An Education Grounded in Ethics

Mary Catherine Colley, Troy University - Troy, Alabama, USA

William A. Morehead, Mississippi College - Clinton, Mississippi, USA
Robert L. Perkins, Mississippi College - Clinton, Mississippi, USA
ABSTRACT
Ethics is complicated! Employers want employees who operate with strong ethical foundations, honesty and
integrity. Accrediting bodies expect institutions of higher learning to include ethical training in their curriculums in
order to shape the future of business and society by educating students on how to appropriately handle ethical
dilemmas. One of the core values and guiding principles for the leading international accrediting institution for
business schools, The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), is each school must
encourage and support ethical behavior in both professional and personal actions of their students, faculty,
administrators, and professional staff through appropriate systems, policies, and procedures. In this paper, we
discuss how two universities have incorporated this standard into their business degree curriculum. If effective, we
proactively prevent ethical challenges rather than respond to them.
Keywords: Business ethics, education, ethical behavior, ethical decision making, ethics, moral development
INTRODUCTION
Ethics and her cousins, honesty, deception, and disclosure, are difficult concepts to apply with precision in the
business environment, yet each represent pervasive concerns in the marketplace. Consumers doubt claims made by
advertisers, government officials investigate claims made by corporate officials, citizens question claims made by
government officials, employees question assertions made by management, and management is concerned about
their employees work habits (Hill, 2008). Some believe the concept of ethics begins in the home; and, many believe
school is the best place to gain a proper understanding and knowledge of ethics.
Accepting the challenge that Ethics is complicated, lets begin with the question: What is ethics and what does it
mean to say someone has acted unethically? One professor stated ethical standards are not the standards of the law
but are in fact a higher standard. They are the generally accepted rules of conduct, standards, and expectations for
behavior which have been developed for nearly every aspect of our lives (Jennings, 2015). Another professor and
business leader described ethics as follows: Ethics is the study of shoulds and of doing the right thing and
attempts to provide a value-laden framework through which real-life decisions can be made (Hill, 2008).
Philosophers, academicians, politicians, and students have debated ethics for thousands of years; and, many theories
exist around what ethics is. Some have even expressed the sentiment, we dont all have the same ethics, and most
of us would agree.
Ethics is vital in business and government, both of which have more than a financial impact on society; they must
focus on both fiscal and social responsibilities and the community around them. Society cares not only about
gains/losses in business but also customer care, consistency, trust, accountability and work environment. Teaching
an ethical framework for students who are preparing to enter the business world upon graduation allows a university
to broaden students mindsets beyond the focus of solely making money to the reality of the broad social impact
business has on society.
Business and government scandals are well documented. The costs of unethical behavior in business go beyond
financial impact and affect the life of the business, its people, creativity, productivity, and the entire community.
Research shows that companies which focus beyond the bottom line and focus on other attributes as well, such as
creativity, a commitment to ethics, and encouraging employee input, averaged 571% higher earnings, 417% higher
return on investment, and 363% higher stock prices when compared to entities without a strong focus on corporate
and individual integrity (Thompson, 2002).

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While not all unethical behavior can be prevented, providing a focus on educating future business and g o v e rn m ent
leaders about strong ethical and social responsibilities can change the business culture one graduate at a time.
Schools of business at universities around the country are working to improve the knowledge and application of
workplace and personal ethics in the lives of their students. We give specific attention here to Troy University
(Troy) and Mississippi College (MC), the institutions of the authors, and how their universities have approached the
study of ethics. Each university uses a combination of theories and purposes each student must develop her or his
own set of virtues to serve as a guide in making both personal and business decisions throughout their life time.
DISCUSSION
Both business schools follow the accreditation standards of The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of
Business (AACSB), the leading international accrediting body. One of AACSBs core values and guiding principles
is each school must encourage and support ethical behavior in both professional and personal actions of their
students, faculty, administrators, and professional staff through appropriate systems, policies, and procedures
(AACSB, 2013). AACSB charges each university with the task of adhering to the accreditation core values and
guiding principles based on and consistent with the universitys individual mission. Interestingly, both Troy and MC
have added courses to their curriculums over the past few years with specific focus on ethical leadership and
responsibilities; and, both schools encouraged faculty to enhance existing courses by emphasizing or adding ethics
components.
Troy, a public institution founded in 1887, has a current enrollment of nearly 25,000 students. The mission of the
Sorrell College of Business at Troy supports the overall university mission by preparing its diverse student body to
become ethical professionals equipped to compete in the global business environment through its quality education
in global business.
MC, a private Christian university founded in 1826, has a present enrollment of over 5,000 students. The mission of
the School of Business at MC is to provide the highest quality business education where students are prepared with a
sound understanding of essential business principles, effective communication skills, and an appreciation for social
responsibility and ethical values.
Troy offers an undergraduate management course in Business and Society which serves as its staple course on ethics
and focuses heavily on ethics, social responsibility, business culture, and values reaching across national and
international cultures. Ethical Leadership and Management in a Global Economy, required in Troys graduate
business degrees, is designed to equip students with critical leadership skills and a solid understanding of ethical
theory they need to become effective leaders in todays turbulent times. The class explores the latest thinking in
leadership theory and contemporary practices at work within organizations throughout the world including
discussion on ethical scandals and political turmoil Students are encouraged to examine emerging topics, leadership
vision and courage, and to lead virtual teams and make actual leadership decisions.
Discussing corporate social responsibility in the classroom is one way to integrate sustainability and ethical behavior
into a business plan. A study away opportunity was created where students could take an online course and spend
a week visiting various businesses throughout Alabama which have a specific focus on sustainability, ethics and
social responsibility. One visit included a trip to a small company in Montgomery, AL working with farmers in
Haiti to grow, process, and export chocolate. With the help of the company and the local government, Haitian
farmers and processors were able to earn income and create a sustainable way of living. Troy also integrated an
independent study course in sustainability into its Confucius Institute with a study abroad to China. Study abroad
trips are also planned for Costa Rica in 2016 and Cuba in 2017 to provide additional experiential learning
opportunities.
Service learning projects provide another way to model sustainability and ethics in the local community. Over the
last nine years 21 service learning projects have been completed as part of the MBA program. 85% of these projects
were completed for local nonprofits, such as the Child Advocacy Center, the Phoenix City Housing Authority, and
the Homeless Resource Network. Students, working with faculty and the nonprofit leaders, offer numerous and
various ideas and solutions to the organization providing them with the opportunity to leam more about and be
engaged in their communities, acquire team management skills, and work on real world issues having a lasting
impact.

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At MC, the Faith and Business Ethics course is required of all undergraduate business students. At the graduate
level, the Law and Ethics in the Business Environment course is required for all MBA degrees. Both courses are
designed to provide an overview of the fundamental concepts and principles of business ethics and use case studies
and practical approaches to recognize and solve ethical dilemmas within a Christian foundation consistent with the
schools mission. Students examine philosophical and theological backgrounds for ethics in order to develop a valid
method of moral decision making. Students are exposed to the various types of corporate ethical codes of conduct
existing in the marketplace today.
Each year, in an effort to expose students to a real world application of the ethical principles presented in the
curriculum, MC hosts a speaker series and a week-long focus on ethical topics in all courses within the school of
business. Throughout the week, speakers share their personal experiences discussing how their ethical framework
intersects with and impacts their personal and business decisions and activities. The week concludes with a signature
event welcoming nationally known business leaders including Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A, Bill Rhodes, CEO of
AutoZone, Mike Ducker, COO of FedEx, and Lieutenant General Robert R. Ruark, Director of Logistics for the
Joint Chiefs of Staff. The speaker series during each semester has welcomed nationally known speakers including
Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Governor Jeb Bush, and WNBA owner Mary Brock; and local
business leader, Joel Bomgar, and MC graduate, Grace Bateman.
MC students are also required to participate in service learning projects designed to provide opportunities for
students to work with non-profits in the community. These projects teach students how to serve others within the
context of the MC mission and teach students how to apply the principles of social responsibility in the community
in which they live and in the businesses where they become employed.
CONCLUSION
Ethics matter! As businesses and governments work to become more transparent and socially responsible, it is more
important than ever universities help students understand the role ethics and social responsibility play in business
decisions. The courses offered at Troy and MC may only be a semester long, but the foundation laid within each
student to develop a more morally-centered compass will last a life time. The ethical dilemmas they face occur in
their homes, relationships, and workplaces... essentially in every area of their lives. And, their moral development
needs to be grounded before they come face to face with ethical dilemmas as adults.
Employers want employees with a strong ethical foundation. Employers and accrediting bodies expect universities
to include ethical training and discussion in their curriculums. Universities have the opportunity to shape the future
of business and society by educating students on how to appropriately handle ethical dilemmas...and, in doing so,
help future business and government leaders be proactive in preventing challenges rather than responding to them.
REFERENCES
AACSB. (2013), Eligibility Procedures and Accreditation Standards for Business Accreditation. Florida: AACSB International
Hill, A. (2009). Just Business. Illinois: InterVarsity Press.
Jennings, M.M. (2015). Business Ethics. Connecticut: Cengage Learning
Thompson, W.D. (2002). Restoring Integrity to Business. Vital Speeches o f the Day. October 15, 69:1.

Dr. Colley serves as Associate Professor of Marketing for Troy University and was recently selected as a roster
candidate for the Fulbright Specialist Program. From 2012-2014 she served as Associate Chair for the Division
of Management, Marketing and Business Law. She has published in such journals as Journal of Global Business
Development, Journal of Global Academy of Marketing Science, and Journal of Business Cases and
Applications. She teaches MBA Strategic Marketing Management, Global Marketing, and Principles of
Marketing.
Dr. Morehead serves as an Associate Professor of Accountancy at Mississippi College. Prior to joining Mississippi
College in 2011, Morehead served 27 years in various roles of government financial management for the State
of Mississippi including Vice President of Finance and Administration for Delta State University, Chief
Financial Officer at Mississippi State Hospital, and as an auditor for the State Auditors Office. Morehead and
his wife, Audrey served as missionaries in West Africa with the International Mission Board. Morehead holds a

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Ph.D. in International Development from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Master of Accountancy from
Millsaps College, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Delta State University.
Robert Perkins is an Assistant Professor of Law and Ethics at Mississippi College. Prior to joining Mississippi
College, Perkins served as a Special Assistant Attorney General with the State Attorneys General Office,
Senior Attorney and Director of Licensing with the Mississippi Department of Insurance. Perkins holds a
Doctor of Jurisprudence from Mississippi College School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of
Mississippi.

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