The Samaritan Counseling Center’s New Mexico Ethics in Business Awards will again this year provide a portion of the proceeds from this event to the Anderson Schools of Management. Over the past nine years, the program has generated more than $50,000 in an endowed scholarship for student activities related to business ethics.

Equally important, the program has provided Anderson students with valuable hands-on experience and instruction in learning the realities of ethical business practice. That’s one reason Anderson Schools is ranked by the Aspen Institute as one of the top 18 university programs in the world preparing students for social and environmental stewardship. Professors Jeanne Logsdon, Harry Van Buren, Shawn Berman and Sarah Smith provide outstanding instruction in this vital area of practice.

Approximately 120 undergraduate students enrolled in the “Ethical, Political, and Social Environment of Business” course participate in this semester-long project. This team-oriented activity provides a powerful, hands-on understanding of ethical, political, social, regulatory, and environmental issues that influence or impact business decision-making.

During the semester, students work in small groups to research each nominee. They observe business people behaving ethically and discuss the values and behaviors that the nominees exhibit in their work and personal lives. Ultimately, the students are provided the opportunity to learn and to model ethical conduct on their path to becoming future business leaders.

The selection committee, an independent and diverse group of community leaders from around the state, relies on personal experience and knowledge, independent interviews and committee discussions in their selection deliberations. The student research reports are an important component of the selection process. They prove to be extremely useful in committee discussions and are an important factor in decisions reached by the committee. The reports provide a balanced analysis by including interviews of not only the award nominee, but also the nominator and many stakeholders who are familiar with the nominee.

The Samaritan Counseling Center is honored to work together with students, professors and administrators of the UNM Anderson Schools of Management in this important awards program.