The University System of Georgia (USG) is committed to an ethical culture. Annually, the USG highlights this commitment through Ethics Awareness Week which is scheduled this year for November 9–13, 2020. The purpose of this week is to remind employees of our commitment to an ethical culture and to celebrate all the positive impacts of USG across this state, this country, and even internationally. The purpose is also to remind employees of our shared ethical values and expectations. It also serves as a reminder of how we incorporate ethical decision-making in all we do and how we are good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.
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.
Ethics Awareness Week is part of a comprehensive Ethics and Compliance Program. The Program includes a system-level Ethics Policy and Code of Conduct, on-board ethics training, periodic ethics refresher training, and an Ethics and Compliance Reporting Hotline.
In support of this effort, we will be hosting activities to build upon our ethical culture by promoting activities related to our shared core values of integrity, excellence, accountability, and respect. It creates a great platform for our institutions to engage speakers, conduct training, and further educate ourselves around best practices within this area. 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 and efforts planned for this week include USG virtual Ethics presentations, a virtual ABAC Ethics lecture, reinforcement of key USG Ethics Policies, and bulletin board posters in support of ABAC’s commitment to the highest ethical standards..
It is up to us to do the right thing. It is about our reputation. It is about our pride. It is about who we are and what we do. We represent the SPIRIT of USG.
