Professional Issues and Ethics Committee (PIE)
2024-2025 PIE Committee members
Our Purpose
The Professional Issues and Ethics Committee (PIE) serves as an educational and consultation resource for the department concerning professional issues and ethics. The animating
goal of the PIE committee is to foster a collaborative, productive, and supportive
climate within the Psychology department. With this goal in mind, the committee hosts
annual educational workshops for entering graduate students and the department as
a whole around professional and ethical issues. In addition, the PIE committee provides
ad hoc consultation during the Fall and Spring semesters around these issues. Professional issues that may be directed to this committee include (but are not limited
to) issues concerning boundary issues, academic integrity, or conflicts (between faculty,
graduate students, undergraduate students, and staff), authorship or publication issues,
or concerns regarding exploitation, misconduct, harassment, career choice, etc. We
do not serve as an investigative unit but an informal resource for faculty, students, and staff concerning ethical/professional questions that may arise
and negatively influence the climate of the department. As a result, the committee
only provides an entry point for questions and consultation concerning professional
issues and will funnel queries to appropriate committees as needed. Please note that
the PIE members are mandatory reporters of child/elder abuse, harassment, and discrimination
if they should arise in consultation. The PIE also does not convene during the summer
(as is the case for the other department committees). For consultation during this
period, please contact the Chair or Associate Chair, or other University resources
(e.g., University Counseling Center, Victim’s Advocates, Dean of Students).
Frequently Asked Questions
When you feel that an objective, third party member would be helpful but please note that we do not police, investigate, or assign blame (there are other formal units within the department and across the U that serve this role such as the Chair or University Student Behavior Committee – see What Departmental and University Resources are available outside of PIE?).
Examples:
- Consultation about phrasing emails, etc.
- Talking through ways to communicate your conflict with people directly involved
- Mediation between you and those involved in the conflict
- Emotional support/validation
When you would like an issue/problem communicated to the Chair
- PIE can confidentially pass along most concerns and report problems to the Chair
- However, we cannot keep some information confidential as PIE members are mandatory reporters of child/elder abuse, harassment, and discrimination.
- You choose a PIE member (or several) to talk about the situation
- PIE will meet with you directly to preserve confidentiality (in person or non-recorded Zoom / phone meeting)
- PIE will not take notes or share any information with others
- PIE will give you several options:
- Hear your side of the situation
- Give advice/resources as to next steps
- Sit in on meetings with you
- Members of PIE will review the information and contact you within 48 hours
- If the information describes something illegal, it will be reported to the department chair
We always recommend coming to PIE directly -- contact any member of the committee to request an appointment.
The department has several informal resources to help you. Informal consultation is available through your advisor, area coordinator, or other trusted faculty/student member. Concerns about EDI can also be discussed with the Diversity Committee. The University of Utah has a variety of resources available to assist you with problems ranging from reporting harassment and incidents of misconduct, to counseling and mental health services, and professional assistance concerning payment and authorship issues.
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