Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/55680
Headlines business ethics is a serious concern for all of us and creates the opportu- nity to strengthen management edu- cation and to elevate the importance of business ethics curricula." More information is available at www. danielsfund.org. Conscious Consumers Convene at Kelley Ethics Partnership Eight universities across the Rocky Moun- tain region of the U.S. are collabo- rating on a new ethics initiative in business education supported by a grant from the Daniels Fund, a private foundation established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels. Participating in the new initiatives are two schools—the University of Denver and the University of Wyo- ming—that already have business ethics programs supported by the Daniels Fund. A $7.5 million grant, paid over five years, will be shared equally by the other six schools: Colorado State, New Mexico State, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, University of New Mexico, University of Northern Colorado, and University of Utah. Corporate scandals have damaged stakeholder confidence, says Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. That reality places pressure on the business community to establish clearer standards for ethi- cal conduct, she adds. "This crisis in 8 BizEd MAY/JUNE 2010 In addition to buying clothes based on their style, color, and fit, an increasing number of consumers are mak- ing purchasing decisions based on where goods are made. Indiana University's Kelley School of Busi- ness in Bloomington tapped into that interest recently when it host- ed a public event called "Check Your Label: Elements of Conscious Consumerism." Five speakers discussed business models that offer a sustainable stan- dard of living for all workers on the supply chain and told stories of oper- ating a thriving business with the goal of social change. Among the present- ers were Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS Shoes Inc., which gives a pair of new shoes to needy children around world with every pair sold; Kelsey Timmerman, author of Where Am I Wearing? A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People That Make Our Clothes; Amy Chin, direc- tor of the nonprofit International Development Collaborative, which connects impoverished villages with opportunities for sustainable commu- nity self-development; and IU gradu- ates Anne and Kelly Campbell, who co-founded The Village Experience, which uplifts impoverished communi- ties in the developing world through international trade and tourism. Kathleen Robbins, director of the Kelley School's undergraduate pro- gram, says students are increasingly becoming interested in the broader topics of globalization, Fair Trade, and social entrepreneurship. "There is a growing sentiment that a business degree can be great preparation for a career that allows you to make a dif- ference in the world," she says. "All of these speakers have found paths that allow them to be successful while following a strong passion. I think that message will be a powerful one to students who are contemplating what their futures will hold." Socially Responsible Case Competitions Two schools recently used case competi- tions to encourage business students to actively participate in solving social crises in areas that range from educa- tion to sustainable transportation. n At the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berke- ley, MBA and graduate students from across the U.S. turned their atten- tion to the best ways to reform the Pittsburgh Public Schools during the fourth annual Education Leadership Case Competition. JIM FRAZIER/GETTY IMAGES