PE Ethics Workshop

Many ethical challenges arise not from clear misconduct, but from uncertainty about how and when to raise concerns, and how to communicate risk responsibly once concerns emerge. Engineers, architects, and technical professionals may hesitate to speak up about potential risks when those risks develop gradually, involve past assumptions, or feel personally or professionally exposing. Even when concerns are communicated, careful technical language intended to be accurate and responsible can sometimes be misunderstood by the public or appear misleading in hindsight.

This latest version of the ethics workshop examines the ethical dimensions of both reluctance to speak up and risk communication in professional practice. Through scenario based discussion, participants will explore how professional judgment, organizational norms, and communication choices influence public understanding of risk. The session is designed as a shared learning experience for engineers, architects, and other technical professionals at different career stages, emphasizing ethical judgment, responsible communication, and the protection of public health, safety, and welfare.

Learning Outcomes:

Discuss and examine the ethical dimensions of both reluctance to speak up and risk communication.
Explain how professional judgment, organizational norms, and communication choices influence public understanding of risk.
Apply professional codes of ethics to real-world dilemmas and evaluate appropriate responses.

Who Should Attend:

Licensed Professional Engineers seeking to meet ethics training requirements.
Architects and technical professionals involved in procurement, contracting, or project oversight.
Public and private sector professionals navigating complex stakeholder relationships.

Select from 3 upcoming dates:

Course Details: RA01666-E147

Course Outline

During this ethics workshop you will:

Discuss and examine the ethical dimensions of both reluctance to speak up and risk communication
Explain how professional judgment, organizational norms, and communication choices influence public understanding of risk
Examine professional codes of ethics and how these guiding documents provide greater clarity when facing ethical dilemmas
Evaluate real case examples of ethics problems

Course Schedule

Course Notes

The May 14, 2026 course subject is:

PE Ethics Workshop: Communicating Risk and Speaking Up: Ethical Judgment and Public Trust

Many ethical challenges in engineering arise not from clear misconduct, but from uncertainty about how and when to raise concerns, and how to communicate risk responsibly once concerns emerge. Engineers may hesitate to speak up about potential risks when those risks develop gradually, involve past assumptions, or feel personally or professionally exposing. Even when concerns are communicated, careful technical language intended to be accurate and responsible can sometimes be misunderstood by the public or appear misleading in hindsight.

This ethics workshop examines the ethical dimensions of both reluctance to speak up and risk communication in engineering practice. Through scenario-based discussion, participants will explore how professional judgment, organizational norms, and communication choices influence public understanding of risk. The session is designed as a shared learning experience for engineers at different career stages, emphasizing ethical judgment, responsible communication, and the protection of public health, safety, and welfare.

Instructor and Program Director

Instructor
Laura Grossenbacher
Director of Technical Communication
Laura Grossenbacher, PhD, is the Director of the Technical Communication Program in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been teaching courses in engineering communication for over twenty years. Dr. Grossenbacher has been an active member of the Association for Practical and Profession Ethics, serving as a judge at the National Ethics Bowl Intercollegiate Competition for several years. She has served a three-year rotation as an NSF proposal reviewer for the Ethics in Engineering and Science Education panel, and actively develops cases for her undergraduate capstone course, Contemporary Issues in International Engineering.
Program Director
Joy Altwies

Total Credits:

CEU .2,

LU 2,

PDH 2,

Course Administration

Fee Information

Fee covers course materials, live online instruction, and certificate.

Discounts

When three or more sign up from same employer, your course fee is $175 per person.

Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
Provide the registrations representative with:
- the course name, dates, and/or course number.
- the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Request Purchase Order information from registration@cerc.wisc.edu
- If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email registration@cerc.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

Cancellation Policy

Once you have accessed the online course, no cancellations or refunds are permitted.

Course Details: RA01666-E126

Course Outline

During this ethics workshop you will:

Discuss and examine the ethical dimensions of both reluctance to speak up and risk communication
Explain how professional judgment, organizational norms, and communication choices influence public understanding of risk
Examine professional codes of ethics and how these guiding documents provide greater clarity when facing ethical dilemmas
Evaluate real case examples of ethics problems

Course Schedule

Course Notes

The Dec 4, 2026 course subject is:

PE Ethics Workshop: Ethical Considerations in Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater

This workshop is appropriate for Engineers from all backgrounds, but will utilize interesting and relevant case studies and scenarios in the Civil/Environmental Engineering and Water/Wastewater fields. Subjects covered may different from what is described on this webpage and will focus on ethics questions especially relevant to Civil and Environmental Engineers.

This course is taught online using the Canvas and Zoom platforms. A UW NetID is required to access the online course. Your registration confirmation email will walk you through the NetID process and how to access the Canvas course website.

Please watch the email address you provided during registration for instructional material release dates and pre-course information. Check your spam folder if you do not see your confirmation or UW (@wisc.edu) communication emails.

Instructor and Program Director

Instructor
Laura Grossenbacher
Director of Technical Communication
Laura Grossenbacher, PhD, is the Director of the Technical Communication Program in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been teaching courses in engineering communication for over twenty years. Dr. Grossenbacher has been an active member of the Association for Practical and Profession Ethics, serving as a judge at the National Ethics Bowl Intercollegiate Competition for several years. She has served a three-year rotation as an NSF proposal reviewer for the Ethics in Engineering and Science Education panel, and actively develops cases for her undergraduate capstone course, Contemporary Issues in International Engineering.
Program Director
Adib Amini

Total Credits:

CEU .2,

PDH 2,

Course Administration

Fee Information

Fee covers course materials, live online instruction, and certificate.

Discounts

The City of Madison Water Utility Member Discount: 10% off your course fee. We will verify your affiliation.
The Dane County Land & Water Resources Dept Member Discount: 10% off your course fee. We will verify your affiliation.
When three or more sign up from same employer, your course fee is $175 per person.
When two sign up from same employer, your course fee is $180 per person.

Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
Provide the registrations representative with:
- the course name, dates, and/or course number.
- the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Request Purchase Order information from registration@cerc.wisc.edu
- If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email registration@cerc.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

Cancellation Policy

Once you have accessed the online course, no cancellations or refunds are permitted.

Course Details: RA01666-D828

Course Outline

During this ethics workshop you will:

Discuss and examine the ethical dimensions of both reluctance to speak up and risk communication
Explain how professional judgment, organizational norms, and communication choices influence public understanding of risk
Examine professional codes of ethics and how these guiding documents provide greater clarity when facing ethical dilemmas
Evaluate real case examples of ethics problems

Course Schedule

Instructor and Program Director

Instructor
Laura Grossenbacher
Director of Technical Communication
Laura Grossenbacher, PhD, is the Director of the Technical Communication Program in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been teaching courses in engineering communication for over twenty years. Dr. Grossenbacher has been an active member of the Association for Practical and Profession Ethics, serving as a judge at the National Ethics Bowl Intercollegiate Competition for several years. She has served a three-year rotation as an NSF proposal reviewer for the Ethics in Engineering and Science Education panel, and actively develops cases for her undergraduate capstone course, Contemporary Issues in International Engineering.
Program Director
Joy Altwies

Total Credits:

CEU .2,

LU 2,

PDH 2,

Course Administration

Fee Information

Fee covers course materials, online instruction, and certificate.

Discounts

When three or more sign up from same employer, your course fee is $175 per person.

Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
Provide the registrations representative with:
- the course name, dates, and/or course number.
- the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Request Purchase Order information from registration@cerc.wisc.edu
- If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email registration@cerc.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

Cancellation Policy

Once you have accessed the online course, exam and/or materials, no cancellations or refunds are permitted.

Create a custom learning experience

We can deliver this course as an on-site learning experience tailored to your organization’s specific training needs.

PE Ethics Workshop

Learning Outcomes:

Who Should Attend:

Select from 3 upcoming dates:

2025 and later

Stay Connected

Course Details: RA01666-E147

Course Outline

Course Schedule

Course Notes

Instructor and Program Director

Course Administration

Fee Information

Discounts

Payment Options

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Pay by Purchase Order

Military

Event Cancellation

Cancellation Policy

Stay Connected

Course Details: RA01666-E126

Course Outline

Course Schedule

Course Notes

Instructor and Program Director

Course Administration

Fee Information

Discounts

Payment Options

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Pay by Purchase Order

Military

Event Cancellation

Cancellation Policy

Stay Connected

Course Details: RA01666-D828

Course Outline

Course Schedule

Instructor and Program Director

Course Administration

Fee Information

Discounts

Payment Options

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Pay by Purchase Order

Military

Event Cancellation

Cancellation Policy

Create a custom learning experience

Past Courses