IMPLICATIONS FROM THE INTERSECTION OF “GEOLOGICAL PRACTICE” AND INTERNSHIPS IN HIGHER EDUCATION (Invited Presentation)

Licensed geologists in the state of Indiana are obligated under Indiana Code to uphold prescribed ethical standards in the course of “geological practice.” But, when responsible to an academic institution, not a “client” as used in Indiana state code, such a legal obligation is not explicit. Faculty members at institutions of higher education may find themselves overseeing or enabling a “work product” for private or commercial interests if student internships fall within the curriculum of an Earth Science degree program. There is no legal obligation to “geological practice” as defined in state code, during instruction in Indiana colleges. However, one cannot dismiss the potential ethical implications of a work product supplied to private enterprise that is derived from a college-level internship. A question might be...what is the proper course of action when a student in a subordinate, private-industry position, while completing a professional internship for college credit, is expected to perform an unethical task? A real scenario will be described where scheduled environmental monitoring, field sampling, lab protocols, and data recording constituted a student’s work product for credit in “Internship in Geology.” During academic oversight of this curricular element, an impropriety was allegedly imposed on the student “worker” by a supervisor during state-mandated environmental monitoring. Importantly, the allegation could be described as a "she said, she said" impasse. And, sensitivities related to the student's employment were present. But if this issue were pursued and made public, the implications are likely profound. This particular private interest is a strong, regional economic force that perennially attains rankings of #1 in national polls of recreational destinations, and is recognized as a respected, “wholesome,” and valued, family-run multimillion-dollar business. There may be no legal debate during supervision of students pursuing college credit for professional internships, but ethical considerations resound.