This area is devoted to research and development having to do with quality of work issues and ethics. Included here are issues related to the professional conduct of computer science practitioners (in particular those involved in the games industry). It also includes such issues as quality of work in IT, games companies, copyright issues, as well as workplace bullying and mobbing, both in professional practice and in the academy. These issues are all part of the same domain: integrity, honour, and ethical conduct in the workplace (or lack thereof).

It is an area I have become interested in over the years. At the bottom of this page is a small part of the reason.

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• Workplace bullying and mobbing in the academy appears to be a very sensitive subject. But perhaps there is hope that awareness is finally growing. Let's hope that it is more than talk.

• Mar. 2 2006, U. of C. Gauntlet “Faculty Slams UofC Admin. [http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/9880]

• Feb 2006, page 2, “Aging Collegial Governance” [http://webapps2.ucalgary.ca/~dnimegee/uploads/Volume%2037%20Number%206.pdf] “Academic Views” Vol 37, No.6, University Of Calgary Faculty Association, An article about the current state of administrative control over faculty.

• Feb 16 2006, U. of C. Gauntlet News, “Professor Sues U.of C.” [http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/~gauntlet/eg/eg2/20060216/20060216.pdf] Vol. 46, No. 30, about Dr. Peter Bowal

• Here is a link to the Nov. 2005 article in The Canadian Association of University Teachers Bulletin: President's Column: Facing Off Against Workplace Bullies By Loretta Czernis

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It is interesting to note that since I started looking at this in 2000, the University of Calgary has repeatedly watered down its policies - the web pages keep disappearing, and I have to hunt for them over and over again. Each time, there is a newer version that says less and less about what it means to conduct oneself in a scholarly fashion.

• Rights, Responsibilities, Services and Resources http://www.ucalgary.ca/discrimination/policies/
• Statement on Principles of Conduct http://www.ucalgary.ca/hr/about_hr/policies_procedures/statement_on_principles_of_conduct
• Code of Professional Ethics http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/compliance/policies/15/
• UNIVERSITY COMPUTING AND NETWORKS POLICY http://www.ucalgary.ca/it/ourteam/policy/comp_policy.html

Just so there is no mistake, the views presented on these pages are my own, and do not represent those of the University of Calgary or its administration.

I have had my webpages censored by my university. In December 2004 I was threatened (by my administration) with disciplinary action if I did not remove all reference to “bullying” from these webpages (ironic, or what?). Although this part of the story is not yet finished, I have been told by my administration (in May 2005) that I could put the pages back up , pending further investigations into the matter. As of Dec. 2005, I have still heard nothing, in spite of asking. Repeatedly.

So, since the current pages have evolved some, here are the original pages: Page 1 and Page 2.

A small suggestion: If you can tell me why these pages should have caused so much controversy, let me know, please. If you CANNOT, please let the university know.

When I met with administration and HR about my “problem” pages I asked whether I would be allowed to link to them from my U of Calgary site, but my question was not answered. When I asked what it is about these pages that is so problematic, the answer I got was: (paraphrasing) These pages *might* lead *some* people to the “possible interpretation” that I am commenting on the university's leadership, and that this could not be allowed. For this reason, the pages, along with all references to bullying must be removed. The administration added that the pages in question are a problem because someone might ask me why they are there and I might say something.

I have now moved *all* of my main website to a private host. My apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.