Center Overview

The mission of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics is to promote awareness of ethical issues on campus, in the Bay Area region, and globally. We work with faculty, staff, students, community leaders, and the public to address ethical issues more effectively in teaching, research, and action.

The Center identifies real-world ethical issues, analyzes them, and makes what we have learned available through our Web site, programs, speeches, classes, and selected direct engagements with institutions.

The Center has developed practical decision making tools to help people and organizations figure out for themselves the right thing to do. We do research and create programs in all areas of applied ethics but especially in bioethics, character education, government ethics, and business ethics.

We work on campus with students and faculty. We partner with many organizations, such as hospitals, corporations, county offices of education, and local governments and agencies. And we provide programs for professionals in health care, public service, business, and education.

To accomplish this, we call on the services of

12 staff
More than 50 faculty scholars and associates whose research deals with ethics in fields from technology to civil engineering to law
A Steering Committee composed of SCU faculty and an Advisory Board of community leaders

Established in 1986, the Center has grown into one of the most active university-based applied ethics centers in the United States. Seed funding and initial endowment were provided by Linda and A.C. "Mike" Markkula Jr. Today, the Center is supported by endowment and contributions from many sources.