ABSTRACT
The organizational ethical climate can be conceptualized in a number of ways, but two approaches are particularly important to the role of leadership: the traditional ethical principles approach of decision-making and the community change approach. The response from the senior student affairs officers (SSAOs) suggested comfort with the level of commitment to the ethical climate of the campus. Nearly all SSAOs indicated that they work within a highly ethical climate, but their engagement in outlining ethical expectations and behavior was often not noted. They did point to the roles that the general notions of “doing right,” the religious affiliation of the institution, and the presidential leadership played. Several of the SSAOs also discussed their participation in leadership discussions regarding ethical behavior. They noted the importance of transparency as well as the need to continue efforts to improve transparency to all constituents. Only one SSAO mentioned a campus mechanism to ensure feedback regarding ethical behavior on campus.
