Presented by: Tim Lampe

Ethics and Values in Higher Education and Athletics:

The Importance of Staying Within the Framework

Values – What does this mean?

What are values?

The embodiment of what an organization stands for…and should be the basis for the behavior of its members

ExerciseOn a sheet of paper, write down five values that you think are important the Center for Sport Leadership.

Do this separately without discussion and turn in.

ambition, competency, individuality, equality, integrity, service, responsibility, accuracy, respect, dedication, diversity, improvement, enjoyment/fun, loyalty, credibility, honesty, innovativeness, teamwork, excellence, accountability, empowerment, quality, efficiency, dignity, collaboration, stewardship, empathy, accomplishment, courage, wisdom, independence, security, challenge, influence, learning, compassion, friendliness, discipline/order, generosity, persistency, optimism, dependability, flexibility

Ethics – What does this mean?

What are ethics?

To behave ethically is to behave in a manner consistent with what is right or moral.

In 2005, what was the word that was looked up most frequently in online dictionaries?

Integrity!Possession of firm principles –

the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles and values

or professional ethical standards

According to Marianne M. Jennings of the W.P. Carey School of Business, there are nine reasons for ethical decline:

1. Failure to teach our children:

Actions and

Culture

• 50% of high school students self-report that they cheated on an exam in the last year

• 16% of high school students self-report that they cheated five times or more on an exam in the last year

• 64% of high school students have cheated on their homework

Values of America Survey 2005 (Harris)

Examples of how these cross-over into real life situations:

• 67% of people surveyed say that keeping excess change is always wrong

Translation: 33% think that it is OK!

• 50% of people surveyed say that taking pens and paper from the office is wrong.

Translation: 50% think that it is OK!

• 29% of people surveyed think that speeding is always wrong.

Translation: 71% think that it is OK!

Questions:

1.Where do you stand?

2.Where do you draw the line?

3.How do your answers transcend into your daily jobs/actions and the culture in which you work?

2. High Ethical Self-Esteem

Living in Denial and

Slipping into Complacency

Are your ethics higher than those of your peers?

74% say their ethics are higher than those of their peers

Is it important to be a person of good character?

98% say it is important to them to be a person of good character

Do others view you as being one of the most ethical people they know?

83% said that at least half of the people who know them would list them as one of the most ethical people they know

Are you satisfied with your ethics and character?

92% are satisfied with their ethics and character

Would you say that you have ethical standards?

90% say they have high ethical standards

Why do people think they are the most ethical person in the room?

1. The subject is not talked about with others.

2. People have rationalized, labeled, and deluded themselves.

3. Defiance of Truth

TRUTH percolates like a natural force

Ethical risk-takers are all around us!!

• Kevin Mackey• John Koenig, Former AD• David Bliss, Former Coach• Dick Sander• “Rodney Monroe Incident”• Willie Fuller, Former Police Chief

What is Gray Area

Is it legally Gray?

Is it ethically Gray?

Interpretationvs.

Loopholevs.

Nondisclosure of relevant information

Remember: TRUTH Percolates

• Don’t overestimate your ability

• Don’t underestimate the likelihood that the TRUTH will come out!

“It’s not the first mistake that gets you. It’s the second, the cover-up, that will.”

M.M. Jennings

4. Fear - When people see that something is not right, why don’t they report it?

• Fear of being accused of not being a team player

• Fear that corrective action would not be taken

• Fear of retribution from their supervisors(SHRM)

5. We have forgotten the critical role of

TRUST

Corruption deters progress

(Show how athletic programs stagnate)

Bowden @ FSUMackey @ CSUKoenig @ UNMSampson @ IU and OSUOthers?? Research

6. Lack of Enforcement

UltimatelyLeadership

and Example

matter!

Culture is to company what character is to individual

Culture come from the collective actions and responses of leaders

Ultimately, culture depends on individuals’ character

7. The “It’s too difficult” excuse

Ethics requires daily effort, reinforcement and training

Without it you slip – Everyone believes they are ethical

8. The Rationalization excuse.

Everyone else does it.

What is right is right even if no one else is doing it.

What is wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.

- Unknown Source

9. Making it too complex

Define dilemmas by “Values”

not “circumstances”

to keep things simple

Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

Basic Questions:

Are you comfortable with a world with your standards?

What are your standards?

What are your limits?

Christian Principle The Golden Rule

Do unto others as you would them do unto you.Luke 6:29-38

Confucius

What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.

Aristotle

We should behave to our friends as we wish our friends to behave to us.

Judaism

What you hate, do not do to anyone.

Islam

No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.

Hinduism

Do nothing to thy neighbor which thou wouldst not have him do to thee.

Sikhism

Treat others as you would be treated yourself.

Buddhism

Hurt not others with that which pains thyself.

Plato

May I do to others as I would that they should do unto me.

VCU Center for Sport Leadership

What’s our motto?

Know the difference between “doing well” and “doing good”.

Ask yourself these three questions:

1. Would my decision be accepted by my peers?

2. Is this decision in the best interest of VCU, the Center for Sport Leadership, and the students?

3. If my decision was publicized on the front page of the newspaper, would I be comfortable or embarrassed?