From the Dean's Desk

Our Responsibility

Webster University currently enjoys one of the most influential positions of any institution in the world seeking to shape the 21st century. This becomes apparent when one considers that the leaders of tomorrow are sitting in our classrooms today. They are influenced by all that transpires on Webster’s campuses worldwide. Yes, this is a bold assertion on my part. But I base my contention on Webster’s past. We are proud of our outcomes: 70 U.S. Generals, two astronauts, a growing number of Fortune 500 executives, as well as countless other upstanding citizens who use their distinctive capabilities every day to make a positive impact on the world.

In the aftermath of the Enron debacle and Andersen major lapse in judgment—not to mention the pervasive lack of accountability prevalent in some companies—institutions like Webster must step up to the plate and demonstrate our commitment to help stem the ethical erosion evident in business organizations today. Please don’t misunderstand my conjecture: I am not advocating that Webster become the ethical police force of the world. Neither do I claim to have all the right answers to all the issues that we face. I believe that Webster’s commitment to global education may well be our defining quality. As long as we have captains of industry increasingly hostile to morality, we must find ways to combine the idea of education for career advancement with the idea that professional ethics is at the very core of professionalism, and not a last-minute add-on to our degree programs. I am convinced that discussions on ethics and responsibility should be a key part of every course at some point in the semester. The timing and substance of these discussions is up to each professor.

I know that discourse on ethics is already occurring in some of our classrooms. The fact that these discussions are taking place is a positive step forward and should be encouraged to continue. And while the values, which form the very heart of ethical responsibility, may not be tacked over every doorway or discussed daily in every lecture, they must remain real and important at Webster University. Ethics should be our watchword. The traditional virtues of respect, integrity, fairness, civility, community, discipline and industry are the values that make Webster distinctive. We must not shy away from this responsibility; rather, we should embrace it.

I believe it is our responsibility to ensure that the value of the educational experience at Webster is ethically centered and morally relevant. It's our responsibility to bring this to every course we teach, whether it's math, technology or marketing. I hope that every one of our professors and students alike will take this responsibility seriously. If we neglect this important issue, we do so at our own peril.

Benjamin Ola. Akande

Dean