Why EAC?

As with the program itself, which has multiple activities, there are multiple answers:

According to its mission statement, Mines is “committed to serving the people of Colorado, the nation, and the global community by promoting stewardship of the Earth upon which all life and development depend” (CSM Board of Trustees 2000). CSM seeks to incorporate an ethics of environmental stewardship.

According to the graduate profile, “Graduates should exhibit ethical behavior and integrity… They should assume a responsibility to enhance their professions through service and leadership and should be responsible citizens who serve society, particularly through stewardship of the environment” (Mines Undergraduate Bulletin 2002-2003, p. 5). Mines seeks to educate students who model ethical practice and citizenship.

ABET criterion 3, Program Outcomes and Assessment standards, requires that engineering programs demonstrate that their graduates have “an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility” (www.abet.org/criteria.html). Mines seeks to integrate ethics into teaching and learning.

According to a recent announcement, “Effective January 4, 2010, NSF will require that, at the time of proposal submission to NSF, a proposing institution’s authorized Organizational Representative certify that the institution has a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who will be supported by NSF to conduct research.” Mines seeks to meet its requirements to society and government.