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Institute Proceedings INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF SELECTED PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS FROM THE 2005 INSTITUTE ON COLLEGE STUDENT VALUES The editors of the JOURNAL OF COLLEGE AND CHARACTER are pleased to include in this PROCEEDINGS volume articles based on eleven presentations at the 2005 Institute on College Student Values, “Leadership with Spirit: How Colleges Prepare Students to Lead with Moral Purpose and Commitment.” For more information on the Institute on College Student Values, go to Institute on College Student Values. Below, you will find an overview of the selected papers and presentations from the conference, a list of these selections, and finally, summaries with links to the full articles. OVERVIEW In her keynote address, President Diana Chapman Walsh of Wellesley College emphasized the importance of inspiring young adults to become moral leaders, a responsibility that poses demanding challenges to higher education decision-makers. President Walsh noted that one important goal of the college and university is to prepare students to become activists in expanding human rights, that is, to fight for freedom for others and to assume responsibility to create a more just world (4). Similarly, President Thomas B. Coburn of Naropa University sees his role as a university president as being one who helps prepare students to change the world in which they live, not merely to cultivate an inner life (Coburn). President Walsh explained that often leaders are challenged to solve problems that have an immense impact on society. As a consequence,leaders must be taught to think deeply about their own moral values when making moral decisions (4). The implication for higher education is evident: students who become great leaders must learn how to be moral agents. Often other Institute presenters focused on the question of how to educate students in developing character and high moral principles, as well. For instance, Angela Hernquist of the University of Nevada Las Vegas examined how state public institutions of higher education have integrated the teaching of ethics into their curricula. Yet, many presenters observed that personal, social, and institutional obstacles can prevent students from thinking deeply about what they value most. Often fragmentations of self, academic life, community, society, and world can be hindrances to moral development. These fragmentations can be seen in the form of dualities. One duality is the self and “the other” (Walsh, 2. 4). We live in two worlds: the inner world of reflection and the outer world where others dwell (Walsh, 4; Coburn). Often these two worlds can become strongly divided. Susie Jans-Thomas of Mount Mary College, for instance, argued that an over-reliance on modern technology in the form of personal cell phones can build walls between students and the places and people to whom they should feel connected (Jans-Thomas). One of the roles of the spiritual leader is to guide students in making a connection between these two worlds. Susan R. Komives of the University of Maryland, in her plenary talk, defined spirituality as “our attempt to make a personal connection with the larger external world” (Komives, 1). In overcoming the gulf between the inner and outer world, the university can guide young people to develop a sense of “deep empathy” (Walsh, 2). The importance of students and faculty being open to a diversity of perspectives was often mentioned in the Institute. For example, Frank Fear, Patricia Kenney, Rachael Loucks, Kyle McPherson, and Jaclyn VanOverbeke of Michigan State University argued that being mindful includes being open to new ideas (Fear et al., 3). Clearly, being open to different perspectives and valuing differences go hand in hand. Diana Denton of the University of Waterloo and Peter Laurence of the organization Education as Transformation demonstrated in their workshop how a facilitated dialogue program can help teach students to communicate with those with diverse viewpoints. These lessons in “contemplative listening” include attending to the self’s inner voice and the voices of others (Denton and Laurence). Fear et al. showed how the Liberty Hyde Bailey Scholars Program at Michigan State promotes dialogue with others of varying outlooks and beliefs, a dialogue that creates “mindful environments” (1-9). Andrea L. Dowhower and Sharon Mortensen of Pennsylvania State University emphasized the importance of celebration of differences in academic communities that support many faiths on campus (Dowhower and Mortensen). Respect for others is one of the core values that are fused into the curriculum at Saint Leo University, explained Jane Govoni, Valerie Wright, and Peter Wubbenhorst in their talk on the integration of values in higher education (Govoni et al., 1-11). On a similar note, Blake Fry of the University of Central Oklahoma said that the planning committee of the first Oklahoma Conference on College Student Character identified an appreciation of diversity as one of the five elements of character(Fry). As Presidents Walsh and Coburn and others emphasized, college administrators, faculty, and other personnel can become authentic moral leaders by incorporating the various dimensions of spirituality into college life. This year’s Institute on College Student Values, through its workshops, discussions, and special presentations, showed how spiritual leaders can become the heart of a successful college leadership program. LIST OF PRESENTERS AND TITLES INCLUDED IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2005 INSTITUTE ON COLLEGE STUDENT VALUES Keynote Addresses “Trustworthy Leadership,” President Diana Chapman Walsh, Wellesley College “Spirituality and Leadership,” Susan R. Komives, University of Maryland Concurrent Sessions "Cultivating Spiritual Academics for Leadership—A Presidential Perspective," President Thomas B. Coburn, Naropa University “Preparing Students for Leadership in a Pluralistic World,” Diana Denton, University of Waterloo and Peter Laurence, EDUCATION as Transformation “Connecting the Mind, Heart and Hands through Intentional Community at Calvin College,” Jeff Bouman, Don DeGraaf, Mark Mulder, and Joy Van Marion, Calvin College “Mindfulness and Moral Purpose: Exploring Connections,” Frank Fear, Patricia Kenney, Rachael Loucks, Kyle McPherson, and Jaclyn VanOverbeke, Michigan State University “A Survey of Ethics Courses in State College and University Curricula,” Angela Hernquist, University of Nevada Las Vegas “Fusions: Integrating Values in Higher Education,” Jane Govoni, Valerie Wright, and Peter Wubbenhorst, Saint Leo University “The Multi-Faith Imperative: A New Facility Meeting the Needs of 21st Century Students,” Andrea L. Dowhower and Sharon Mortensen, along with Davin Carr-Chellman and Mya Pawlicki, Penn State University, Park Campus “Organizing a State-Level Conference on College Student Character,” Blake Fry, University of Central Oklahoma “Turning Off the Cell Phones and Living in the Present,” Susie Jans-Thomas, Mount Mary College SUMMARIES Below, you may read a short summary of each article. By clicking on the presentation title after each summary, you can access the complete article. Featured Speakers In her keynote address, “Trustworthy Leadership,” President Diana Chapman Walsh of Wellesley College offered five ways that educational leaders can assume morally responsible leadership. President Walsh spoke about the ethical purposes of leadership, its role in democracy, and the role of educators in rearing the next generation of leaders to bring moral purpose and commitment to their leadership. Click here to read her article. TRUSTWORTHY LEADERSHIP Susan R. Komives of the University of Maryland explored the meaning and purpose of spirituality in her opening keynote presentation “Spirituality and Leadership.” Dr. Komives emphasized that spirituality is “a daily awareness of meaning.” In seeking to become spiritual leaders, we must recognize the significance of the sacred places we make and encounter in our lives, the use of symbols that create deep meaning, and the intimate connections we have with our fellow human beings. Click here to read her article. SPIRITUALITY AND LEADERSHIP Concurrent Sessions Presenters Naropa University’s President Thomas B. Coburn explains that the mission of Naropa is to provide its students with a “contemplative education.” A “contemplative education” is one that cultivates in the student a deep awareness of the interconnected web of which all creatures are a part. Naropa strives to create a new kind of human being,” one who wages war against the destructive acts of terror and hostility that pervade our lives today. Click here to read his article. CULTIVATING SPIRITUAL ACADEMICS FOR LEADERSHIP: A PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE Diana Denton of the University of Waterloo and Peter Laurence of the international organization EDUCATION as Transformation presented a workshop on “Preparing Students for Leadership in a Pluralistic World.” The presenters demonstrated how students can develop spirituality in a setting of guided dialogue. Such a process helps students to communicate with others in a community of differences, an important skill for all those who seek to be moral leaders. Included in their article is a list of “Guidelines for Interreligious Dialogue.” Click here to read their article. GUIDELINES FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE Jeff Bouman, Don DeGraaf, Mark Mulder, and Joy Van Marion in “Connecting the Mind, Heart, and Hands through Intentional Community at Calvin College” illustrate how Calvin College integrates service, learning, and faith through the creation of three Christian intentional communities. They reported on a study that showed the long-term impacts of these communities on their residents. Click here to view their slide presentation. CONNECTING THE MIND, HEART, AND HANDS THROUGH INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY AT CALVIN COLLEGE Frank Fear, Patricia Kenney, Rachael Loucks, Kyle McPherson, and Jaclyn VanOverbeke in “Mindfulness and Moral Purpose: Exploring Connections” featured in their presentation the Liberty Hyde Bailey Scholars Program at Michigan State University, an interdisciplinary program in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The purpose of the program is to encourage the development of the whole person. Click here to read their article. MINDFULNESS AND MORAL PURPOSE: EXPLORING CONNECTIONS Angela Hernquist of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, in “A Survey of Ethics Courses in State College and University Curricula,” reports on a survey showing how other state higher education institutions integrate ethics into their instructional programs and curricula She reports on the pros and cons of different ways of teaching ethics to students. Click here to read her article. A SURVEY OF ETHICS COURSES IN STATE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CURRICULA Jane Govoni, Valerie Wright, and Peter Wubbenhorst in “Fusions: Integrating Values in Higher Education” identify six core values that are infused into the academic programs at Saint Leo University. These core values are “excellence,” “respect,” “responsible stewardship,” “personal development,” “community,” and “integrity.” The presenters use the Criminal Justice program to show how Saint Leo integrates these values into academic life. Click here to read their article. FUSIONS: INTEGRATING VALUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION Andrea L. Dowhower and Sharon Mortensen, along with Davin Carr-Chellman and Mya Pawlicki, discussed the impact of the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center and the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs on students at Penn State University Park Campus. In “The Multi-Faith Imperative: A New Facility Meeting the Needs of 21st Century Students,” these presenters relate that these two centers are having a positive influence on the religious and spiritual climate of the college campus. Click here to read their article. THE MULTI-FAITH IMPERATIVE: A NEW FACILITY MEETING THE NEEDS OF 21ST CENTURY STUDENTS Blake Fry of the University of Central Oklahoma, in “Organizing a State-Level Conference on College Student Character,” reported on the planning process and participant evaluations of the first Oklahoma Conference on College Student Character. Five elements of character education addressed during the conference were “health,” “leadership,” “diversity,” “spirituality,” and “service.” The motivation for the conference was the need for more extensive character education among college students in Oklahoma. Click here to read his article. ORGANIZING A STATE-LEVEL CONFERENCE ON COLLEGE STUDENT CHARACTER Susie Jans-Thomas of Mount Mary College in “Turning Off the Cell Phones and Living in the Present” discussed a project she assigned to her students called the “Cell Phone Challenge.” Dr. Jans-Thomas talked about her own and her students’ observations on how the cell phone has impacted contemporary social and academic behaviors. Click here to read her article. TURNING OFF THE CELL PHONES AND LIVING IN THE PRESENT Back to top | Print this Article | Read All Articles

Copyright © 2006-2007 by NASPA The Journal of College and Character is published by NASPA and sponsored by the Hardee Center for Leadership and Ethics, Higher Education Program, Florida State University. Contact the editors at jcc@naspa.org or (850) 644-5867. National Association of Student Personnel Administrators 1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, Ste. 418 • Washington DC, 20009 phone: (202) 265-7500 • fax: (202) 797-1157 NASPA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, affectional or sexual orientation, or disability in any of its policies, programs, and services.