Does Providing Minority Scholarships Constitute an Act Discreditable to the Profession? A Philosophical Look at a Practical Ethical Question

Abstract

The AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct Rule 501 prohibits acts discreditable to the profession. Discrimination on the basis of race is one such act. Providing scholarships that are open only to members of a minority group, or that favor minorities would therefore seemingly constitute an act discreditable to the profession, even though it is a charitable act. This article discusses this question as well as the broader issue of what acts should constitute acts that are discreditable to the profession.

JEL Classification: K2, J7, D63, M4