A Penn State World Campus student recently published a peer-reviewed article about marketing ethics with the guidance of Penn State business faculty members.
The article was published in July in the Journal of Leadership, Accountability, and Ethics.
Taylor Croy was in the final semester of her associate degree in labor and human resources program when she enrolled in an online business administration course called BA 243: Social, Legal, and Ethical Environment of Business.
The course explored the ethical and legal issues surrounding the business environment.
After the course ended, the course instructor, Ellen Raineri, an associate teaching professor of business, asked Croy to collaborate on the project, which would focus on marketing ethics.
Croy said she did not think she would ever have the opportunity to publish an academic paper, although it was something she wanted to try. She is grateful that Raineri asked her to join.
“I wasn’t sure what research would look like for my field, nor how to get onto a research paper. I wouldn’t have been comfortable trying to write something solo,” she said.
Croy was joined by another student, Brett Krapf, who was enrolled in the online course as a Penn State Hazleton student. They were led by Raineri and Lori Elias Reno, who is an assistant teaching professor of business and assistant director of academic affairs at Penn State Hazleton. The group began writing in January 2023 and submitted their work in May.
“We all volunteered to take on different topics within the paper, including researching, writing, and editing,” Croy said. “Ultimately, we found some interesting correlations, surprising data, and opportunities for more research.”
“The most interesting thing that I learned about marketing ethics within professional national associations is how few references there are to marketing ethics within several organizations and industries,” she said.
Raineri said it was a privilege to work with Croy.
“We all benefitted from Taylor’s insightful ideas, skilled research, and polished writing. The examples she selected made ideas within our publication especially meaningful and clear,” Raineri said.
Croy said the project was a gratifying experience in her online education.
Croy chose Penn State World Campus because it fulfilled her needs as an adult learner returning to higher education after a nearly 10-year hiatus. She is also a military spouse, which requires her family to move every three years.
“Penn State World Campus provided me with an opportunity to get a quality education that moved where I moved, understood my scheduling and time needs, and is affordable enough to be attainable,” she said.
Croy said the best part of her online experience is the professors.
“I have learned a lot from them, and everyone was more than happy to answer questions or give advice,” she said.
During her first semester in the bachelor’s program, her family had a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and bought their first home.
“When I reached out to my professors, they were fully interested in helping me do what was best for me and be as successful as possible.”
Croy is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Labor and Human Resources online through Penn State World Campus. After graduation, Croy hopes to work in compliance human resources.
Publishing research and collaborating with Penn State faculty members is one of the ways that Penn State World Campus students can enrich their online learning experience. Other ways include internships, clubs and organizations, and student leadership development opportunities.
Learn more about the activities available to students online through Penn State World Campus.