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The School of Business at Eastern Kentucky University is providing students with the opportunity to thoroughly explore ethics and further develop themselves professionally and personally through the 2019 Ethics Awareness Week (EAW). While a select number of EAW activities will carry on throughout the fall 2019 semester, the main events will be held November 4-8, 2019.

EAW 2019 will follow a theme: Confront Oneself: Develop a Moral Compass, providing students with multiple opportunities to learn about and discuss honesty, integrity, respect, and responsibility through various interactive activities, writings, and case studies. Semester-long activities include Broken Compass, a deeper look into the Wells Fargo Scandal Case which will be integrated into classroom curriculum throughout the semester, and the Go Further and Lead Others Ethical Leadership Certification Program. This online program will help students identify ethical issues and enhance their ethical decision-making capabilities. 

Students will apply for faculty sponsored scholarships in order to participate. This will be an opportunity for students to receive professional development and training in the area of ethical leadership through a certification program developed by the Center for Public Trust.

Guiding Principles will occur weekly throughout October 2019. Four community leaders have volunteered their time and knowledge, each producing a written piece regarding one of the guiding principles: honesty, integrity, respect, and responsibility. Community leaders include Rev. Robert Blythe, Steve Gates, Connie Lawson, and Dr. Janna Vice.  

Lead by Example will give students an opportunity to become actively engaged in social outreach projects and make a difference in their community. Throughout the first week of November, students will spend at least three hours of their time volunteering for a cause of their choice. They will then create posters sharing their experiences which will be posted throughout the Business and Technology Center at EKU.

The Ethical Meme Contest is a fun and exciting event for students that will take place on Monday Nov. 4, 2019 from 5:30-7pm. Students may create and submit a meme using a phrase or quote that promotes ethical choices relating to the 4 ethical pillars (honesty, integrity, respect, and responsibility). Finalists will have 60 seconds to present their meme to judges and an audience of students, faculty, staff, and community members. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 memes. Students from surrounding schools will participate, including Alice Lloyd College, Asbury University, Berea College, Campbellsville University, Union College, University of Kentucky, and University of Pikeville.

Discovering True North will involve six guest speakers, taking place on Tuesday Nov. 5 from 6-7:30pm at the EKU Business and Technology Center. Speakers will share their path from college to present and the unique challenges that have motivated them along the way. Community members participating include Scott Arias, Darcie Cunningham, Ivonne Gonzales, Nancy Hale, Jason Morgan, and Jonathan Vaughan. 

Navigate Your Future is a networking event to be held on Thursday Nov. 7, 2019 in the EKU Business and Technology Center Auditorium. The Ethics Wall will be created on Nov. 4 and 5. Students will be asked to share their responses to questions regarding business ethics. The responses will be displayed in the foyer of the EKU Business and Technology Center. This activity will encourage students and faculty to consider what ethical leadership is in the business setting.

In addition to student and community involvement, various faculty members will use the week as an opportunity to collect and analyze data for research. 

For more information, contact Judy Spain at Judy.spain@eku.edu.