2008 President's Retreat

Once every year President T.K. Wetherell gathers a select group of students, faculty, and staff in a retreat setting to discuss issues of importance to our community.  During this year’s retreat, titled "Vires, Artes, Mores: A Legacy of Ethical Leadership", participants will address the issue of ethical leadership and explore our ability as a community to make ethical decisions as we strive for the greater good.  We will examine how we communicate or share with one another the traditions, knowledge and skill base needed to make such decisions.

At the end of the 2008 President’s Retreat, participants will be able to. . .

• have a better understanding of how we as individuals react or respond when faced with ethical dilemmas and decision
• identify ways in which we can improve upon how we communicate or share knowledge considered essential in making ethical decisions
• better understand the approach or tools we use to communicate traditions, increase knowledge, and create a stronger skill base
• recognize the relationship that exists between ethics and what we consider our tenets of ethical leadership—Vires (Strength), Artes (Skill), and Mores (Character)

At Florida State University’s 2008 President’s Retreat. . .

• students, faculty and staff participants will discuss ethical leadership and explore our ability as a community to make ethical decisions
• participants will be challenged to identify ways in which they can personally communicate with others in the university community the traditions, knowledge and skill base needed to make better decisions
• participants will discuss the role that Vires, Artes, Mores (Strength, Skill and Character) plays in our ability to make ethical decisions as a community

What is the issue to be explored?
This retreat will explore the the topics of ethics and leadership within the framework of the three torches on the FSU Seal: Strength, Skill, and Character.  The retreat will include facilitated introspection that asks participants to identify ways they perform ethically through leadership opportunities.  Participants will also discuss ethical dilemmas in which our decisions are made, and how we can use the FSU values of Vires, Artes, Mores to help us make those personal decisions. 

Why are we spending this important time exploring this issue?
The University community is taking a deeper look at the values of the FSU Seal: Strength, Skill, and Character; and this retreat will examine how we can apply these facets in our daily lives to help us lead for the greater good.

Why were these specific participants invited to be a part of this conversation?
Attendees have been identified and nominated by faculty and staff for their formal and informal leadership role in, and demonstrated commitment to, the educational and social environment at FSU.  

What will happen after this conversation?  Who is listening to what we discuss?
That the 2008 President’s Retreat has been devoted to the exploration of this issue is a demonstration of the high level of concern our community members have for the quality of the educational experience at FSU.  Who is listening? We are – as a community – because we care about our shared experience and we want to know if there is a way to do things better.  From this perspective, all participants bear with them the responsibility to take a piece of what is discovered at the President’s Retreat back into our daily lives.

Also, University President T.K. Wetherell and Vice President Mary Coburn, and the President Retreat Planning Committee are very interested in hearing the outcome of the retreat and receiving feedback from retreat participants.  They recognize that the President’s Retreat marks the one time each year that such a diverse group gathers to discuss issues of importance to the University community.  They value the time and energy participants contribute to be a part of this experience and are personally committed to make sure that something meaningful comes from it.