Beyond the Funding: Baylor, University of Delaware, & Villanova
Baylor University: Character Formation Workshops with Baylor Athletics
The Faith & Sports Institute and Baylor Athletics hosted author Sabrina Little on February 12th, whose book, The Examined Run: Why Good People Make Better Runners, is central to their ECI Capacity-Building grant. This project is focused on strengthening faith-integrated approaches to character formation in the realm of athletics. Little’s visit facilitated meaningful engagement across campus. She led a discussion with a staff reading group, presented to 40 athletic department members, shared insights on the virtue of love with a student-athlete chapel class, engaged in discussions about faith-based character formation with the Baylor Sports Ministry, and connected with Baylor scholars in the field.
University of Delaware: Advancing Character Development Through Collaborative Leadership
The University of Delaware (UD) is actively strengthening character development across undergraduate programs through campus-wide dialogue. Highlights include strategic meetings with scholars like Dr. Tenelle Porter, whose expertise on intellectual humility helped spark conversation on questions concerning intellectual curiosity, creativity, respect, integrity, civility, and leadership; and Dr. Jason Baehr, who helped catalyze conversations and reflection about cultivating a university culture that prioritizes intellectual virtue and civil discourse. UD hosted a large convening, UD Convening on Character Development, in February that engaged more than 100 faculty, staff, and students. These collaborative efforts are building a foundation for integrating character development into the UD experience.
Villanova University: Educating Augustinian Character
With the support of an ECI Capacity-Building Grant, Villanova is embarking on a project to integrate character education deeply into its Augustinian core. A newly formed working group, bringing together diverse faculty and staff perspectives, has been engaged in fruitful discussions to discern a uniquely Villanova approach to character development.
Workshop themes have focused on virtues such as humility, hope, and love for truth, goodness, beauty, and God. They have also discussed practices of forgiveness, introspection, communal life, and pilgrimage.