Robert J. Rutland Institute for Ethics
Celebrating 25 Years of Ethics Education:
Boldly Going Where We've Never Been Before
Self-reflection is one of the most important exercises a person can engage in; the opportunity to look back over one’s life and consider how the past has shaped present circumstances and continues to influence future aspirations. Self-reflection allows for the measurement of success in our lives, and under the right circumstances, paves the pathway of destiny ahead of us. While we may have encountered many of life’s twists and turns along the way; those experiences have the potential to fortify us for what lies ahead. In other words, life can boldly prepare us for what we can now only dream about.
This year, the Rutland Institute for Ethics looks back over a fruitful 25-year history and reflects on what has made us the great institute that we are. We respectfully acknowledge our visionary - Bob Rutland, a man dedicated to positively affecting the decision-making skills of Clemson University students and the communities they would eventually settle in. His vision transcends local and regional impact and touches lives on a national and global scale. To this end, the Rutland Institute for Ethics is uniquely positioned, with the help and support of Clemson University, to make Bob’s vision a reality. From Annual Ethics Day to the Tigers for Integrity, Discourse, and Ethics (TIDE) Conference, the Institute continues to holistically promote ethics education on Clemson’s campus. The growing integration of ethics education across the university can plainly be attributed to successful alliances with all academic colleges, their faculty members, and the Clemson student population. Our burgeoning partnership with National Beta Club exposes high school students to our faculty-developed STAR Decision-Making Model in over 3,000 high schools, with the nation’s middle school students soon to follow. Our collaboration with the students at the University of Belgrade in Serbia is a testament to the powerful influence of ethics education in the face of political upheaval and uncertainty. Simply put: the Rutland Institute for Ethics is boldly going where we’ve never been before!
Join us as we celebrate the impact and the accomplishments of this great institute. Bringing Bob Rutland’s vision to fruition has not always been easy; but there can be no doubt that the time, energy, and effort dedicated to this vision has been and continues to be well worth it.
In the words of Thomas Green Clemson – “It is our calling.”
