Ethical Leadership and Decision Making in Higher Education Marissa Fulache Guadalupe Valdivia Background The issue of ethical decision making in organizations has received much attention in recent years for a variety of reasons: - Post-Watergate atmosphere - Mounting public scorn regarding business behavior - Leaders’ cynicism and internal personal-work values conflicts Background Powerful tools and technologies have change the speed with which information, ideas, and culture capital travel the world. Complex interactions among institutions have also developed and evolved new organizational forms, including science parks, research hubs, and for-profits companies. Collaboration between HE and external organizations (multinational corporations, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic organizations, etc.) help tap into specialized knowledge, networks, and capabilities that are useful for projects related to purposes. The Ethics of Leadership “..the obligation of leaders to promote justice, fairness, trust, and the conditions necessary for people to promote communities that flourish” (Carter, 2007) Why should Higher Education Leaders Care? Universities have the opportunity to influence 18 million minds of people who will soon be in positions of leadership in our communities, our states, and our country. Universities have the responsibility to help people obtain the tools for ethical leadership in America—and, because America still is in a leadership position in world higher education [HE] –in the world. (Sethna, 2007) Who is responsible for preparing Ethical Leaders? “Faculty, staff, students, supporters, alumni, administrators, funding partners, contributors, legislators, and the public who influence higher education” (Sethna, 2007) Everyone plays an important role. How can universities provide ethical leadership in a global society? Teaching, Scholarship & Research, and Service: 1. Education to help our children become increasingly prepared for the future, and help the people of the world open their eyes to developmental opportunities rather than conflict. 2. Research and development to help with the problem of resource management and economic integration. 3. Helping people, communities, societies, states, and nations to be in a position to receive some of the benefits of the 21st century. Higher Education Leaders Making Decisions Primary concern is the impact their decision will have on the financial, legal, pragmatic, aesthetic, cultural, and psychological well-being of the institutions rather than moral, ethical, and spiritual. Conscientious administrators put forth sincere efforts to make decisions in a rational rather than arbitrary manner and they check for legal implications, but decisions can also be reviewed for the ethical ramifications (Siegel & Siegel, 2007). Preparing Higher Education Leaders in Ethical Decision Making Mandate ethics training* Require a course on ethics* Require shadowing a current educational leader Written exam of solutions to different scenarios Expose them to different Decision Making Models Most commonly used Ethical DecisionMaking Model by Higher Education Leaders Step 1: Identify the problem. Step 2: Identify the potential issues involved. Step 3: Review relevant ethical guidelines. Step 4: Know relevant laws and regulations. Step 5: Obtain Consultation. Step 6: Consider possible and probable courses of action. Step 7: List the consequences of the probable courses of action. Step 8: Decide on what appears to be the best course of action. Corey et al. (1998) Decision Making: Budget Cuts Economical Crisis: School funding gets the first hit. Choose what programs or departments will be impacted. Choose who stays and go. Your job is to maintain a balance budget. Decision Making: College Athletics Coaches and Staff are cutting a lot of corners for athletic students. They get extra benefits such as change GPA, modify test, excused absences and trades. Non-athletic students want to know why they get special privileges. Your job is to bring positive media attention and keep both parties happy. Decision Making: Research Universities (R1) R1a are changing all of HE to behave more entrepreneurially. Federal funds are low and departments are now being asked to fund their own research. However, the industrial/private sectors want to only fund research in one specific area that is extremely controversial and political. Your goal is to maintain the relationship and secure funding for departments, while protecting the identity of your institution. Educational Leadership & DecisionMaking: Dr. Christine Cunningham, School of Education, ECU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGB3l1EKabc Is their similarities and differences in attitudes and applications of decision-making in educational leadership in Australia and China? Who makes the final decision in China and Australia educational institutions? How are those final decisions made? “What we do in our schools, early childhood centers, and higher education…We model practice to our future generations” Dr. Christine Cunningham References Arlow, P., & Ulrich, T. A. (1985) Business ethics and business school graduates: A longitudinal study. Akron Business and Economic Review, 16, 13-17. Carter, J. (2007). For the common good: The ethics of leadership in the 21st century. J. C. Knapp (Ed.). Greenwood Publishing Group. Bennis, W. (2009). On Becoming A Leader (20th anniversary ed.). New York: Basic Books. Kohlberg, L., & Candee, D. (1984) The relationship of moral judgment to moral action. In W. M. Kurtiness & J. L. Gerwitz (Ed.), Morality, moral behavior and moral, development (pp. 52-73). New York: Wiley.