As a member of the University System of Georgia (USG), Georgia College & State University shares a vital mission: to create a more educated Georgia. Fulfilling this promise requires unwavering integrity, sound judgment, and a genuine dedication to public service from every member of our community.
Our success depends on a shared commitment to ethical conduct. While personal accountability is essential, our collective adherence to these values is what builds a campus culture rooted in trust and collaboration.
To guide us, the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct defines the standards that shape our actions and character. By upholding these principles every day, we ensure that every interaction reflects the excellence, competence, and integrity that define GCSU.
Statement of core values
Every member of the USG community is required to adhere to the USG Statement of Core Values that form and guide the daily work of the organization.
- INTEGRITY – We will be honest, fair, impartial, and unbiased in our dealings both with and on behalf of the USG.
- EXCELLENCE – We will perform our duties to foster a culture of excellence and high quality in everything we do.
- ACCOUNTABILITY – We firmly believe that education in the form of scholarship, research, teaching, service, and developing others is a public trust. We will live up to this trust by safeguarding our resources and being good stewards of the human, intellectual, physical, and fiscal resources given to our care.
- RESPECT – We recognize the inherent dignity and rights of every person, and we will do our utmost to fulfill our resulting responsibility to treat each person with fairness, compassion, and decency.
Code of Conduct
We will:
- Uphold the highest standards of intellectual honesty and integrity in teaching, research, service, and grants administration.
- Act as good stewards of the resources and information entrusted to our care.
- Perform assigned duties and professional responsibilities in such a manner to further the USG mission.
- Treat fellow employees, students, and the public with dignity and respect.
- Refrain from discriminating against, harassing, or threatening others.
- Comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and professional standards.
- Respect the intellectual property rights of others.
- Avoid improper political activities as defined in law and Board of Regents Policy.
- Protect human health and safety and the environment in all USG operations and activities.
- Report wrongdoing to the proper authorities, refrain from retaliating against those reporting violations, and cooperate fully with authorized investigations.
- Disclose and avoid improper conflicts of interest.
- Refrain from accepting any gift or thing of value in those instances prohibited by law or Board of Regents’ policy.
- Not use our position or authority improperly to advance the interests of a friend or relative.