Welcome to the inaugural UD Convening on Character Development! The day features collaborative discussions on Definitional Consensus, Assessing Character, and University Coordination. As part of the Educating Character Initiative (ECI) grant, this convening is focused on advancing character development across undergraduate programs at UD by bringing together faculty, staff, and administrators to explore opportunities and challenges to this work. This initiative aligns with UD’s missional value of ethical development, specifically intellectual curiosity, creativity, integrity, respect, civility, and leadership.

Please join us for all or a portion of the day. Registration is requested.

Date: Friday, February 7, 2025
Location: Audion at STAR
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
 

Agenda

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast

Welcome attendees with light refreshments and provide an opportunity for informal networking.

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks 

Johann Ducharme, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship

Introduction to the purpose of the convening, its goals, and the importance of character development at UD, framed around the themes of teaching implementation, assessment, and university-wide coordination.

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM | Fireside Chat: Heroes of Happiness

Dave Raymond ‘79, Accomplished Entrepreneur, Author of The Power of Fun!, and the original Phillie Phanatic &
Kristin Duncan  ‘99, Leader of Mastering Your Journey, The Siegfried Group

Insights into the significance of character development in leadership and undergraduate education, with a focus on past & present challenges and/or opportunities at the University of Delaware.

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM | Panel Discussion: Character Development Across UD – Opportunities & Challenges

Panelists: José-Luis Riera, Vice President for Student Life and Interim Chief Diversity Officer; Jenn Judy, Senior Associate AD, Student-Athlete Leadership Development; and Julia Bayuk, Professor of Marketing, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, Lerner College of Business & Economics
Moderator: Chrissi Rawak, Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation

Discussion on current efforts to develop student character through curricular and co-curricular activities such as the Honor Code, group assignments, internships, and athletics. Panelists will address concerns regarding university coordination and how to make character education explicit and synergized across campus.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch & Networking

Catered lunch with open seating for continued conversation and networking among faculty, staff, and other participants.

1:00PM – 2:00 PM | Breakout Sessions: Key Questions in Character Development

  • Session 1 (Audion): How Do We Ethically Develop Real-Life Scenarios to Test Student Character?

    Facilitators: Dr. Nicole Long, Assistant Vice President, Student Experience & Belonging; Jessica Ryan, Fraternity & Sorority Leadership and Learning; Matthew Creasy, University Student Centers; and Dr. Regina Donato, Community Standards and Conflict Resolution

    Discussion on practical ways to implement character development in classroom and co-curricular activities, addressing questions of teaching and implementation.

  • Session 2 (HR Classroom): How Do We Measure Character Development at UD?

    Facilitators: Dr. Philip Gable, Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences; and Jack Davis, Associate AD, Business Intelligence, Analytics and Strategy

    Focus on the assessment and measurement of character, exploring methods and tools to track student growth in ethical reasoning and character traits.

  • Session 3 (2nd Floor Conference Room): Coordinating Character Education Across UD

    Facilitators: Dr. Tim Shaffer, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Chair of Civil Discourse; and Dr. Johann Ducharme 

    Discussion on making character development explicit, omni-present, and coordinated throughout the university, with attention to respecting the diversity of values and definitions of “good character.”

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM | Roundtable Discussion: Strategic Directions for Character Development at UD

Facilitator: Dr. Dan Freeman, Founding Director of Horn Entrepreneurship

A collaborative discussion to brainstorm strategies for aligning character development across academic and student life departments. This session will focus on how character education can contribute to student flourishing (e.g., retention, success, job placement) and university flourishing (e.g., community building, reputation).

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Break

Short break for refreshments and transition to the next session.

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM | Synthesis & Next Steps: Building Momentum for Character Development

Facilitator: Dr. Michael Chajes, Interim Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Dean of Honors College

Summary of key takeaways from the day’s discussions, emphasizing the importance of coordinating efforts and defining what constitutes “good character” in diverse educational contexts. Discussion of next steps and plans for future grant opportunities to support character education.

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM | Closing Remarks 

Concluding thoughts, gratitude to participants, and a look ahead to continuing efforts around character development at UD.

 

Register for the UD Convening on Character Development