Our mission:

To engender and foster confidence and trust in American corporations and institutions and the professions that serve them.

 
Our goals:

• Provide forums for ethics education.
• Affirm and encourage what’s right.
• Showcase best practices.
• Promote a positive perspective.

The NASBA Center for the Public Trust  (CPT) addresses the issue of ethics and ethical behavior in business, education, public policy and society, while promoting a positive perspective on activities within the business and accounting communities. The CPT addresses ethics and ethical leadership through co-sponsored events nationally with prominent colleges and universities, firms and other ethics organizations.
 

Our goals for ethics education are:

• To lead innovative programs in ethics and promote the development of ethical leadership. 
• Advance the theoretical understanding and practical application of ethics.
• Identify and illuminate ethical issues.

An important focus of the CPT is to promote the positive.  Historically, negative events in the business community have been considered newsworthy and much attention and energy has been expended in that direction. The NASBA Center for Public Trust has the opposite approach – focus and attention are given to those who employ best practices and elevate the ethical threshold in their communities. The CPT recognizes individuals and corporations who follow high standards of social responsibility and leadership through its Being a Difference awards program and its “Good News” column of its Ethics Matters newsletter.
 
The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, which is dedicated to the enhancement of the regulation of accountancy, is uniquely qualified to house such a center. The focus on linking theoretical and practical ethics would be seen as an enhancement of the regulation of accountancy. Many boards require the passing of an ethics examination or the completion of courses on ethics prior to licensure. The NASBA Center for the Public Trust would take the next step in this process – the linking of the theoretical to practical. The role of ethics within the profession should consist of more than the study and testing of the code of ethics. 
 
 
 
 
The NASBA Center for the Public Trust is a non-profit subsidiary of NASBA that seeks donations from individuals and corporations.