The Personal and Ethical Foundations (PEF) competency is related to an individual’s ability to act with integrity in their personal and professional life.  Integrity is shaped by “external ethical guidelines, an internal voice of care, and our own lived experiences” (ACPA & NASPA, 2015, p. 16).  It requires one to acknowledge and adhere to ethical standards and exemplify that understanding in action and consistent behavior. The ability to self-reflect, recognize when one’s actions fall short of ethical expectations, and take corrective action is essential for maintaining integrity. This competency is the basis for decision making and using sound judgment, and it varies from person to person due to personal interpretation and variations in lived experiences. Advanced competence involves making ethical decisions in challenging situations, adhering to a plan for self-care and wellness, having a strong internal voice, and serving as a role model or mentor to offer guidance to others in developing this competence (ACPA & NASPA, 2015).

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My current level of proficiency is intermediate, with some overlap in achieving advanced outcomes. I can identify my beliefs and values and can facilitate respectful discussion with others who hold beliefs different from my own. At my job, I have experience advising others, managing a team, building trusted relationships with clients, and properly handling sensitive college and university data. I can navigate and adapt to different institutional cultures and understand legal guidelines and implications (e.g., data ownership, FERPA compliance, GDPR regulations). Identifying responsibilities, providing learning opportunities, balancing personal and professional life, cultivating positive and supporting relationships, and guiding teammates through handling difficult situations were part of my daily job responsibilities as a people manager for over eight years.

 

In my internship, I adhered to guidelines pertaining to identified student data and confidentiality regarding information shared within the Student Conduct and Community Standards office. The assessment support I provided in my internship served to improve knowledge of individuals within the department and future programming and services that will benefit the campus community. In HEA 625: Supervised Practice II, I am participating in self-reflection and enhancing my internal voice through reading, discussing, and blogging about topics from Baxter-Magolda's (2009) book Authoring Your Life: Developing an internal voice to navigate life's challenges". By better understanding external formulas and crossroads or turning points I have encountered, I am cultivating and following my internal voice and pursuing self-authorship. Through this reflective activity, I am building on the PEF competency and formulating clearer values and beliefs that support ethical decision making.

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Artifacts

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My Background

My background section identifies foundational experiences and learning opportunities that helped me realize my interest and strengths in supporting student learning and networks of professionals within higher education.

 

Blog: Journey Toward Self-Authorship 

By reflecting on my journey from following external formulas to cultivating and listening to my internal voice, I recognize how my experiences and values inform my personal and ethical foundations.