Colorado State University College of Business Freshmen to Attend First-Ever Ethics Boot Camp

Note to Reporters: Media interested in attending the “Ethics Matters” boot camp, including Stephen M.R. Covey’s keynote presentation must RSVP to Jennifer Dimas at (970) 491-1543 or Jennifer.Dimas@colostate.edu.

An introduction to business ethics and why they matter are at the top of the agenda for new freshmen coming into Colorado State University’s College of Business. The first annual “Ethics Matters” boot camp will be required of all College of Business freshmen and will be held from 2 -5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17 as a part of the university’s Ram Welcome orientation.

Students will gather for a keynote presentation by Stephen M.R. Covey, New York Times bestselling author of “The Speed of Trust.” Covey is also the author of “Smart Trust,” which will be the primary material for the boot camp. All incoming College of Business freshmen will get a free copy of “Smart Trust” during the Ram Preview freshmen orientation and are expected to read it before attending the boot camp.

“The boot camp is an extension of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative and is designed to lay an ethical foundation for College of Business students,” said Mary Beth Lewis, director of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative. “The values will be discussed in a way that will provide lasting ethical guides for the students’ experience at CSU and after graduation in the business world.”

After the keynote presentation, the students will break into smaller groups and meet in Rockwell Hall for sessions lead by five instructors from the College of Business. The breakout sessions will provide an atmosphere for more intimate, interactive discussions about ethics cases in the business world. The sessions will provide students with framework for 10 steps to make ethical decisions. Students will observe case studies with ethical implications, and groups will be given ethical dilemmas to solve.

“We want them to get a good baseline of how to handle an ethical situation,” said Sara Daubert, who will spearhead the first-ever boot camp. “The program will teach students to think through how to make these decisions in their college career and beyond. It will provide the ethical foundation they will need as they move forward.”

Students will learn about the four cores of credibility – integrity, intent, capabilities and results – in an engaging environment. They will learn an ethics pledge incorporating eight principles from the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative and take an oath to follow these standards.

The boot camp also will provide valuable advice about ethical behavior as it covers topics of talking straight, respect, transparency, correcting wrongdoings, loyalty, delivery of results, improvement, confronting reality, clarifying expectations, accountability, listening, commitments and trust.

Along with Daubert, Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative fellows Suzanne Lowensohn, John Elder and Kelly Martin will also be involved in the boot camp. The goal of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative is to enhance the teaching of principle-based ethics in the College of Business. The initiative supports the following principles, which will be incorporated into the boot camp: integrity, trust, accountability, transparency, fairness, respect, rule of law and viability.

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