Ethics In A Changing World - Navigating Difficult Situations in 2026

James Keller - SaulEwing LLP

This session will look at ethical and legal issues relating to increasingly frequent issues in today’s higher education climate: a) tension between current law/regulatory guidance and a donor’s restricted gift; b) institutional obligations if your school is approaching the “zone of exigency”; and 3) navigating conflicts of interest in public-private partnerships. Participants will learn about the current and unique regulatory climate in higher education, what the law says about obligations to creditors and others if your institution is in serious financial difficulty, and how and when to be an “upstander” if a public-private partnership seems to raise conflict of interest issues.

Learning Objectives

  1. Examine the ethical and legal considerations surrounding donor-restricted gifts when donor intent conflicts with current laws or regulatory guidance.
  2. Identify institutional obligations to creditors and other stakeholders when a college or university approaches financial exigency.
  3. Evaluate potential conflicts of interest in public-private partnerships and determine appropriate actions to address ethical concerns.

CPE Available

  • 1 Credit: Regulatory Ethics