Templeton Business Ethics Case Competition

Through the generous support of Troy and Sissy Templeton, Stetson University hosts the annual Templeton Business Ethics Case Competition. Each spring, undergraduate teams from invited institutions analyze a real-world ethical case, prepare an executive summary and presentation, and come to campus in February to present their work before a distinguished panel of judges.

The competition is part of Stetson’s Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative, led by John Tichenor, PhD., which reflects the university’s long-standing commitment to values-based education. Stetson believes that personal and social responsibility are essential qualities for future business leaders, and the initiative strengthens this commitment through ethics-focused coursework, research, and programming.

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Registration Fee Payment

Participating Teams will pay a registration fee of $400, which will register one student team (two persons) and one faculty advisor. The fee for student alternates/observers and additional faculty attendees is $50 per person.

To submit payment by either check or credit card, please fill out the Templeton Business Ethics Case Competition Registration Payment Form.

Participant and Advisor Registration

We ask that each advisor, student team member, and alternates/observers complete a registration form.

Registration form

2027 Agenda

Hosted by Stetson University, Upcoming in February 2027

Thursday, February 25

6:00 p.m.: Dinner and Opening Plenary Session (Bracket Assignments will be Announced)

Friday, February 26 (tentative agenda)

9:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.: Round 1 (Presentations) and Round 2 (Q & A)
11:50 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Lunch Break (Judges choose bracket winners)
1:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.: Announcement of Bracket Winners (Plenary Session)
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Finals (Plenary Session - friends and families may be invited)
2:30 p.m. - 3:25 p.m.: Break for Judges' Deliberations
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Presentation of Awards (Plenary Session)

Hotel

The conference hotel will be the Courtyard by Marriott DeLand Historic Downtown, located just a block away from the Stetson University campus.

Address: Courtyard by Marriott, 308 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32720, 386-943-9500.

Reservations

Hotel Accommodations

Courtyard Marriott right across the street from Stetson has limited rooms, so contact as soon as possible.
Hampton Inn & Suites DeLand, plenty of rooms available, but you will need a car or Uber to the Stetson campus (1.5 miles, but not very walkable)

There is also a wide variety of quaint bed & breakfast inns and other local hotel accommodations available in and around DeLand. Further, if you are interested in staying at the beachside, feel free to choose your own accommodations – i.e., you are not required to use any specific hotel.

Please let Julie Holland, know when you have made your accommodations and/or if you have any difficulties securing your hotel.

Receiving the Case

Cases for the Templeton Business Ethics Case Competition are written or acquired by the competition directors. The case for each annual competition is emailed to the two student team members and the faculty advisor at each participating institution. For the 2027 competition, the case distribution date is still to be confirmed. The case is usually two to three pages long and addresses a contemporary business issue involving financial, legal, and ethical considerations for decision-makers. Approximately three weeks after receiving the case, teams must prepare and submit both an executive summary and a PowerPoint slide deck to be used in their oral presentation. The submission deadline, which is also still to be confirmed, will be announced at a later date.

Opening Session

The competition begins with an opening plenary session Thursday at 6:00 p.m. This session provides an opportunity for visiting teams and faculty advisors to meet one another and the Stetson directors of the event. Additionally, bracket assignments will be announced at this event.

Will be updated soon for 2026. The format and rules are generally the same each year, you can access the last year Format and Rules document.

Promote ethical business conduct
Develop responsible leadership
Create meaningful co-curricular learning opportunities
Encourage collaboration among faculty who teach business ethics and corporate social responsibility.