Teaching Business Ethics: A Semester Narrated Through Letters

This was my first semester teaching Business Ethics to undergraduate students at Dominican University New York. I had been coveting teaching this course given the topic was so compelling and I had strong views regarding how to teach this complex topic.

I wrote two letters to my students – one in the beginning of the semester and one on the last day of class. These letters provide the best description of our experience in the classroom.

Letter 1 – Introduction to Your Ethics Journal

I developed an Ethics Journal for my students to apply what they learned through the semester and help them identify their values, where those values come from, what triggers them to side-step those values and how those values translate into their personal ethics. This is the introductory letter I wrote in their journal:

To My Students of MG310 Fall 2025,

Ethics isn’t about perfection — it’s about awareness, reflection, and the courage to realign when we drift. Every day, we are shaped by small decisions — what we say, what we ignore, what we choose to stand for. This journal is meant to help you notice those moments — to build your “integrity muscle” the same way you strengthen any other skill: through practice and intention.

Integrity grows from the inside out. It begins with who you want to be, guided by your values, and strengthened through habits that reinforce your best self. The more you practice, the more automatic it becomes. You’ll find that ethical awareness doesn’t limit you — it frees you. It gives you confidence that you can trust yourself, no matter the pressure.

Use this journal as a daily or weekly ritual. Each page offers one simple habit and one reflection prompt. Take a few minutes to write honestly — no right or wrong answers, just self-awareness and growth.

When you finish, look back at your responses and notice your progress through the semester – you’ll see not just how your thinking changes, but how your character strengthens.

Remember: mistakes are not failures — they are wisdom in the making.

With encouragement and belief in your potential,

Prof. Lori

___________________________________________________________________________

Letter 2 – Farewell and Thank you

This is the letter I gave to my students on the last day of class.

To My Dear Students of MG310 Fall 2025,

This last day of class is bittersweet because like you, I am ready for a break, but I will miss all of you dearly.

As you know, this was my first time teaching Business Ethics. I developed the curriculum with one primary goal in mind: never to tell you what your ethics should be, but rather to give you practical decision-making frameworks and tools to help you think, analyze, and reflect, so that you could make well-considered ethical decisions with confidence and conviction.

But what happened in this classroom went far beyond what I taught you.

The way you engaged with one another—listening, challenging respectfully, debating passionately but thoughtfully—created something incredibly special. This class had a level of engagement I haven’t seen in any other course I’ve taught. And that’s because of you. Those of you who regularly raised your hand, offered insights, changed your minds, or opened someone else’s eyes—you made this class compelling. You made it a place where we were all learning, including me.

What I appreciated most was the respect in this room. We disagreed, but no one became polarized. We debated, but no one became dismissive. And honestly, if the rest of the world behaved the way you behaved in this classroom, we would all be living in a place with far more dialogue and far less division.

So thank you—for your curiosity, your honesty, your willingness to think deeply, and the way you showed up for one another. I truly enjoyed teaching you, and I learned from you as much as you learned from me.

I wish each of you nothing but the very best in your future careers and in your lives. And I hope the tools you gained here help you become not just successful professionals, but thoughtful, ethical leaders.

With Warmth and Gratitude,

Prof. Lori