Ethics Social Responsibility at Colorado State University - Term Paper Example

Ethics, Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability In any given society, one must find and organization. This trend seems to be as old as human race. People form the organizations due to various needs. For example, institutions for learning are critical to advancement of human knowledge. The functions of an organization within a given environment should not promote negative impacts to humankind. The driving factor behind the formation of any institution or organization is to improve the conditions of life or to promote human interest. Sometimes the operation of some organizations does not hold up the anticipated standards set by the society. This paper will evaluate the following aspects ethics, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability in Colorado State University. Colorado State University is an institution that serves the interest of the public. As a learning institution, it offers opportunity for people across the globe. This position exposes the organization to interaction with people from diverse backgrounds. For instance, students learning in the institution do not necessarily come from Colorado City alone. The diversity that the organization has ingrained is critical to its performance. Largely, the organization has instituted programs, which uphold its values for diversity. For instance, The Asian Pacific American Cultural Centre helps the institution to blend the Asian culture in a foreign environment. The organization has similar centers and programs, which support diversity. Accepting different cultures in the organization is a demonstration that it respects ethics of the society. The law does not condone discrimination, thus the cultural diversity promoted by the institution shows that the organization respects societal effects. The collaboration between the organization and the community is very important because it influences the function of the organization (Spoolman & Miller 12). The mandate of the organization stems from the organization’s practices. Students or other people that relate with the organization will show discontentment when the policies of the institution promote discriminative attributes. For example, learning might not conducive in an environment where human dignity does not count. Further, the reception that the organization offers to the community, has demonstrated that it is impartial in discharging its mandate. The number of resource centers that the organization harbor can attest to this fact. It has seven cultural centers, which caters for the diverse needs of the society. Social responsibility is an aspect that the organization has been able to demonstrate in the society. The organization’s code of operation has provisions, which promotes a good relationship with the immediate community. The institution has slots for scholarship that aim at providing for the needy individuals in the society. The aim of starting the organization was to serve humankind. This is achievable when the organization chips in to support various cases in the community. Awareness creation is another method in which the organization demonstrates support to the society. For instance, awareness campaign against social discrimination of a campaign against drug abuse helps in sensitizing the community. Many people in the community might ignore some aspects that influence the social growth. For example, the drug abuse in the society does not seem to be a threat to people who abuse them. In essence, a third party has to initiate a move which attempts to show the abusers that they activity is harmful to societal growth. Human beings depend on one another whenever they need to grow. The organization engages in activities that promote environment sustainability. The community is sensitive to programs that influence the environmental conditions. The institution has a strategic environment sustainability plan that influences the choices the organizations make. For instance, the organizations promote environment friendly practices such tree planting in order to improve the ecological system. The institution leads through examples that it provides in the society. The Colorado residents are aware about the organization environmental programs, which teach the society to engage in practices such as fuel conservation. Protection of the limited resources we have in the society is very essential. Alternative means of protecting the resources is a priority that the organization has embraced. Largely, the society earns its livelihood from the environment. Thus, sustainable programs ensure that the future of the human race is secure. Participation in environmental awareness campaign is a demonstration that the organization has made formidable steps in creating a sustainable future. In most cases, the society usually demonstrates concern in environmental preservation when big organizations take part in such activities. Studies show that integration of subjects about environmental protection enables the society to adapt better methods of protecting the environment. For example, lessons that students learn about energy preservation enables them to embrace the practices right from their institutions. Ideally, the values that the society professes are evident through the activities within the very society. Other than integrating environmental studies in its curriculum, the organization has slotted June 11 in its calendar as an environmental day. During this day, the organization visits the community in order to help in environmental sensitization. The commitment of the institution in helping the society is evident through such programs. While is arguable that integrating environmental programs in the subjects taught in the institution promote the awareness about environmental sustainability programs, involving the community strengthens the implementation of what the students have learnt. Follow up activities usually motivate the society towards upholding the goals intended through a given program. Organization’s culture is very instrumental because it defines the extent to which the organization has observed ethical standards in the society. Colorado State University culture appears to promote the following aspects Utilitarian ethics that posits that a proper act influences happiness. The organization is dealing with a large number of people. These people gauge their relationship with the organization through the reception they receive from the employees of the organization as well as the policies of the organization. Thus utilitarian ethics influence the organization’s policies towards promoting happiness to the people served by the firm. A number of programs that the organization has instituted aim at promoted the interest of then community that the organization’s serves. For example, Asian cultural center recognizes the presence of the Asian community within the institutions. Further, it offers an opportunity to the group, which identifies itself with the Asian to utilize the facilities. Creation of such facilities promotes good relationship between the organization and the parties concerned. Largely, factors such as whose interest would a given facility serve must feature whenever the organization intends to create a cultural or social amenity center. Ideally, politics, which influence creation of various social services usually, consider the population or the culture of the people. For example, the institution offers foreign programs, which suit the interest of the foreign nationals. This approach contrasts philosophy such as teleology, which argues that the final causes exist naturally. It is interesting to observe that the organization has undergone stages of development since its inception. These stages have introduced different features into the organization. Initially, the organization intended to provide education to the community. Later, it developed programs that could accommodate the needs of the outside community. Thus, the organization does not only serve the Colorado residents but also the American community. In addition, it serves the international community. The organization has slots for the international community especially the students who travel from abroad to receive the American education. The institution operates in an environment where bullying and other discriminatory practices exist. The institution has been able to treat such challenges by introducing programs, which seek to help the victims. The institution usually conducts a program, which educate the society against bullying. In United States, the challenge spread to various institutions because some people in the American society still believe that some people are lesser beings. However, policies of the organization do not promote any discriminative ideology. Another notable ethics, which the organization seems to embrace, is the virtue-based ethics. As an institution, its integrity would determine the number of students that it will enroll. Further, the society is keen to identify with given virtues. In essence, the society would gauge an individual by evaluating his or her education background. This means that student from the institution are subject to societal evaluation. In this case, the virtues that the students acquire in the institution would help in building the society. For example, when the institution advocates for integrity as a virtue, students will endeavor to project this attribute. Honesty as a virtue is a fabric that influence outcome of the human behavior. Further, it influences social development because people who steer the society towards success usually borrow from what they have learnt. This means that social development is a recipe of virtue. In most cases, institutions usually train their students to uphold certain virtues in the society. The same trend is evident in Colorado State University. It is arguable that the society gauges the ethics of an organization from the activities that the organization has engaged in practicing. For example, Colorado State University conducts programs that, sensitizes the community on their rights. This activity shows that the organization stands for virtues that are relevant to the community. One is able to deduce from the campaign that the organization has stood for these virtues. On the contrary, it would be difficult for the organization to advocate for values that it does not respect. The virtues must stem from ideals, which institute the organization’s policies. The principle object of the organization is to promote sustainable social practices. As an institution, it does not really operate to earn profit, but it operates to influence the social conditions of the society. Thus, the operation of the institution does not aim at making money, but it aims at unlocking opportunities within the society. Although students pay some fee to support their education, it does not mean that the organization is a profit making organization. Within the organization’s framework, fee enables the institution to discharge its mandate effectively. The organization uses a guide from the government. The guide has provisions that the institution has to implement. However, some learning institutions have their standing orders that define their relationship with the immediate community. Colorado State University is not an exception. It has is policies which influence the activities that it conducts in the society. In most cases, the policies aim at balancing the societal demands and the demands in the institution. The institution has community centers, which enables it to incorporate inclusive views in the society. The views of the community stakeholders are important because they give the institution the community outlook. Community centers, which are in partnership with the institution, promote programs in leadership. For example, Poudre School District is central to institutional advocacy on leadership. The institution is reaching out the society through its program, which forms part of the institution mission. In the current society, education and its products are vital for the social growth. This means that the attempt by the institution to expand its services is beneficial to the community and to the institution. Many people tend to invest in education thereby making the institutions of learning vital elements in societal growth. The institution has provisions which enables the public served by the organization to receive quality services as well as launching complains against practices that did not please them. This system enables the institution to evaluate its activities in relation to the demand of the society. Complains are inevitable in any given society; however, the response to these complains defines the commitment of the organization in offering sustainable services in the community. For examples, the institution has created a reception desk, which collects and attends to clients problems. However, some problems may need the attention of the other senior officers within the management. The organization has provisions which enables it to handle complains of such magnitude. Ideally, clients usually demonstrate satisfaction when they are able to achieve what they demand from the institution. The institution has shown impartiality in adapting to the modern trends. For example, the successful institution of the international program demonstrates that the institution intends to support the diversified needs of the society. This demonstration is critical to the development of the institutions because the society usually adapt to changes. Rigid policies may deny client satisfaction or organization progress. For example, the institution has set centers in the community in order to include the views of the community in running of the organization. This shows that the institution is ready to help the society achieve its goals. The norms of the society and the institutional practices do not conflict. This shows that the organization has upheld the standards in order to cohabit together. Nearly all the organizational programs have social or economic benefits to the society. The institution offer education programs, which enables the students to give back to the society through active participation in economic development. For example, graduate from the institution able to provide the skills in the labor market thereby influencing the economic growth. At the same time, the skilled labor would give back to the society by raising the standards of living. Proponent of mass education believes that education empowers the society towards achieving the development goals (West 64). The institution has pegged its mission on the above ideology in order to help raise standards of life as well as promoting interests that would lead to social development. While it is arguable that education helps in promoting economic growth, it also promotes social development. In the institution set up, students intermingle, borrowing cultural activities of their counterparts. These social setting enables the society to receive various ideas, borrowed from other backgrounds. This means that students are ambassadors of their communities. What they learn from the institution would later benefit their community. The institution has various employment opportunity which its offers to students as well as other staffs. Research on the criteria it uses to offer the employment opportunity to the society shows that the employment exercise is impartial. The federal laws advocates for impartiality when offering job opportunities or offering services to the society. The student employment program is very vital to needy students because it enables them to raise money for their needs. Since the intention of the institution is to transform lives in the society, it upholds virtues, which places it in a position of delivering quality services to the society. Thus, the organization does not only, transform life through the education programs, but also through employment opportunities that it offers to the immediate community. The social activities that the students learn from the institution are critical in determining the trends that the society will adapt. The Colorado State University has devised programs that corresponds the societal demands. Largely, the programs that the institution provides to the clients are relevant to the current trends in the labor market. For example, international relation is a program that enables the students to relate to the outside world. It is evident that such the above programs do not only influence the relevance of the organization in the society, but also the ability of the organization to comply with the societal demands. The institution has Precollegiate Programs, which focuses on talent development. The demands in the job markets dictate the ability of the institution to innovate programs, which can answer to such demands. For examples, talent search program enables the institution to source students with varied abilities. The talent search program visits various secondary schools, hold workshops, conducts advisory clinics, and college study tour. This program is very critical to the community because it enables the society to unlock their potential. Student exposure is very important because it influences the choice that an individual would make towards a given career. The talent search programs enable the students to realize the hidden potentials, which they have not been able to identify. The organization has established Educational Opportunity Center, which enables it to meet over 2400 people in three counties. These institutions give advisory services to the society and helps in enrolling students. The transition period from secondary education course to university is challenging. Thus, the Colorado State University helps the society to eliminate social problems which might occur when secondary school graduate are in a sea of thoughts. Colorado State University has a program of reaching the marginalized communities. Its policy design in this area enables it to target secondary school students who come from poor families. The organization sponsors the education of these students enabling them to achieve their goals in life. This program is sustainable because it helps the society to grow. It is arguable that when an individual acquires education it shall open his or her potential towards receiving job opportunity. Largely, people who acquire support for education purposes do not necessary need to be subject to other aids because they are able to use the acquired knowledge to steer development programs in the community. The above organization programs support other government initiatives that aim at promoting social development. The institution has special program for the black community. While it is evident that many black people have been able to acquire education, some have still lag behinds. The university has stabled a forum for discussing issues affecting the black community. The forum does not only look at the issues within a narrow context, but it discusses factors that influence the community from the local level to the global level. Most issues affecting the Black community at the local level seems to be the same presented at the global stage. For example, marginalization is a menace that affects the Black community. Studies show that global problems in the Black continent revolve around poverty and education. The special attention given to the Black community shows the organization interest in promoting equality in the society. Historically, the Black community has been subject to marginalization. Closing the gap that exist between various communities in the American society is a concern that the institutions has sought to address through it programs. The special interest directed towards the Black community has enabled many poor Blacks to unlock their potentials as well as improving their status of living. Social development theorists believe that empowering the society leads to social development. The organization has strived to implement the above view by initiating programs that are sustainable to the society. The current practice of the organization reflects ethical standards. For example, the organization programs, which aim at promoting the interest of the poor in the society, aim at bringing equality in the society. The success of such programs makes the society equal. The social responsibility of the organization is to help selected group in the society to achieve better life conditions. The poor belong to this category. The approach that the institution has taken involves the community participation in solving the problem of the society. Critics believe that social programs that involve the concerned communities usually yield good results because the effort employed in such causes belongs to the whole society (Winter 78). The institution has extension and outreach program, which enables it to identify communities that require help from the institution. Since the institution is serving three counties, reaching out to the community has necessitated the creation of the extension services department. The extension centers address issues dealing agriculture and energy conservation. The two areas are critical to societal development, because the agricultural practice the society employs dictate the amount of yield that the community will receive. Likewise, energy conservation initiatives help the society reduce energy wastage as well as spending in buying energy. The society has been able to benefit from the organization programs because these programs address various social aspects that affect growth of the society. It is evident that the strategy developed by the organization will enable it to promote social development as well as environmental protection. Most of the programs of the institution aim at changing the face of the society. Although the organization has numerous programs, which promote ethical practices in the society, implementation of such programs requires strategic policies, which aim at lifting the community. This paper has recommends that the organization should continue with Precollegiate Programs because they help the organization t reach communities in three counties. In conclusion, Colorado State University has stabled various programs, which promote ethical standards, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability. The institution involves the community in implementing its programs. Largely, the institution introduces its programs to the community through workshops. This enables the community to contribute towards the implementation of these programs. Further, the institution has adopted utilitarian and virtue based ethics in discharging their mandate to the community. The institution special programs promote social diversity, changes in technology, and the global demand. The institution does not only serve interest of the local community, but also the international students. Such programs promote diverse interest of the society. Work cited. Colorado State University. http://www.diversity.colostate.edu/precollegiate.aspx Web 8 June 2012 Spoolman, Scott & Miller, G. Living in the Environment. New York: Cengage learning. 2011. Print. West, R. Henry. An Introduction to Mill's Utilitarian Ethics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2004. Print. Winter, Michael. Rethinking Virtue Ethics. London: Springer. Read More