursuing excellence requires our identifying opportunities to go beyond preventing harm to realizing value. Your job here is to go beyond attending class to outlining and realizing exemplary participation. Think of what this entails, first within your group, and then within the class as a whole. Responsibility as a Virtue or Proactive Responsibility Characteristic Proactive Response Diffuse blame avoidance strategies Avoid trying to diffuse the blame for missing class on some other person or situation. For example, “I couldn’t come to class because I had a project due in another class” is not a morally legitimate excuse because it places the blame on the other class. You have not taken responsibility for your absence. Design responsibilities with overlapping domains If you fail to participate in a group activity, describe the group’s “Plan B,” i.e., how they worked around your absence. Extend the scope and depth of knowledge. Describe how you found out what was covered in class and document how you have learned this material Extend power and control Describe the measures you have taken to eliminate the “responsibility gap” between you and your work group. For example, how did you “make up” for not participating in the activity held in the class you missed. Adopt a proactive problem solving/preventive approach for the future Describe what measures you have taken to avoid missing classes in the future.

Exercise 2: Getting Proactive about your absence Develop a plan for "getting back into the loop." What are you going to do to cover the material and activities you have missed? Get Preventive. Describe what you are going to do now to avoid absences in the future. Shoot for the ideal. What can you do--above and beyond class attendance--to realize exemplary participation in your ethics class.

Conclusion Exercise #3: Getting and Staying Honest Below is a template that you need to duplicate, fill out, and place in the class attendance file that will be on the desk in front of class. Duplicate and sign the honesty pledge at the end of this module. Students often wish to provide evidence documenting their claims regarding their absences. You may do this, but remember that this is neither required nor in the spirit of prospective responsibility. Furthermore, be aware that you are not to provide confidential information such as personal health information or student id numbers or social security numbers. Health issues are to be referred to generically by saying something like, “I was unable to come to class Tuesday because of health reasons.” 1. Class Missed (Day of week and date): 2. Material covered during class: 3. Reason for missing class (please do not provide confidential information): 4. Action Plan for Absence: How you intend to take responsibility for the material covered while you were absent; How you intend to make reparations to your group for not participating in group learning activities for the class you missed; 5. How do you plan to avoid absences in the future: Honesty Pledge To realize the value of honesty, you will make the following affirmation: The information I have provided above is truthful, the excuses I have ennumerated rigorously examined from a moral point of view, and the responsive commitments I have made above are serious, and I will take active and realistic efforts to carry them out. Signature:_____________________________________________