Each year, Samaritan shares a portion of the New Mexico Ethics in Business Awards event proceeds with UNM’s Anderson School of Management to enhance student ethics education. Since the Ethics in Business Awards program began in 2000, this program has generated more than $60,000 in an endowed scholarship fund – to support student activities related to business ethics.

Perhaps an even more valuable facet of this partnership with the Anderson School is the fact that each year, Anderson business students are given a unique, real-world experience that allows them to fully explore the realities of ethical business practice.  Every fall, approximately 120 undergraduate students enrolled in a course entitled “The Ethical, Political, and Social Environment of Business” participate in a semester-long project which requires them to fully research each Award nominee. They observe business people in their work environments and discuss the values and behaviors that the nominees exhibit in both their work and personal lives.

As an important component of the Awards process, the student reports strive to provide a balanced analysis – which includes interviewing the Award nominees, the nominators, and many of the “stakeholders” who are familiar with the nominee. For the students, this team-oriented educational activity provides a powerful, hands-on understanding of the ethical, political, social, and environmental issues that can influence or impact business decision-making. In the end, students will have learned to identify and appreciate genuine ethical business practices, and will have discovered how to exhibit truly ethical conduct – on their path to becoming our future business leaders.

At semester’s end, the student reports go to a Selection Committee made up of independent and diverse community leaders from around the state.  Along with the information provided in the student reports, this committee relies on personal experience and knowledge, independent interviews, and confidential committee discussions to determine the ultimate Award recipients.

The Samaritan Counseling Center is honored to work together with students, faculty, and UNM Anderson School leadership in this important Awards program!