Morality & Ethics
The fourth driving force of the program is the undergirding
aspects of morality and ethics. Since Watergate, the legal
profession has developed increased interest in ethics. Corporate
problems with defense contracts has forced some large companies
to add ethical supervision to the corporate structure. How does
one bring the Judeo-Christian ethic to professions and input the
essence of morality into business and industry as well as the
social professions? Oxford/ACRSS seeks students from the social
professions: teachers, social workers, counselors, preachers,
lawyers, doctors, people who are working with people. Not only
the social professions, but business and industry are also
interested in morality and ethics.
A Fortune 500 company having ethical difficulty with government
contracts selected a long standing member of management to earn
a second doctorate in the area of business ethics. He visited
some large universities, talked with faculty and looked at their
library. He returned to the company and declared that the
schools were no more ethical than the company. He requested
permission to visit Oxford Graduate School. After two weeks, he
returned to the company and declared that more material on
business and ethics was found in the small Tennessee school than
the large universities. His request to study with Oxford/ACRSS
was denied because the school was not listed on the government
list. He petitioned the company for time off and declared that
he would pay the tuition himself. That is how convinced he was
that Oxford Graduate School could make a difference in the area
of morality and ethics. He completed the doctorate and won a
research award for his dissertation. Upon seeing the research,
the company reimbursed his tuition. This company now has an
ethics officer in each of their divisions. Business and industry
are interested in honesty, integrity, and morality. It is clear
that immorality or dishonesty on the job, or unfair and
unethical behavior by the company is counterproductive.
Oxford/ACRSS is not only looking to the social professions, but
also recruiting in business and industry to make a concentrated
effort to change the world. Recently, a large defense contractor
sent two students to Oxford/ACRSS. They were both well qualified
for the program, but one was asked (she had extensive graduate
training and a PhD), "Why are you here?" Her answer, "My company
sent me here." "Why did your company send you to this small
school?" Her response, "I know a lot about chemicals, but not
much about people. They sent me here to learn more about
people." Later she returned to the faculty member and explained,
“My company is paying my tuition, but God sent me here." The
same question,"Why did God send you to this small school?" Her
response speaks to the nature of this institution, "I am
responsible for nuclear compliance for my company. I can be
legal without being moral or ethical. God sent me here to learn
the difference." She continued that although she was Roman
Catholic, she was not a practicing Christian and she believed
God wanted her to associate with practicing Christians to learn
the lessons of morality and ethics to benefit both her and the
company. |
