After last year’s executive compensation scandals embarrassed the University of California, the university system is now requiring all employees to complete an online briefing on ethics that stresses the importance of moral behavior.
The goal of the 30-minute course is “”to familiarize all UC employees with the Statement of Ethical Values and Standards of Ethical Conduct, which were adopted by the UC Board of Regents in May 2005,”” the UC human resources and benefits department Web site for employees stated.
Since the briefing is mandatory for every UC employee, “”it would also apply to students who are also employees of the university,”” UC Office of the President spokesman Paul Schwartz said.
The Board of Regents, including ex-officio members such as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and university custodian workers must also complete the course.
Last year, the university dealt with much scrutiny surrounding its financial scandal in which unauthorized compensations and bonuses were awarded to top executives, including Edward W. Holmes, head of the UCSD health sciences department.
Though the online briefing was initially designed as support for regents’ 2005 ethics policy, the previous controversies highlighted the significance of the program.
“”The university has taken a great many actions in response to the disclosure problems related to executive compensation and I am confident that they will, and have already, greatly improved awareness of and adherence to our obligations of transparency and accountability,”” UC Ethics Rollout Team co-Chair Susan Thomas said.
“”The ethics rollout was planned long before last year but it too will and has already heightened awareness and assured that people know where they can get help and support for doing the right thing in all circumstances,”” Thomas said.
Schwartz shared similar views.
“”The administrative issues surfaced by the compensation audits underscore the importance of ongoing training,”” he said.
The course consists of interactive scenarios in which employees are given the opportunity to apply university values and standards to possible ethical challenges in the workplace, along with reference materials and ethics resources information.
After completing the briefing himself, Dynes expressed optimism about the program, and Thomas agreed, adding that the course ends with a survey that poses questions about the employees’ level of awareness of the ethics statement and standard.
“”Ninety-six percent of those who participated in the survey so far indicate the briefing has substantially increased their awareness of it,”” she said. “”We think it’s a good beginning.””
However, American Federal of State, County, and Municipal Employees President Lakesha Harrison said she remained skeptical about the usefulness and intentions of the ethics course.
She said that she believed the program was the university’s attempt to cleanse its tarnished image from last year’s scandals, especially as the state Legislature begins a new budget cycle.
“”If the UC wants to talk about being ethical, it is to provide sustainable wage and health care for the custodian workers that work the hardest but get paid the least to maintain such beautiful campuses,”” Harrison said. “”You learn right from wrong and to treat the way you want to be treated in kindergarten, and with the budget year coming up, this course is just a ploy to try and get what the UC wants from the Legislature.””
Schwartz rejected claims that the move was a ploy, calling the accusations “”unfortunate.””
Spanish versions of the course are available and employees with no computer access may schedule in-person briefings, the site stated.
