Ethics is what we do when no one’s watching. And since much of what we do at work is out of sight to others, ethics determines what we can accomplish together. Ethics is not just an individual trait, but a cultural one. In a society where everyone bribes, it’s very hard to survive without partaking. If everyone around you cheats, it’s almost impossible to get ahead without cutting your own corners. Yet, when people bribe or cheat, the whole community pays a dear price. Ethical societies are more prosperous than corrupt ones, and organizations that are built on strong ethics tend to outcompete those that aren’t.

Without a culture of ethical conduct, Georgia Tech would simply not be what it is. It would not be regarded as one of the top technological universities in the world, and it would not be able to deliver on its mission to drive Progress and Service.

This morning marks the return of Ethics Week at Georgia Tech, and I want to encourage all of us to engage in the events and activities we’ll be hosting over the next five days (Nov. 4 – 8). We’re celebrating Ethics Week together with the entire University System of Georgia (USG) as an annual reminder of our responsibility to abide by the highest standards of ethical conduct and to adhere to the USG’s values of integrity, excellence, accountability, and respect. 

By spotlighting and exploring many of the challenging decisions and situations our campus community faces, Ethics Week provides us with practical strategies for behaving ethically and responding to unethical conduct — whether in the classroom, lab, or office. 

As in years past, this week’s programming will feature a combination of in-person and virtual activities, lectures, conversations, and presentations. At each event, campus experts and guest speakers will join staff from the Office of Ethics and Compliance to navigate challenges and promote the importance of an ethical culture.

I’m especially excited to sit down with fellow alumnus, retired Adm. Sandy Winnefeld Jr., AE 1978, for a fireside chat about ethical leadership in action. A decorated 37-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Winnefeld currently serves as a distinguished professor of the practice at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and as the chair of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.

With his wealth of experience, the admiral will have plenty of exciting stories and lessons to share, and I hope to see you at the Scholars Event Theater on Friday, Nov. 8, at 2:30 p.m. Learn more and view the full schedule for Ethics Week here. 

Georgia Tech is a public institution charged with serving the public good. We are supported by students and their families as well as taxpayers, donors, and research sponsors, all of which ultimately stem from our track record, our reputation, and the public trust. Without the public trust, we cannot do anything.

That’s why the Institute’s core values commit us to act ethically. Whether we’re students, faculty, staff, or affiliates, we all contribute to building a culture of ethics by doing what is right when no one is watching and by calling others out when we see something that should not have been done. It only takes one lapse of judgment or a moment of inaction to jeopardize the service we provide and undermine the trust we’ve been building for decades. 

I hope to see you around campus this week, and I thank you for everything you do to promote an ethical culture at Georgia Tech.