The 2025 UD Convening on Character Development brought together faculty, staff, administrators, and students from across the University of Delaware (UD) to engage in a meaningful and practical conversation on integrating character development into undergraduate education during a day-long conference held in the Audion on February 7.
Welcoming an enthusiastic audience, Dr. Johann Ducharme opened the event by emphasizing its significance:
“Your presence today signals a shared commitment to something essential: the character development of our undergraduates.”
This landmark convening, supported by the Educating Character Initiative (ECI) at Wake Forest University, was designed not just as a discussion, but as a springboard for action, identifying institutional opportunities and addressing key challenges in assessing and sustaining character education across academic and co-curricular programs.
A Defining Moment for Character Development at UD
At the heart of the convening was a growing consensus: UD is primed for a more cohesive, collaborative framework on character development. Participants engaged deeply with questions surrounding the infusion of character virtues into the curriculum, the role of faculty and staff, and the importance of measuring and sustaining character growth over time.
UD’s mission and values already highlight six core character virtues:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Creativity
- Integrity
- Respect
- Civility
- Leadership
Yet, the convening underscored the need for faculty and staff training, particularly for those working in co-curricular programs such as fellows programs, athletics, and student leadership initiatives, to better equip them to integrate character development into their work.
KEY INSIGHTS FROM THE CONVENING: Q&A WITH DR. JOHANN DUCHARME
Q: What were the most significant insights from the convening that you believe will shape the future of character development initiatives at UD?
One of the most powerful takeaways was that character development is already happening at UD—but with limited coordination. Faculty, staff, and administrators across different units are independently fostering character growth, yet there has been no centralized framework to align and support these efforts.
The convening surfaced a collective desire to move beyond fragmented approaches and toward a cohesive, university-wide commitment to character development. This means:
- Strengthening collaboration between academic and co-curricular programs.
- Building faculty and staff training to enhance their ability to infuse character into their work.
- Developing clearer pathways for assessing character growth in students.
Q: Can you share any innovative strategies or approaches discussed during the convening that stand out as particularly promising for practical implementation?
One of the standout discussions revolved around situational character development—the idea that students grow in virtue through real-life experiences rather than abstract discussions. Practical applications included:
- Creating real-life ethical scenarios within coursework to challenge students’ decision-making and integrity.
- Expanding co-curricular initiatives, particularly in fellowship programs and athletics, where leadership, civility, integrity and respect are naturally cultivated.
- Incorporating character reflection exercises into student assignments, ensuring that they recognize their own growth.
Additionally, Dave Raymond & Kristin Duncan’s Fireside Chat on the Power of Fun! highlighted how play and joy can be key drivers of character formation, particularly in fostering resilience, kindness, and gratitude.
Q: What were the key challenges identified in measuring and sustaining character development, and how do you envision overcoming them?
The most pressing challenge identified was assessment. Unlike knowledge acquisition, character growth is difficult to quantify, which makes it harder to track progress and refine initiatives.
To address this, UD will need to:
- Develop a shared set of assessment tools that measure virtues such as civility, creativity, and leadership—areas where UD is already strong.
- Leverage existing research in character assessment, including validated frameworks from the Educating Character Initiative and other leading institutions.
- Create opportunities for long-term tracking, using pre/post assessments and student reflections to evaluate growth.
Q: How do you plan to leverage the outcomes of this convening to drive ongoing dialogue and further initiatives in character development within UD?
The momentum from this convening will be carried forward in several key ways:
- The formation of the UD Coalition on Character Development, a working group of faculty, staff, and administrators to formalize and coordinate character education efforts.
- Launching faculty and staff training programs focused on integrating character development into their roles—particularly for those in student affairs, athletics, and co-curricular programs.
- Developing a long-term strategic plan for character development at UD, with clear objectives and measurable outcomes to ensure sustainability.
Ultimately, UD is uniquely positioned to be a leader in character development, particularly in its focus on civility, creativity, and leadership—three virtues that distinguish the university and offer a compelling direction for future efforts.
Dr. Ducharme will host a Strategic Consensus Meeting on Friday, April 11, 2025 to follow up with a smaller group of UD leaders, staff, and scholars. Please feel free to reach out to him directly about this gathering.
Watch excerpts from the Convening:
- Convening on Character Development
- Panel Discussion: Character Development across UD - Opportunities & Challenges
- Fire Side Chat - Dave Raymond & Kristin Duncan
- Synthesis & Next Steps: Building Momentum for Character Development
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