Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson in his annual address to students, staff and faculty on Thursday talked about creating a “culture of ethics” on campus in the wake of several recent reports that some high-ranking employees committed ethics violations.
Peterson said administrators have revised some internal policies and are reviewing others to ensure they’re consistent within the institute and with policies of the University System of Georgia. He said some of the changes will continue throughout the year and perhaps longer.
Peterson also encouraged employees to complete an upcoming survey by the University of North Georgia’s BB&T Center for Ethical Leadership that will be used to determine additional improvements.
In recent weeks, state investigators and internal auditors have released several reports that found some now-former Georgia Tech administrators committed violations such as having a vendor pay for a football suite, being a paid board member of a vendor receiving money for services at the institute and filing false time card information.
“We’ve had some folks doing some things they shouldn’t have done and we’ve had some folks who’ve not done some things they should have done,” Peterson told an audience of about 400 people in a classroom on campus. Some watched from overflow rooms.
University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley chastised Peterson last week in a letter, writing "you are ultimately responsible." Wrigley wrote that he wants an update from Peterson about additional improvements by Nov. 12.
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