A small university pairs with local employers to assist college students in obtaining jobs upon graduation. A top student of the business school, who received several job offers upon graduation, contacts the assistant dean of the business school. The graduate relates an account of being dismissed after only one month from a position with a company found through the campus career center for failing a product knowledge test. The graduate was unaware during the hiring process that employment was contingent upon passing a product knowledge test, as that information was excluded from the written offer letter. There was no indication given during either two interviews or during a two$-$day orientation that continued employment with the company was dependent on achieving the minimum test scoring standard. The assistant dean recalls negative comments about the company and, as a result, reviews the employer$$s files and press records that evening and the next day. A detailed investigation reveals previous reports of student concerns and several fines against the company for various ethical and billing issues. In addition, the assistant dean discovers that the company$$s CEO sits on the board of trustees of the university.

Which should be the assistant dean$$s most immediate concern for deciding if the university should continue sending students to work for the company?

Answers

The repeated corporate misconduct reflected in the company$$s fines for ethical and billing issues

The conflict of interest between the company CEO$$s role in these issues and on the board of trustees

The misalignment in values between the university and the company

The potential for other local employers to become reluctant to pair with the university in the future