The UC San Diego Ethics Awareness webpage is extremely informative. I admire the transparency they have in explaining why ethics are important, the consequences of acting unethically, and most importantly, they offer a clear plan of how they advise UC San Diego departments to help cultivate an ethical institution. Their words of what it means to be ethical are met with actions of how to commit to following through. It is amazing to see that they list four succinct points of action that outline what fostering a high level of integrity in institutional departments means. These points offer a framework for how to create a healthy environment.
The points they list are:
- Tell people what is expected of them.
- Set the example.
- Give the message and repeat it often.
- Use the resources available to you.
Telling people what is expected of them is the first step, and it creates the foundation of understanding. It levels the playing field and eliminates people being unsure of the expectations. Next, they encourage people to set an example. I believe that this is one of the most important steps because it takes the point to a new level. The department must embody the expectation of integrity and ethical values. The more people within the department that model the fundamental ethics will create a domino effect that allows the culture to spread across the department. As a department head, they have the responsibility to set the standard, and be an example. They also must give the message and repeat it often. This is a continuous process that must be exercised. The final point given is to use the resources available. The Ethic Awareness webpage is an amazing resource, and it should be utilized.