The prestigious Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative (DFEI) fellowships are awarded to University of Utah faculty who demonstrate excellence in pedagogical activities related to applied business, professional, and organizational ethics. Fellows are expected to make a substantial contribution to facilitating the objectives as part of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative. A Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah Daniels Ethics Fellow encourages learning opportunities in ethical thought and decision-making to their respective college and area of focus as well as develop materials for ethical education in the classroom, workshop, or other platforms. Ethics Fellows share their ideas in Faculty Roundtables at the University of Utah. During their term, which consists of an academic year, they serve as the primary contact for their college and area of focus to the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah team. A Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Ethics Fellow earns a stipend during their term and receives support and in-service education from the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah.
The Ethics Faculty Fellow is to champion ethics in their discipline and promulgate the outcomes of their project through publication, teaching, and public discussion. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Champion undergraduate and graduate case competition, MBA capstone Field study, Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Rising Star Internship, Center for the Public Trust lecture series, etc., by informing and encouraging students to participate.
- Expected to attend Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the Eccles School at the University of Utah events during the academic year;
- Present at Faculty Roundtables and events;
- Promote student involvement in Student Center for Public Trust and Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah events/activities.
- Provide at least two ethics class material (i.e. syllabuses, cases, debates, role-plays, slide decks) which address practical and professional ethics in the Fellow’s discipline for an Internet archive and posting on Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah website.
- Contribute to the ethics expert web page for University of Utah Ethics Fellows – including links to videos, research, and materials relevant to the focus areas most related to your expertise.
Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Faculty Roundtables are held throughout the academic year and open to all University of Utah faculty, staff, other colleges and universities faculty with the intent to share their best practices, classroom experiences, subject specific course materials, and address specific concerns.
Please e-mail your resume and proposal to Professor Abe Bakhsheshy at Abe.Bakhsheshy@Eccles.Utah.edu.
Ethics Faculty Fellows must be full-time faculty at the University of Utah.
Fellowship proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Alignment with the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative learning outcomes/objectives;
- Interdisciplinary connection between ethics and a specific discipline;
- Integrate the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiatives Principles in student learning;
- Fit within the five focus areas of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at University of Utah;
- Projects may not include activities relating to sustainability, social responsibility, corporate social responsibility, or social justice. **Projects may relate to making ethical decisions that take into consideration the impact on the community (people and environment) and follow responsible business practices.
- Projects for new activities for expanding principle-based ethics will receive first consideration (not a maintenance of an activity).
“Once a fellow – always a fellow” New fellows serve one year and are recognized by their academic year (ie. 2018-2019) in their respective area and college on the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah website.
- For new Fellows:
- Acceptance letter to Fellow and Dean of college.
- Press releases sent out to local media announcing the Fellows.
- All University of Utah Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Fellows:
- Project information and material posted on the DFEI website.
- Nametag ribbons “Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Fellow” provided for all David Eccles School of Business events.
- Include on your resume or online CV
- Presentations or material presented can include recognition of being a fellow per instructions above, and include acknowledgement of support of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.
- For Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah logo and use permission, please contact Sheena McFarland at: Sheena.McFarland@Eccles.Utah.edu
Yes, there are sponsored ethics education, summits, and seminar events. You may request funding for specific projects; events and conferences you may wish to attend as it that pertain to your fellowship’s area of focus.
In addition to classroom learning, Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah student engagement activities provide an opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of principle-based ethics, ethical decision-making, and ethical leadership. Student participation in seminars and workshops and ethics case competitions augment the classroom experience and generate further learning. Through our Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah Daniels Ethics Fellows program, more student engagement opportunities will be available.
Abe Bakhsheshy, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah
Professor and Lecturer of Organizational Behavior at the Eccles School of Business
Strategy and Entrepreneurship Department
Eccles School of Business
University of Utah 1731 E Campus Center Drive, GARFF 3254
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
Email: Abe.Bakhsheshy@Eccles.Utah.edu
Tel: 801-585-9408
Fax: 801-585-5966
The Daniels Fund Board of Directors established the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program in 2009 as a five-year pilot. The effort was officially launched in early 2010 with eight business schools at universities in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming as initial partners. Due to its success during the pilot phase, the Collegiate Program renewed in 2014 for an additional five years (2015–2019), and the number of partners now includes ten business schools and one law school.
The Collegiate Program drives the strengthening of principle-based ethics education throughout each participating school. The ultimate goal is to instill a high standard of ethics in our young people.
Participating schools in the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program become members of the Daniels Fund Ethics Consortium. Working together, Ethics Consortium members leverage individual school achievements to further strengthen and expand ethics education in the region.
For more information, click here
The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah is a resource for principle-based ethics education, serving students, educators, and the business community.
The David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah is one of eight original participating schools in the initiative and is an active member of the Daniels Fund Ethics Consortium. The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah seeks to strengthen the teaching of principle-based ethics, promotes the practical application of ethics-based principles in the curriculum, provides student opportunities to practice ethical leadership and ethical decision-making, and engages the business community. The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the David Eccles School of Business has five focus areas organizing resources to identify and address ethical considerations in specific industries or context:Behavioral Ethics: Why do good people do bad things? How do people make ethical decisions? Behavioral ethics seeks to understand the rationalizations and biases leading to misconduct.
Ethics and Technology: What are the potential risks for ethical misconduct in the future? Explore the ethical risks in communication and technology innovation.
Ethics and Fraud: Explore the dangers posed by fraud, identify fraudulent scenarios and make principle-based ethical decisions to prevent fraudulent actions.
Ethics in the Organization: Organizations that exhibit ethical behavior place ethics in high regard in their corporate culture. Learn more about the benefits of strong organizational ethics.
In the 2017-2018 academic year, 10,045 students and educators explored ethics through a variety of programs and courses offered by different schools encourage and supported by the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative.
The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative and its components extend beyond philosophy and theory to real-world practical application of ethical principles as a framework for personal and organizational decision-making and leadership. Our belief is that ethics education must convey that principles are constant foundations — not relative to a specific situation — and that doing what is right prevails over self-interest when the two may appear to be in conflict. The Daniels Fund, along with our business school partners, established a set of straightforward and understandable principles that form the philosophical foundation of all Ethics Initiative activities:
The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Principles
Integrity: Act with honesty in all situations
Trust: Build trust in all stakeholder relationships
Accountability: Accept responsibility for all decisions
Transparency: Maintain open and truthful communications
Fairness: Engage in fair competition and create equitable and just relationships
Respect: Honor the rights, freedoms, views, and property of others
Rule of Law: Comply with the spirit and intent of laws and regulations
Viability: Create long-term value for all relevant stakeholders