Make a Nomination

The 2010 San Antonio Ethics in Business Awards nominations are now closed. Deadline to submit a nomination is August 4, 2009.

2010 San Antonio Ethics in Business Awards

Guidelines        Criteria        Process        Conflicts of Interest

The San Antonio Ethics in Business Initiative is soliciting nominations for its 6th annual program. A committe of community leaders will select a maximum of 10 finalists from the nominations received. Student teams from the UTSA College of Business will conduct research and prepare reports to be used by a selection committee to select those to be specially recognized at our culminating celebration dinner in April 2010..

:: To Submit a Nomination ::

Deadline for submitting nominations: August 4, 2009.

The applications will be qualified by completeness and date submitted. A maximum of 10 honorees will be considered for the research process.

:: Guidelines ::

Nominees would be expected to evidence notable actions in one or both of the following categories:

Corporate Social Responsibility:  Using company resources to address the broader needs and interests of an organization's stakeholders and the society and communities in which it operates and serves.

• Engagement of employees in volunteerism and community service.
• Responding in various ways to both chronic and acute needs of the communities served by the organization and in which it operates.
• Breadth and depth of support for charitable and philanthropic causes that is effective and meaningful given the mission and purpose of the organization.
• Broad consideration of stakeholders in CSR decisions (e.g. mitigating adverse impacts resulting from an organization's operations or engaging in programs that broadly benefit employees, customers, suppliers, and elements of community served.
• Emphasis on employee health and/or safety.
• Support for societal causes (e.g. human rights, child labor, etc.)
• Supply chain management and integrity.
• Promotion of diversity within the organization.
• Support sustainable use of organizational resources through education, financial support, and operational innovation.

Ethics Culture and Programs: Doing the right thing and obeying both the letter and the spirit of laws and regulations.

• Tone at the top of the organization that reinforces the importance of ethics.
• A culture and strong internal controls that support compliance with laws and regulations.
• Robust internal ethics and compliance training and communications programs.
• Existence of internal advisory telephone line and other resources for reporting misconduct and seeking advice.
• High-level authority within the organization for ethics and compliance.
• Clear statement of non-retaliatory policy.
• Strong ethics and conflict of interest policies and codes of conduct.
• Explicit set of core values that guide behavior.
• Effective risk management practicies.
• Effective strategies to detect and prevent misconduct.

:: Criteria For Awards ::

Criteria for ALL Awards

Honorees will be selected for evidence of notable initiatives and accomplishments in the areas of Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics Culture and Programs in for-profit and non-profit organizations and among indivuals.

Corporate Social Responsibilty: Using organizational resources to address the broader needs and interests of stakeholders thourgh volunteer and charitable service to the communtiy, influence on the integrity of suppliers, favorable impact on social causes and issues, and delivery of services that add value to the broader needs and interests of customers and clients.

Ethics Culture and Programs: Doing the right thing and obeying both the letter and spirit of laws and regulations through strong culture, core values, and internal controls.

Individual Recognition: Exemplifying strong ethical character through dealings with others, championing ethical practices or programs, and applying personal values in a manner that notably demonstrates integrity and ethics.

Selection Process

The selection process emphasizes fairness in granting the awards, and honors those that stand apart in their dedication to employees, civic activities, social responsibility and the highest standards of ethical conduct.

A Selection Committee comprised of business and community leaders considers the nominees and makes final decisions of the honorees and those to be recognized. This Selection Committee chooses recipients after having reviewed reports submitted by students of business ethics at UTSA’s Business School who have interviewed honorees, conducted any further investigation deemed necessary and engaged in thoughtful considerations. The deliberations of the Selection Committee are independent of the Ecumenical Center’s staff, boards and the Steering Committee of the San Antonio Ethics in Business Awards.

Conflicts of Interest

The following are not eligible for nomination for the San Antonio Ethics in Business Awards:

Individual Award

Ecumenical Center Board members or their spouses during their term of office

Current employees of the Ecumenical Center or their spouses

Persons currently serving on the SA Ethics in Business Awards Steering Committee, Nominations committee, or Selection Committee or their spouses

Principals (CEO, President, Managing Director, Executive Director) of sponsors of SA Ethics in Business Awards events in any amount above Community Partner ($5,000) level in the awards year of their sponsorship

Business Award

Business in which current members of the Ecumenical Center’s board or their spouses are principals (CEO, President, Managing Director, Executive Director)

Businesses in which current employees of the Center or their spouses are principals (i.e. CEO, President, Managing Director)

Sponsors of SA Ethics in Business Awards events in any amount above Community Partner ($5,000) level in the awards year of their sponsorship

Not-for-Profit Organization Award

Organizations in which current members of the Center’s board or their spouses are Executive Director or other title evidencing ultimate executive responsibility

Organizations in which employees of the Center of their spouses are Executive Director or other title ultimate executive responsibility

Sponsors of the SA Ethics in Business Awards events in any amount above Community Partner ($5,000) level in the awards year of their sponsorship

Other Nominees that Present the Appearance of Impropriety

The Nomination Committee will consider any other potential conflicts and has final approval of Nominees presented to the Selection Committee.