Administration

Communications

“Business Ethics Week” set for Oct. 13-17
Monday, September 29, 2008

CANTON, Mo. – Culver-Stockton College will observe its third annual “Business Ethics Week” October 13-17 in recognition of the ethical challenges that today’s students will encounter as the business leaders of tomorrow.

“The C-SC Business Division faculty recognizes that the ethical challenges encountered by tomorrow's business leaders will be even greater than ever,” said Dr. Dell Ann Janney, chairperson of the division “The challenge for the faculty is how best to teach and model this topic, given that the ultimate learning for our students will be seen for years to come as they use the critical thinking skills that emanated from their undergraduate days at Culver-Stockton College. For that reason, we will spend October 13-17 focusing extra attention on business ethics.”

Janney noted that the teaching of business ethics is increasing significantly in colleges and universities. “While the vestiges of Watergate in the ‘70s and the antics of Junk-Bond King Michael Milken in the ‘80s may have perpetuated the corporate disregard for the teaching of business ethics, this one topic may have more value today than ever before,” Janney added. “Many students are aware of the events at Tyco and WorldCom. They will soon hear similar stories of corporate greed about Bear-Stearns and Lehman Brothers."

Janney said, “Once again business ethics is on the forefront of the minds’ of Americans while accusations are flying as to who should be held accountable for the financial crisis on Wall Street. We are reminded of the importance of preparing our students for the ethical challenges that they will face in the real world.”

She added that during Business Ethics Week each faculty member in the Business Division will integrate both the history and application of this major topic within their classes. "While the faculty embeds ethical content into the curriculum throughout the entire year, we believe that spending a week of intense focus on ethical issues in every course across the business curriculum allows students to gain an increased awareness of the consequences from unethical business decisions and to also expand the scope of their ethical vision,” Janney said.

Dr. Joe Dieker, vice president for academic affairs and the academic dean at Culver-Stockton, said that Culver Stockton College has always considered ethics an important component of the C-SC educational programs -- in business and across the entire curriculum. “This stance is reflected in our college’s mission which states, in part, that the college’s learning community is founded upon integrity. Educating future business leaders of integrity is at the core of our Business Division program,” he added. “Designating one week of the academic calendar is perhaps just one of the aggressive stances that the Business Division will use to accentuate the growing need for teaching in this area.”

Kim Gaither, assistant professor of finance, and Jim Cosgrove, professor of business administration, will together profile the impact that Wal-Mart has had on small business and how those implications have, or may, cross the Main Street of many of their students. Their presentation, “The High Cost of Low Cost” will precede a point/counterpoint debate within the class.

Tom Kenney, assistant professor of business administration and economics, will examine the new trend of regulation, using the current comparison of transparency and competition and arguing whether or not they are interchangeable.

Chris Huseman, assistant professor of business administration, will discuss the social impact of unscrupulous avenues that some companies use to target low-income neighborhoods, particularly in the areas of underage smoking and drinking.

Jeanne Johnson, assistant professor of management information systems, will use case studies to create an analysis of the moral fiber of business today.

Julie Straus, CPA, instructor of accounting, will conduct a case analysis to profile the greed that put Enron out of business and the impact that it had on the industry, employees and stakeholders.

John Tripp, senior lecturer in business, will examine Martha Stewart Enterprises and the decisions that she made both good and bad, which tainted her career and found her in prison for five months.