State Employee Caught Moonlighting at Capella

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by APerson, Jul 22, 2006.

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  1. APerson

    APerson New Member

    It looks like another Capella University instructor has been caught doing something that's highly unethical. According to an Associated Press release Richard Costello has spent a huge amount of time, while on his full-time job with the state of North Carolina to teach at Capella. The AP article states that Costello has just been stripped of his title as the IT director for the state Utilities Commission because of his actions.
     
  2. mbaonline

    mbaonline New Member

    That's a good cautionary tale, although he must be pretty stupid. I work for a big bank and our ethics rules are pretty strict: Employees cannot use bank resources (PCs, time, supplies etc.) for outside employment and outside employment (even volunteer work) must be disclosed. People have been fired for much less that what that guy did.

    When I started teaching online, I made sure never to open school-related emails, visit my school's website or even visit this forum using the Bank's PC, even if I was on my "lunch" hour. I try not to make calls from the Bank either, unless it is completely unavoidable. I need to bring two laptops if I travel because I can't use the bank's laptop to teach, even on business trips.
     
  3. PhD2B

    PhD2B Dazed and Confused

    Shouldn't this thread read, "North Carolina state employee caught moonlighting at Capella"?

    You make it seem as though Capella is the culprit.
     
  4. BlackBird

    BlackBird Member

    I agree. I thought the poster was trashing Capella at first. The title is misleading. The issue is moonlighting while on the job... not Capella Unversity!
     
  5. jimnagrom

    jimnagrom New Member

    Re: Capella Instructor Caught Moonlighting

    "The audit found 8,337 e-mail messages over six years on Costello's computer related to the second jobs. Another 941 messages on the machine related to "student petitions," according to the report."

    At least he wasn't shy about communicating with his students. ;)
     
  6. glimeber

    glimeber New Member

    Thank God for this post. It has been nearly a week since there was an anit-Capella, Capella bashing, or a nasty Capella comment on the forum. I was really beginning to withdraw <snicker, snicker, wink, wink>. PhD2B - you make my point exactly. Instead of reporting a story accurately - BTW a story that really has no relevance to distance ed - a story is taken, slanted towards a bias against Capella and then spun into a comment that is intended to hopefully dinegrate Capella. Wanna bet the orignal poster reads/hears/believes everything he/she reads/hears in the New Times. the Nation, or on CNN. Nice!
     
  7. jimnagrom

    jimnagrom New Member

    What's interesting is that the gent is apparently NOT being fired. Your tax dollars at work ;)
     
  8. humbug101

    humbug101 New Member

    My opinion, this guy is a fool.

    I have taught for years and all employers are known. Company email should not be used and not on company time.

    This was very excessive.

    BH
     
  9. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    My question is why they found out about his computer usage if he was the IT director. I wonder if Mr. Director wasn't well liked and someone blew the whistle.

    -=Steve=-
     
  10. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    If the guys performance was substandard, then I could see this as being a big issue. But if the guy is getting the job done that he is being paid to do, who gives a rats ass if he checks his email from his other job while at work?
     
  11. jimnagrom

    jimnagrom New Member

    It's called ethics/integrity. You do not use resources OR time for something other than what is is intended for.

    The gent was being paid for a full days work - he has an obligation to provide a full days work.
     
  12. sulla

    sulla New Member

    I'm not sure what the point is to single out Capella on this. This instructor also teaches at Peace College and Wake Technical Community College. And I don't see why Capella or any of these colleges should be held accountable for this instructors choices to check students' emails at work.
     
  13. sulla

    sulla New Member

    I think that the author of this thread is Capellastinks. He also posts under different aliases at other discussion boards with links to his home pages.
     
  14. APerson

    APerson New Member

    Couldn't agree with you more.

    Also, the original link is no longer valid - another one to the same article is located at: Audit finds IT director moonlighted on state time, resources
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 23, 2006
  15. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Good idea. :D
     
  16. PhD2B

    PhD2B Dazed and Confused

    LOL! :D

    But now it doesn't look like a Capella bashing thread. What fun is that?

    Sorry glimeber. :(
     
  17. glimeber

    glimeber New Member

    Well...........even a stopped clock is right twice a day<wink>.
     
  18. makana793

    makana793 New Member

    I think the moral of this story applies to all working professionals, refrain from using govt/business resources during business hours. Like some people mentioned, the point is not about Capella University (which I'm a proud graduate of by the way) but the fact that this individual was bascially working his other job while employed at his state position. Bottomline, when your at work, be there (physically and mentally) :)
     
  19. thinkPhD

    thinkPhD New Member

    I am amazed that this went on for six years.

    "The audit found 8,337 e-mail messages over six years on Costello's computer related to the second jobs. Another 941 messages on the machine related to "student petitions," according to the report."

    I certainly agree with the consensus that there is an ethical question here about the time spent on job #2 while at job #1. I have a full-time employer, but also work as an adjunct. My full-time employer knows about and encourages my work with adult learners. Out of respect and courtesy to my employer, I do not give out my work email address to my students. I have a university email for that purpose.

    I think this is one of those cases where we will shake our heads and say, "What was he thinking?"
     
  20. davidhume

    davidhume New Member

    The IT guys in an organization are often the most objectionable and disliked people. Their unfortunate personalities combined their monopoly on information technology access and trouble shooting lead many of them to act like little Hitlers.

    Maybe there were a queue of collegues just waiting to catch him out on something. And there it was...!
     

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