In keeping with the Ethics Programs' mission of education, research and community service, the Business Ethics Program undertakes undergraduate and graduate course development, research, and is involved in various community programs.
Major initiatives include:
MBA CONSULTANTS FOR NON-PROFITS
Funded by the Business Ethics Program, Smith Barney and, in 2007, by the UM Citizens Board, this project supports select MBA students to work at non-profit organizations during the summer between the first and second year of their program. Founded on the notion of “ethics as civic engagement,” this experience serves to connect students to their community and to sow the seeds of service. Students are mentored by faculty members and by members of the board of the non-profit; they present their summer work to an Advisory Council of executives from Smith Barney, IBM, Cordis, UPS, The Keyes Company and Hands on Miami.
Applications are now being sought from non-profit organizations interested in participating in the 2007 MBA Consultants to Non-Profits Program. Use the links here to access a program description and an application form.
UM ETHICS DEBATES AT THE SBA
Conceived and funded by Karl and Tere Schulze, the purpose of the annual Debates is to heighten students’ awareness of the ethical components of real-life situations and to improve their debating and communications skills. Teams of undergraduate students from the School of Business and across UM compete by debating various ethical case studies founded in real-life situations. Faculty and members of the UM Citizens Board serve as judges for the debates. Each member of the winning team receives a cash prize to donate to the non-profit of their choice.
The debate model is drawn from the national Intercollegeate Ethics Bowl contest, which is held every year in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE).
BUSINESS ETHICS FILM SERIES
A joint effort by the UM Alumni Office and Business Ethics Programs, our 2006 film series served to provoke discussion about thorny ethical issues in an audience of students, faculty, alumni and community neighbors. The program included Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, The Insider and Roger and Me, each followed by a multidisciplinary faculty panel.
The 2007 Ethics in Film Series will be supported by UM Ethics Programs, the School of Communications and the UM Alumni Office.
CORPORATE SOCIAL ETHICS
With funding from the UM Ethics Programs, David Chandler has produced
reports on the current state of Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR):
