The truist Center for Ethical Leadership was founded by BB&T and the Mike Cottrell College of Business in 2012. The relationship between these two organizations was a natural fit through similar core values and the importance of ethical business leadership development in both organizations.
The center serves three distinct north Georgia demographic markets: K-12 students, the university community of faculty, staff and students, and the business community at large. Programs have been developed at each level to serve the needs of the region. In each of these markets, the truist Center for Ethical Leadership is working to create value by developing ethical business leaders and become a catalyst for ethical thought, analysis and engagement. Ideally, by educating today's business leaders and students - tomorrow's business leaders - the truist Center for Ethical Leadership can create a deeper understanding in the communities it serves of how ethical leadership applies to the individual as well as the organizations, communities, and regional, national and international communities that each individual belongs to.
Provide support for a north Georgia leadership community that understand and incorporates their values in daily ethical business decisions and actions impacting the everyday lives of citizens.
Facilitate critical thinking, promote ethical decision making and support education in ethical business leadership through education, research and professional development programs at the business community, university and K-12 levels.
As a college who prides itself in our efforts to produce an ethical and knowledgeable workforce for our north Georgia communities and around the globe, the Mike Cottrell College of Business believes that an understanding of business ethics is a critical component to any well-rounded business school graduate
In 2014, the Mike Cottrell College of Business faculty and staff adopted the following 7 ethical principles:
Provide the most applicable and relevant education for our future business leaders and execute our roles as faculty and staff at the highest level possible.
Commit to our students, to each other, to our community and to ourselves that we will constantly seek to produce prepared, responsible and ethical graduates of the Mike Cottrell College of Business.
Maintain and extend an expert competency in our fields of study and in the relevant skills that our students will need to succeed.
Build and establish trust and respect for ourselves and others no matter their viewpoint or status.
Create and maintain an environment of sharing, communication and openness to support each other in championing the Mike Cottrell College of Business.
Represent the Mike Cottrell College of Business in all that we do as the reputation of the Mike Cottrell College of Business is critical to students' long term success.
Be honest to ourselves, administration, fellow faculty and staff members, students, and the community in all teaching, research, and community service endeavors.