Ethics Awareness Week Activities

ETHICS MATTER!
Columbus State University
(November 8-12, 2021)

This week, Columbus State University joins with other University System of Georgia institutions to celebrate our ethical culture during the system's annual Ethics Awareness Week. This year's emphasis centers around "Ethics Matter," the belief that an institution's full embrace and commitment to creating an ethical culture matters. It is our hope that these CSU and USG-hosted programs will in some small or large way help our students, faculty and staff in making the right and ethical choice when they have to make the difficult decisions that impact others.

Programming throughout the week will include roundtable-like discussions by panels composed of CSU faculty, staff, and students as well as outside experts addressing real-world issues that impact our daily lives both at work and at home. We also have put together several "Why It Matters" sessions led by members of the Legal Affairs, Ethics & Compliance team, whose aim is to highlight important policies and procedures central to establishing and maintaining an ethical campus culture.

And get this! All of the Ethics Awareness Week activities are virtual via Microsoft Teams (unless otherwise noted) allowing you to view and participate in multiple activities from the comfort of your work or home.

So come join us. You’ll be glad you did!

USG Ethics Awareness Week Kickoff Video

USG Chancellor's Speaker Video - The Honorable Harold Melton, Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia

Monday, November 8

10:00 - 10:30 a.m. | "Why it Matters" Session
ETHICS AND WHY IT MATTERS: A general discussion about ethics and an overview of all the USG and CSU ethics-related policies.

Presenter: Craig Burgess, General Counsel

12:00 to 12:30 p.m. | "Why it Matters" Session
IT'S ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION: The Role and Authority of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

Presenter: Craig Burgess, General Counsel

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Roundtable Panel Discussion
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ETHICAL ADMINISTRATOR - A virtual discussion about the ethical principles that guide university administrators in their decision-making process.

Dr. Annice Yarber-Allen, Dean of the College of Letters and Sciences
Dr. John McElveen, Dean of Students
Dr. Judith Livingston, Chair of the Department of English
Dr. Rocky Kettering, Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the CSU Foundation
Dr. Phyllis Jones, (retd.) Muscogee County School District and Chattahoochee Valley Community College Administrator and Educator
Moderator: Craig Burgess, General Counsel

Tuesday, November 9

12:00 to 12:30 p.m. | "Why it Matters" Session
POLICY ON POLICIES: When and why do policies need to undergo university-wide review

Presenter: Craig Burgess

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Roundtable Panel Discussion
COVID-19: Insights and Observations from the COVID Response Team Co-Chairs - A behind the scenes look at how decisions were made by the people charged with the responsibility to lead the university's response to the pandemic.

Shana Young, co-chair of the COVID Response Team
Julio Llanos, co-chair of the COVID Response Team
Moderators: Ric Barrow, Risk and Compliance Coordinator and Craig Burgess, General Counsel

Wednesday, November 10

12:00 to 12:30 p.m. | "Why it Matters" Session
GETTING YOUR CONTRACT APPROVED: How to Turbocharge the process

Presenters: Craig Burgess and Ric Barrow

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Roundtable Panel Discussion
A YEAR (OR SO) IN REVIEW: Legal Developments in Higher Ed and K-12 - A lively discussion about significant developments in the law impacting higher education and K-12 in the last year or so.

Justin Arrington, Esq., Interim General Counsel, Valdosta State University
Craig Burgess, Esq., General Counsel, Columbus State University
Sarah Sillitto, Esq., Senior Director, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Division, Muscogee County School District

Thursday, November 11

12:00 p.m to 1:00 p.m. | One on One Discussion
SPEAKING UP AND SPEAKING OUT: What the First Amendment means for Students and Public Employees - A deep dive into a discussion of the first amendment rights in the age of COVID, Black Lives Matter, and so-called cancel culture.

Andrés M. López-Delgado, Esq., Staff Attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia
Craig Burgess, Esq., General Counsel

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Roundtable Panel Discussion
THE THEATRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION: What happened and what now? - A look back at what led to the Theatre Department investigation, the outcome, and what we learned about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Beth Reeves, Department of Theatre and Dance - Adjunct Faculty and Chair of the Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging (DEIB) Task Force.
Krystal Kennel, Professor of Theatrical Design and Member of the DEIB Task Force
Tamara Wade, Director of Human Resources
Ron Williams, Chief of Staff
Moderator: Craig Burgess, General Counsel

Friday, November 12

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | University System of Georgia Panel Discussion
ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE BEST PRACTICES - Panelists share their expertise on some of the best practices to encouraging and fostering an ethical culture

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Roundtable Panel Discussion
MEET THE LEGAL AFFAIRS, ETHICS & COMPLIANCE TEAM - Meet the members of the LAE&C team and hear about the role they play and will play in the future.

Ric Barrow, Risk and Compliance Coordinator
Craig Burgess, General Counsel
Nicol Lewis, Chief Information Security Officer
Loretta Marshall, Information Security Officer
Takeia Mosala, Legal Assistant
Sarah Secoy, Interim Title IX Coordinator