USG, GSC Highlight Ethical Culture Through Ethics Awareness Week

The University System of Georgia (USG) and Gordon State College are committed to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct in pursuit of its mission to create knowledge. Accomplishing this mission demands integrity, good judgment and dedication to public service from all members of the USG community. Annually, the USG highlights this commitment through an Ethics Awareness Week which is scheduled this year for November 9–15. The purpose of this week is to remind employees of our commitment to an ethical culture and our shared ethical values and expectations. 

Chancellor Steve Wrigley has emphasized the importance of an ethical culture and how it is critical to the success of not only our institutions, but our employees, students, communities and ultimately how Georgia is educated. For a video message from GSC President Kirk A. Nooks regarding Ethics Week, please visit: https://youtu.be/zPDYXHVvv0s.

Ethics Awareness Week is part of a comprehensive Ethics and Compliance Program. This Program includes a system-level Ethics Policy and Code of Conduct, on-board ethics training, periodic ethics refresher training, compliance audits, special reviews and an Ethics and Compliance Reporting Hotline.

In support of this effort, Gordon State College will be hosting activities to build upon our ethical culture by promoting activities related to our system-wide shared core values of integrity, excellence, accountability and respect. We will emphasize that, in addition to our ethical values, our Code of Conduct is the foundation of the USG’s priorities of degree attainment, affordability and efficiency. 

Activities during this week will bring awareness to ethics, reinforce the principles of recognizing the hard work of employees, and promote our shared values. Our theme for this week is the “SPIRIT of USG.”  Activities planned will emphasize:

Stewardship. Prevention. Integrity. Responsibility. Inspiration. Trust.

Activities planned for this week are as follows:

Monday, November 9

  • GSC Ethics Awareness Week Kick-off Video from President Kirk A. Nooks.  Learn more about EAW as President Nooks addresses the entire GSC Community.  Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs C. Jeffery Knighton  will address the GSC Faculty.
  • A Special CETL Session with Associate Professor of Education Dr. Brent Johnson: Sensitive Issues in Learning Environments: Let's Talk, 3:30 p.m.
  • Ethics: a Panel Discussion with AAMI and AAMI Director Ryran Traylor, 6:00 p.m.
  • Secret Project – What is the ethical cultural like on the GSC.  Find out in our Secret Project on display at Hightower Library all week long.

Tuesday, November 10

  • The Ethics Behind Protecting Sensitive Student Data by Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness Britt Lifsey and Registrar Kristi Hayes, 9:00 a.m. (GSC Employees Only)
  • Chalk Poetry, Outside of Hightower Library, 1:00 p.m.
  • Procurement Dos and Don'ts with Vice President of Administration Megan Davidson and Procurement Coordinator Cindy McCard, 4:00 p.m. (GSC Employees Only)
  • Hazing and Unethical Issues From a Student Perspective with Director of Athletics Steve Argo and GSC Athletes, 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 11

  • GSC Student Code of Conduct with the Dean, Dr. Matthew Robison, 11:00 a.m.
  • Ethics and Etiquette in Social Media by Office of Housing and Residence Life Program Assistant Ashley Hursey, 2:00 p.m.
  • Suicide Prevention - The Bridge of Hope with Alicia Dorton, LPC, CRC, Director of Counseling and Accessibility Services, featuring special guest Dr. Kenneth ‘Lou’ Koon, 3:30 p.m.
  • Plagiarism Workshop by Assistant Professor of History Dr. Scott Shubitz, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 12

  • Mistaken Assumptions of Entry-Level Worker with Director of Career Services Dr. Tonya Moore, 1 p.m.
  • Plagiarism: A Student Perspective by senior Hannah Rutledge, 2:00 p.m.

Friday, November 13

  • USG and Compliance: Best Practices in Higher Education, 10:00 a.m.
  • Conformity Bias Unwrapped with GSC Human Resources, 1:00 p.m.

For more information regarding the SPIRIT of USG activities, visit the Gordon State College website at the following link: https://libguides.gordonstate.edu/eaw/events.

Gordon State College recognizes that a successful work place includes an ethical, efficient and effective environment. GSC has provided this website: https://gdn.alertline.com/gcs/welcome for you to report unethical behavior and policy violations securely and confidentially. You can voice your concerns or make a report via telephone to an independent service by calling this number 24-hours a day, seven days a week: 1-877-516-3454.