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LEAD to facilitate first peer-to-peer Jobs PLUS event

August 17, 2017

Leaders in Ethics and Academic Discipline (LEAD) and Jobs PLUS have agreed to a partnership that will feature the first peer-to-peer Jobs PLUS event and culminate in the 2018 NIU Ethics Case Competition.

On Thursday, Oct. 5, students in LEAD will facilitate a Jobs PLUS event at 5:30 p.m. in the Stevenson Towers Multipurpose Room titled, “Ethical Decision Making at Work.” The interactive workshop will define ethics, give examples of everyday ethical challenges and provide the tools to make good decisions when confronted with ethical dilemmas. Participants will have the opportunity to pose a variety of questions representing ethical challenges they have faced.

Dr. Bill McCoy, director of the BELIEF Program and LEAD advisor, states, “One of the greatest transformational learning opportunities occurs when students are able to teach students. Student leaders understand how to reach fellow students in a way that is palatable, which is the strength of the learning exchange. Ultimately, such an exchange of knowledge is the power of a workshop like this.”

The event is free and open to all NIU students. Some students whose employer is a Jobs PLUS partner may be eligible to attend the event on their paid work time. Pre-registration is required for the event.

Students who attend the Jobs PLUS event in October will be offered the opportunity to continue their involvement with LEAD by attending train-the-trainer sessions during the spring semester where they will learn more about LEAD, and apply to serve as student liaisons to high schools who will be participating in the 2018 NIU Ethics Case Competition.

“This unique partnership with Jobs PLUS will allow us to train students to go out to regional high schools with a consistent recruitment message,” said McCoy. “The recruitment is for the annual NIU Ethics Case Competition high school division, but is an excellent way to sell NIU through our best products – our students themselves.”

Noah Templin, president of LEAD, said, “Because LEAD is a College of Business organization, we are excited about the opportunity to spread our reach to the entire university. The ethics decision-making guide is a crucial tool for all students to help them in a multitude of situations.”

This Jobs PLUS event, along with the opportunity to serve as student liaisons to the high schools, may have particular appeal to NIU students pursuing educator licensure and a career as a teacher.

Jenny Parker, associate vice provost for Educator Licensure and Preparation, said, “Ethical decision making and ethical practice are integral to the national and state standards to which all our teacher candidates are held. This workshop will examine ethical challenges across career paths and provide strategies applicable to the field of teaching.”

The event will also be promoted through the First- and Second-Year Success Series. Director of First- and Second-Year Experience Kelly Smith commented, “Although involvement in this program is open and encouraged for all students, I want to especially encourage our second-year students to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Anyone with questions about the event can contact Chad Glover, director of Jobs PLUS, at 815-753-2056 or cglover@niu.edu.