Ethics Awareness Week will return to the University of North Georgia (UNG) from Nov. 4 -10, starting with University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Sonny Perdue highlighting a commitment to the highest standards of accountability and transparency on each of the 26 USG institutions.  

UNG has participated since USG created the week over a decade ago. 

The Chancellor's Panel event will be held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 4 as UNG seeks to bring awareness to the importance of an ethical culture and to recognize and promote the institutional values of student-focus, integrity, excellence, service, and engagement.  

"We strive to promote an ethical culture here at UNG," Jill Holman, director of internal audit, said. "We truly aim to be ethical all year long, but we've set aside this week to continue our efforts of making the UNG community aware and mindful of ethical behavior."  

Ethics Week events include:   

• USG Chancellor's Panel, Nov. 4, 10-11 a.m.  

• EthicsLIVE Trivia, Nov. 6, noon 

• Ethics & Compliance Best Practices Virtual Panel, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.  

• Ethics Training for all USG employees in Percipio  

In addition to Ethics Week, UNG will host and compete in the 2024 Regional Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl on Nov. 9 at UNG's Gainesville Campus. The bowl is a debate-style competition around 15 regional cases published annually in September. This event will include 16 schools, with 20 teams and over 150 students. 

"Ethics Bowl creates an environment each year to discuss some of the nation's top ethical challenges among our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community leaders. It promotes critical thinking and a civil way to have difficult conversations that challenge, benefit and provide growth for us all," Dr. Rose Procter, TRUIST Center for Ethical Leadership director, said.  

UNG has hosted the competition since 2017 in partnership with the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics.  

UNG student Jessica Kagansky, who is pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies and is from Peachtree City, Georgia, has placed at the national competition. This will be her third year competing, and she is looking forward to the challenge.

"Imagine for a moment trying to prepare for a final exam, which will be given orally by three professors you've never met on a topic you've only studied on your own with teaching materials you sourced yourself," Kagansky said. "Now make the exam topic highly controversial, where there is no clear right or wrong answer. Imagine that in this final exam, you must defend your position, discuss why other people would take the opposing position, and then use an ethical theory to justify your stance. That's the educational value of the Ethics Bowl."