A week of professional development for Columbus State University students and employees beginning Monday, Nov. 6 will underscore the University System of Georgia’s commitment to ethics. Workshops, seminars and other campus events will focus on maintaining integrity, good judgment and dedication to public service among all members of the CSU community.

Annually, Columbus State and the USG highlight this commitment through Ethics Awareness Week — part of a comprehensive Ethics and Compliance Program for all USG employees. This program includes a system-level Ethics Policy and Code of Conduct, ethics training for new employees and annual ethics refresher training for employees and students.

The on-campus ethics program is open to community members as well as students and employees. Each will promote shared core values of integrity, excellence, accountability and respect.

“We are excited about the opportunity to educate our students, faculty, staff and the broader community on our collective role in upholding the highest standards of ethical and lawful conduct in academic and business activities and why those efforts are critically important,” said General Counsel Craig Burgess, whose Division of Legal Affairs, Ethics & Compliance leads Ethics Awareness Week.

The full agenda for Ethics Awareness Week events, with links to virtual sessions, is available on the Legal Affairs, Ethics & Compliance website. In-person events where the public may wish to join students and employees include:

Monday, Nov. 6

6:00 p.m., “Ethics in Cinema” and the viewing of the documentary “The Social Dilemma,” with discussion to follow, Davidson Auditorium [map]

Tuesday, Nov. 7

3:00 pm to 4:00, “Ethics & the Law”: A Conversation with Superior Judge Ben Richardson, Illges Hall Room 216 [map]

Thursday, Nov. 9

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Panel Discussion: “Ethics & Best Practices in Higher Education: Steering an Ethical Culture through Rapid Change and the Great Resignation,” Illges Hall 216 [map]

As part of its commitment to ethical practices, Columbus State offers members of the university, business and surrounding communities multiple ways to report possible ethical, unscrupulous or fraudulent activity through its Ethics and Compliance Reporting Hotline — a confidential, independent service provided by a third-party vendor. Furthermore, any USG employee may submit reports anonymously online or call 877-516-3424, toll free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for concerns or suggestions for improvement related to CSU or any other institution in the University System of Georgia.