ACPA Ethics Task Force

The ACPA Ethics Committee advances ethical dialogue, decision-making, and practice across higher education. Our work supports members in navigating complex moral, social, and institutional contexts through reflection, education, and action grounded in the ACPA Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards.

The Committee develops and shares resources for courses, professional development, and community learning. These materials are adaptable for graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, staff, and administrators at all career stages. We aim to create space for critical reflection, ethical growth, and courageous conversation in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.

The Committee also sponsors programs at the annual ACPA Convention, contributes to Developments and other association publications, and produces position papers on ethics in professional life.

Interested in getting involved?
We welcome members who are passionate about ethics, social responsibility, and equity in student affairs. Reach out to any committee member listed in our directory for more information.

• Jonathan O’Brien, ACPA Ethics Task Force Committee Chair, CSU Long Beach – Jonathan.OBrien@csulb.edu)
• Michelle L. Boettcher, Clemson –  (mboettc@clemson.edu)
• Dan Cantiller, Toronto Metropolitan University – (dancan@torontomu.ca)
• Anne Hornak, Central Michigan University – (Horna1am@cmich.edu)
• Otis Johnson, Bentley University – (ojohnson@bentley.edu)
• Sean Robinson, Morgan State University (c.sean.robinson@gmail.com)
• Esther Rosbrook, Colgate University (erosbrook@colgate.edu)
• Sean Watson, University of Rochester (sean.p.watson@rochester.edu)
• Cecelia Lopez, CSU Long Beach (Cecelia.Lopez01@student.csulb.edu)

Vision

We envision a higher education community where ethics is lived daily—where every practitioner, scholar, and student makes decisions that reflect integrity, justice, and care.

As educators and leaders, we commit to:

• Responding ethically to all situations and contexts.
• Engaging in practices that promote social and racial justice.
• Honoring the complexity and diversity of lived experiences.
• Building community through dialogue, accountability, and compassion.
• Our ethical commitments shape how we empower students and colleagues, influence policy and culture, and uphold ACPA’s shared values of inclusion, equity, and collective well-being.

Mission Statement

• To promote the study and application of ethics across student affairs and higher education by:
• Advancing the ACPA Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards.
• Providing resources, education, and consultation to support ethical practice.
• Encouraging ongoing reflection on how ethics informs leadership, justice, and professional responsibility.
• Creating opportunities for dialogue across communities, disciplines, and identities.

Goals

Professional Responsibility & Competence

1. Model ethical behavior and integrity in our association and institutions.
2. Support professional education and training programs in integrating ethical frameworks.
3. Offer tools, case studies, and assessment practices that strengthen ethical decision-making.
4. Foster reflection on meaning, purpose, and identity in professional life.

Student Learning & Development

1. Empower students to explore their values, beliefs, and commitments.
2. Support practitioners in helping students connect ethical reflection to purpose, belonging, and social responsibility.
3. Encourage learning that integrates ethical reasoning with personal and professional growth.

Responsibility to Institutions

1. Promote transparent and equitable decision-making processes.
2. Advocate for ethical hiring, supervision, and policy practices.Encourage institutions to uphold clear reporting and accountability mechanisms for unethical conduct.
3. Support communities of practice where values guide institutional and departmental culture.

Responsibility to Society

1. Encourage practitioners to engage ethical frameworks in addressing social, political, and environmental challenges.
2. Promote racial justice, decolonization, and equity as ethical imperatives in higher education.
3. Cultivate understanding of how ethics informs social codes, civic responsibility, and community engagement.

Current Initiatives

The Ethics Committee is leading a comprehensive revision of the Statement of Ethical Principles and Standards to ensure it reflects:

• ACPA’s ongoing commitments to racial justice, equity, and decolonization.
• The diversity of professional backgrounds represented in student affairs and higher education.
• The realities of today’s educational environment, including challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion work.
• A clear, accessible framework for professionals at every career stage.

This revision process includes:

• Literature review and stakeholder engagement.
• Member feedback sessions and iterative drafts.
• Development of guidance tools for applied ethical decision-making.
• Establishment of a regular review and update cycle for continued relevance and accountability.