Cultivating Civic Character in College: Virtue, Vocation, and the Moral Purpose of Postsecondary Learning

• In Event: Student Learning and Engagement in Community Colleges and Beyond

Abstract

This paper explores how undergraduate students develop civic character through the Cultivating Civic Character for the Common Good (C4G) initiative, a multi-year project funded by the Educating Character Initiative. Grounded in civic studies and moral education, C4G engages students—especially from underserved backgrounds—in experiences that integrate ethical reasoning, dialogue, and purposeful learning. Drawing on early data from reflective journals, surveys, and mentoring sessions, the study investigates how students form civic identity and moral agency within complex campus and community environments. Initial findings suggest growth in ethical awareness, dialogic competence, and integrative thinking. This work contributes to research on student learning by framing character development as adaptive, relational, and shaped by institutional culture, aligning with Division J’s focus on learning across boundaries.

Author

• David J. Roof, Ball State University