Ethics is a very important issue in today’s society, and has become a subject that is increasingly gaining more importance. Ethical behavior and decision making is not just a function of leaders, but of all members of society. Colleges and universities have begun to place an emphasis on ethics, including Penn State. As a business major, it is required to take to take a course titled “Ethics, Social Responsibility, and Sustainability in Ethics”. This course outlines the importance of behaving in a socially acceptable, responsible, and ethical way. This is interesting because ten years ago, courses like this were not offered; if they were, they were not required. Although core values cannot be taught, taking courses such as this will reinforce the idea that ethics is a standard in today’s world.
Being a business student, you also encounter the Smeal Code of Conduct very often. At the beginning of every semester, professors remind you about this code. The Smeal Code of Conduct is as follows:
The Smeal Code of Conduct can be found on the syllabus for every class, and we at the beginning of each semester we are reminded to read through it. Before every exam, professors always remind us of the Smeal Code of Conduct, and it is printed on the front page of every exam. The majority of the time we are required to sign that we will follow the Smeal Code of Conduct that is printed on the exam. This relates to what we learned in Lesson 14, because “studies found that unethical behavior was more likely to occur when there was no formal ethics policy governing behavior” (PSU, L. 14, p. 5). Penn State is hopeful that reminding us of the Smeal Code of Conduct, and the importance of behaving ethically, we will not only be ethical students but also ethical individuals once we graduate from Penn State. This is a prime example of the importance of ethics, and how I have personally experienced its’ importance in my academic life.
References:
Honor & integrity at smeal. In Smeal college of business undergraduate student exchange. Retrieved April 20, 2013, from http://ugstudents.smeal.psu.edu/honor.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus (2013). PSYCH 485 Lesson 14: Ethics and leadership. Retrieved on April 20, 2013, from https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/sp13/psych485/003/content/14_lesson/printlesson.html
As described in the lesson, “ethics is concerned with the kinds of values and morals an individual or society finds desirable or appropriate.” Ethics is very important and temptations affect our ethics each and every day. I am proud to say that I attend Penn State University and recognize the commitment the school makes when requiring the business students to take an ethics course. With the whole Sandusky scandal many people questioned the ethics of the leaders of our university but reminding student in the syllabus and requiring business students to take the class goes to show that our university really does show great ethics and a commitment to our students.
The Smeal Code of Conduct found on the syllabus for every class demonstrates a few of Northouse (2013) five principles of ethical leadership: honesty, respect, and community. To live up to the highest ethical standard means to show honesty with all work, respect the feelings and work of others, and to challenge each other as a community to better ourselves and each other in any way we can. I am proud to be a Nittany Lion and proud to know that our university strives the importance of good ethics.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus (2013). PSYCH 485 Lesson 14: Ethics and leadership. Retrieved on April 24, 2013, from https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/sp13/psych485/003/content/14_lesson/printl