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Institutional Impact Grants

The Educating Character Initiative awards Institutional Impact Grants of between $100,000 and $1,000,000 to higher-education institutions that wish to undertake a substantial and sustained effort to educate character in undergraduate populations across their institution. These three-year grants provide support to enable institutional leaders, faculty, and staff to infuse character in undergraduate curricula and programming in ways that align organically with their college or university’s mission, context, and culture. Institutional Impact Grants may be especially useful for institutions that have already begun educating character in their context, that have previously received a Capacity-Building Grant from the ECI, and/or that have faculty and staff with the relevant expertise to undertake a major initiative dedicated to character.

We encourage institutions to be creative in designing, implementing, and integrating character education organically within their unique contexts.

Spotlight

ECI announces $20.5M in new grants to 49 institutions across the country

Current Grantees

Arizona State University
Cultivating Civic, Moral, and Epistemic Virtues Among Undergraduates in Arizona’s Public Universities
Joan McGregor, Tyler DesRoches, and Juliann Vitullo

Austin Community College District
Transforming the Faculty & Student Experience: A Framework for Growing Character at Austin Community College
Arun John, Ted Hadzi-Antich Jr., Grant Potts

Ball State University
Cultivating Civic Character for the Common Good (C4G)
David J. Roof, Anand R. Marri, Pamela Schaal

Baylor University
Character in Deeds: A Community of Practice Approach to Holistic & Intentional Character Education at Baylor University
Karen Melton, Sarah Schnitker

Bellarmine University
Character, Community, and Collaboration: Integrating Character into Experiential Learning
Jon Blandford, Liz Byron

Belmont University
Leading With Character and Purpose
Nathan Webb and Lori Baker

Brandeis University
Developing Just Actors and a Just Community: Character Education as Active Participation and Respectful Inclusion at Brandeis
Anita Hill and Daniel Kryder

Bryn Mawr College
Teaching and Learning Character Together: A Partnership Approach to Preparing Students for Lives of Purpose
Alison Cook-Sather, Joel Schlosser, Jen Callaghan

California State University, Bakersfield; Harvard University; DePauw University; Santa Fe College; Stanford University; and St. Philip’s College
Educating Intellectual & Civic Character Through Dialogue: Expanding the Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Partnership
Nate Olson, Jess Miner, Cassie Finley, Jeffrey Dunn, Ann Thebaut, Li Ren-Kaplan, Collin Anthony Chen, Kelli Rolland-Adkins, Anthony Givhan

Calvin University
Forming Virtue Through Community-Engaged Learning: A Proposal for Educating Character at Calvin University
Kevin R. den Dulk, Abbie Lipsker, Gail L. Zandee, Mary Molewyk Doornbos, David P. Warners, Andrea Lubberts

Campbell University
Character, Initiative, and Calling: Educating Leaders for Purposeful Lives and Meaningful Service
Faithe Beam and Borrée Kwok

Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America Virtue and Character Initiative
Peter Kilpatrick and Andrew V. Abela

City University of New York – Medgar Evers College
Character Education as it Relates to Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘Beloved Community’
Glenn McMillan

Claflin University
The Village: Reviving the Legacy of a Visionary Leadership Institute
Jonathan Smalls and LaKerri Mack

College of Our Lady of the Elms (Elms College)
Elms College Educating Character Initiative: First Year Seminar
Jennifer L. Granger Sullivan

Columbia University
Liberatory Learning: Building Character and Community through Collaborative Education
Geraldine Downey, Samuel Roberts, and Noah Remnick

Cornell University
Reshaping Higher Education’s Strategy for Community Engagement: The Virtues of Cultural Humility in a Global Landscape
Basil Safi and Kelly Whitaker

Davidson College
Living the Liberal Arts: Honor, Integrity and the Public Good
Doug Hicks, Chris Marsicano

Emory University
Developing a Wise Heart
John Lysaker

Fairleigh Dickinson University
Creating a Culture of Character Across the University
Robert McGrath and Scott Parsons

Florida Atlantic University
Wise Owls: Infusing Environmental Character Education Across Colleges at Florida Atlantic University
Bryan H. Nichols and Michelle L. Petersen

Florida Institute of Technology
Cultivating Core Character through the General Education Core
Lars Jones, Heidi Hatfield Edwards, and Andrew Aberdein

Fort Lewis College
Institutional Reconciliation as a Transformative Character Education Opportunity
Paul DeBell, Matthew Schaeffer, Rosalinda Linares-Gray

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
Perseverance in Nursing Education: A Replicable Character Formation Model for Healthcare Training
David Whidden

Friends University
Flourishing as Friends: Cultivating Character in Communities of Practice
Lori A. Kanitz

Furman University
What Really Matters? Cultivating Character and Courage at Furman University
Alexis Carter Thomas and Vaughn CroweTipton

Geneva College
Coherence & Envision Co-Curricular Program
Jeff Cole, Krista Autrey, Jamie Swank

George Fox University
The Character and Leadership Initiative:
Bridging the Curricular and Co-Curricular Divide
Travis Pickell and Joseph Clair

Georgetown College
Educating for Love, Justice, and Responsibility: An Institution-Wide Character Education Program at Georgetown College
Shelly P. Johnson, Roger Ward

Gonzaga University
Pietas: Building Jesuit Character
Shannon Dunn, Joe Mudd, Kevin Vander Schel, and Kent Porterfield

Hampton University
Becoming Unwired: Patterns Interrupted, Life Reimagined
Debra L. Haggins

Harvard University
The Virtues for Academic Flourishing Initiative
Tyler J. VanderWeele and Brendan W. Case

Hope College
Accelerating Character Development through a Gratitude- and Generosity-Based Model of Higher Education
Daryl Van Tongeren and Nicole Dunteman 

Howard University
Character Education Capacity-Building at Howard University: Toward a Research-Informed HBCU-Based Framework
Jorge Burmicky, Ronald Smith, Anthony K. Wutoh, Elijah Bratton, Tracey Holmes

King University
Thoughtful, Resourceful, Responsible: Three Years Forming Character at King
Glenn E. Sanders and Laura Ong

Loyola Marymount University
Intellectual Character Initiative
Daniel Speak, Jason Baehr

Loyola University Chicago
Undergraduate Jesuit Character Education at Loyola University Chicago
Michael Bradley Burns, James Flavin, Shannon Howes, and Joseph Vukov

Mercer University
Building Character on Purpose: Leadership and Mission
Juanita Kimiyo Forrester and William J. Carty

Michigan State University
Discovery via Internships: Forming Spartan Character through Engaging, Reflecting, and Networking (DISCERN)
Judith Stoddart

Middle Georgia State University
Character Integration Project at Middle Georgia State University
Winfield F. Tufts

Montclair State University
Planting the SEEDS of Character Growth: Developing Civic and Community Responsibility through Ethical Inquiry using Virtual Reality
Jennifer Brown Urban

Mount Mary University
Trust and Dare: A Constellation of Character Commonplace Initiatives; A Reimagining of Social Justice
Kristen Carioti and Jennifer Kontny

New Mexico Highlands University, Northern New Mexico College, Harvard University, and SEL4NewMexico
The NMHU Good Futures Project: We Are All Related – Centering Community, Identity, and Purpose
Rebecca Maldonado Moore, Lynn Barendsen, Shelby Clark, Amy McConnell-Franklin, and Sandra Rodriguez

Ohio University
Character in Appalachian Ohio: Hope, Compassion, Humility, Courage
Kristina Bross, Laura Harrison, Mary Kate Hurley, Christopher S. Lewis, and Peter Mather

Olin College of Engineering
Engineers of Moral Action: Building a Pervasive Culture of Character Development through Storytelling
Erhardt Graeff, Zachary del Rosario, Benjamin Linder, Jonathan Adler, Gillian Epstein, and Sam Michalka

Pepperdine University
Cultivating Virtue via Great Books Pathway Through the Core Curriculum
Jessica Hooten Wilson, Paul Begin 

Providence College
Friars Flourish: Seek More | Know Your Story
Christopher Justin Brophy and Allyse Gruslin

Purdue University, in collaboration with Tuskegee University, Franciscan University of Steubenville, and University of New Hampshire
Integrating Character Development in Engineering and Computing Undergraduate Courses
Marisa Exter, Iryna Ashby, Steve Frezza, Mihaela Sabin, and Cassandra Thomas

Radford University
Cultivating Character and Leadership for Solving Wicked Problems and Beyond
Heather Keith, Paige Tan, Steven Fesmire, Guy Axtell, Tay Keong Tan

Rhodes College
Service to whom? Loyalty to what? Truth from where? Living into Rhodes’ Values for the Next Hundred Years in Memphis
Lori Garner

Roanoke College
Maroons on a Mission: Character, Purpose, and Leadership at Roanoke College
Karin Carneal and Laura Hartman

St. Catherine University
Developing Virtue through Action: A Curriculum to Foster Love of Neighbor without Distinction
Sophie B. Hunt and Rachel A. Neiwert

Saint Mary’s College of California
Character for the Common Good
Sarah Beth Dempsey

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Expanding the Vision: A Culture of Online Character Education
Michael Hahn and Andrew LaMere

St. Olaf College
Character in Community: An Exemplarist Approach to Character Education in the Undergraduate Experience
Anthony Bateza

Salem College
Touchstones for Character: Gender, Care, and Justice
Diane Lipsett, Jennifer Borrero, JaNae Joyner

State University of New York (SUNY)
Integrating Character Education into the Empire State Service Corps
Matthew Schaffer

Seattle Pacific University
Classrooms That Cultivate Character: A Psychologically-informed Intervention and Assessment of Christian Virtues
Brittany M. Tausen, Thane M. Erickson, and Krystle Jalalian-Chursky

Seattle University
Character at the Core: Building Capacity and Community at Seattle University
Eric Severson, Lydia Cooper, Hilary Hawley

Seton Hill University
Welcoming, Learning, Celebrating, Serving: Character Education at Seton Hill University
Sarah Marsh, Casey Bowser

Syracuse University
Character Development Through Sport Fan Engagement
Brian E. Konkol, Jeremy S. Jordan

Taylor University
The Virtuous Community: An Honors Guild Initiative
Scott Moeschberger, Kris Johnson, and Scott Barrett

Tufts University
Advancing Civic Character at Tufts and Beyond: A Three-Year Institutional Impact Initiative
Sunah Hyun, Jonathan Tirrell, and Samantha Fried

Tuskegee University & California State University, Los Angeles
Building the Character Collaborative: Designing an Inter-Campus, Cross-Cultural Character and Leadership Education Program Rooted in the Philosophy and Vision of Booker T. Washington
David Augustin Hodge, Sr., Kathy Cooke, and Rolundus Rice

United States Military Academy & Wheaton College
Character in the Core Curriculum: How Values-Based Institutions Fare In Forming Student Character
Elise Dykhuis, James Cornwell, Peter Meindl, and LTC Benjamin Elliott 

United States Naval Academy
Cultivating Virtue in the Military Academies
Edward Barrett

University of Alabama
Using Character Education to Encourage Sentinel Behavior Among Students
Todd DeZoort and Troy Pollard

University of California, Berkeley
Applying the Science of Character to Bridge Differences in Higher Education
Juliana Tafur

University of California, Irvine
Educating for Virtuous Intellectual Character (EVIC)
Duncan Pritchard

University of California, Santa Barbara and George Mason University
An Evidence-Based Program for Promoting Community-Centered Curiosity and Associated

University of Dayton and Sinclair Community College
Building a Thriving Community, Rooted in Contagious Integrity and Authentic Connection Through a Two-Year Public College and a Four-Year Private University Partnership
Nancy McHugh and Myra Bozeman

University of Delaware
University of Delaware Coalition on Character Development: Advancing Flagship State Institutional Leadership 
Johann Ducharme, Michael Chajes, Nicole Long, Jennifer Judy, Dan Freeman

University of Dubuque
Shaping Character Through the Head, Heart, and Hands: A Vision for Purposeful Living
Liza Johnson, Anne Funke, Mary Bryant

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The Alma Project: Promoting Neighborliness at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Christopher Napolitano, Emily Stone, Chrystalla Mouza, and Kaylin Ratner

University of Jamestown
Character Across Campus: Holistic Development of Virtue
Elizabeth K. Hunt, Anna Munns Engdahl, Heidi Larson, James Bear, and Brian Lang

University of Kansas
Character Development at the University of Kansas: The IRISE Virtues Initiative
Kim Beets, Nancy E. Snow

University of Mississippi
“The Character of Leaders” Initiative: Integrating Moral, Civic, and Intellectual Virtues
Deborah S. Mower and Melissa L. Jones

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Educating for the Virtues of Attention
Michael Vazquez, Sarah Stroud, Donovan Livingston

University of Notre Dame
Learning Becomes Service: Expanding Character Education Programs at the University of Notre Dame
Suzanne Shanahan and Meghan Sullivan

University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania Leadership Education Institute 
Zachary Herrmann and Taylor Hausburg

University of St. Thomas
The Four Pillars Project
Eddy Rojas, Michael Naughton, Jennifer McGuire Illig, Heidi Giebel, Melanie Tucker, Tonia Bock

University of San Diego
Educating the Whole Person: Character Formation through Service Learning, Contemplative Practice, and Virtue Ethics
Dustin Sharp, Topher McDougal, Christopher Nayve, and Esteban del Rio

University of Virginia
The University of Virginia Engineering Character Strength Initiative (ECSI)
Rosalyn W. Berne and Jesse Pappas

University of Virginia
University of Virginia’s Civic Cornerstone Fellowship
Rachel Wahl, Stefanie Georgakis Abbott

University of Washington
Fostering Leaders of Character: A Peer- and Community-based Approach to Cultivating Practical Wisdom
Bruce J. Avolio and Kaeleen Drummey

Utah State University
The Character of Peace
Austin Knuppe, Sidi Meyara

Valparaiso University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Building Lives for Good: Character Formation through Story
Reva Johnson, Anna Stewart, Michelle Marincel Payne, Michael Chikeleze, Lisa Jennings, Callie Ingram, Ben Jelen, and Sam Graber

Villanova University
Educating Augustinian Character: Cultivating the Pilgrim Virtues
Anna Moreland, Michael Tomko

Virginia Tech & Colorado School of Mines
Building a Culture of Compassion in STEM Education: Empowering Faculty as Agents of Institutional Change
Qin Zhu, Michele Deramo, and Jill Sible

Warren Wilson College
Cultivating Climate Character: Relational Stewardship and Citizenship at Warren Wilson College
Siti Kusujiarti and Scotti M. Norman

Westmont College
Enculturating Character Project
Steve Porter and Eileen McMahon McQuade

Whitworth University
Call and Character: Educating Mind and Heart at Whitworth University
David Henreckson and Nathan King

Yale University
Character and the Life Worth Living
Matthew Croasmun