Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What exactly is the College Ethics Symposium?

A. The College Ethics Symposium is an experiential learning opportunity whereby students from different schools and backgrounds come together to explore and learn about real world ethical dilemmas.  This experience will help attendees apply concepts learned in their professional and personal lives. The learning experience is based on small group discussions around a wide range of ethics case studies.

1. Logistics & Schedule

Q: When and where is the symposium taking place?

• Dates: Thursday, October 15th – Saturday, October 17th 2026.
• Location: Providence Presbyterian Church – 171 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. 
• Check-in: Thursday at 2:00 PM in the main building.

Q: How much does it cost?

• For Students it costs nothing.  Your faculty advisor arranges transportation to Hilton Head Island.  During the program, you will be put up in host family homes. All meals will be provided. 

Q: Is attendance mandatory for all sessions?

• To maintain the integrity of the small-group discussions, we ask that all participants attend every breakout session.

Q: What is the dress code?

• All events are casual, but modest. In October, you can expect temperatures ranging from highs in the mid-70’s and lows in the upper 50’s. On Thursday evening, you will be dining with a host family.  That would be a little more formal.  Similarly, on Friday evening there is a group dinner for both attendees and volunteers.  That too will be dressy casual. 

1. Symposium Topics & Content

Q: I see that this program is being hosted at Providence Presbyterian Church. Is this a Christian based program? 

• The symposium is an experiential learning activity with both the leadership and student attendees being a diverse group. The schools that are invited are from both religious affiliated and secular colleges and universities. Students from all majors attend. Participants may have differing sexual orientations. Students may self identify as followers of a particular faith or no faith at. We can expect that the students and faculty attending will come from all walks of life and have a myriad of values and moral views. Therefore, it is important that both participants and facilitators have a consistent and common understanding for the case study experience. We are interested in promoting sound ethical leadership in all career fields regardless of a student’s particular faith or philosophical perspective. While participating students come from all walks of life, participants must be aware that the historical foundation of the College Ethics Symposium was built upon a christian worldview. Attendees should be aware that the hosting venue will be at a christian church. Students who choose to participate can expect to experience and observe Christian iconography. Students can expect to hear prayers of thanks and guidance to begin group activities. However, there will be no attempts to indoctrinate or evangelize.

Q: What specific topics will be covered in the breakout groups?

We have curated 12-15 ethics based case studies that generate discussion and learning.  These cases do not have a black or white answers.  Rather, they are purposefully written to elicit discussions where opinions may vary from person to person.  Some examples:

• Everyday Actions and Personal Harm Liability

• Religious Ethical Issues in the Workplace and Society

• Ethics surrounding the use or misuse of AI
• Personal Relations in the Company Environment & With Company Peers

Q: Do I need to prepare anything in advance?

• Yes. Please visit the website (https://www.ethicssymposium.org) and review the following information: 

1. Start with the “about” to get a better overview about the program.
2. Then, take a deeper dive into the materials provided in the section “For Students”.  There will not be sufficient time to prepare once you get to Hilton Head Island. It will be expected that you’ll have read the cases before arriving.  They are short and will not take a lot of your time.  They may be good travel reading materials.

Participation & Conduct

 

Q: How are the breakout groups determined? 

• Teams will be randomly assigned to ensure a mix of schools, backgrounds, and perspectives. Each team will be assigned a faculty mentor/facilitator.  The groups will have around 8 students each.  You will stay in these groups throughout the small group discussions.  There will be other program activities designed to enable you to interact with all the attendees throughout the symposium.

Q: What if I have a strong disagreement with a peer during a session?

• The symposium is a "brave space" for intellectual friction. We encourage vigorous sharing of ideas and opinions.  The learning is rooted in hearing and respecting other points of view.  The discussion remains focused on the arguments rather than the individuals. For more information read the section For Students / Case Study - The Basics on the website.

Q: Will there be any free time to explore Hilton Head Island?

• Yes, but it is limited.  Student surveys over the years tell us that the students want to spend more time in their small groups.  The program is fully loaded.  We do have a recreational activity plan which has been a big hit with the students.  On Friday afternoon, attendees will embark on a Vagabond Dolphin Cruise.  This is a great opportunity to get to know other students and enjoy nature.  Following the cruise, there is a small window where students have some free time to explore the island.