Mercer University’s Center for Leadership, Ethics and Service has received a $48,110 grant that will help the center promote the integration of character education across the University.
It was one of 40 Capacity-Building Grants awarded to 42 institutions by Wake Forest University’s Educating Character Initiative. The initiative aims to equip higher education institutions “with the resources, funding and support needed to integrate character education into their distinctive institutional contexts, curricula and cultures,” according to its website.
At Mercer, “we’re calling our initiative Pathways to Virtue: Building Institutional Capacity for Character Education, and it’s designed to create spaces for our entire University community to collaboratively develop a shared vision of character,” said Dr. Juanita Forrester, associate professor of management in the School of Business and director of the Center for Leadership, Ethics and Service.
The center is co-directed by Mercer Executive Vice President Dr. Penny Elkins and retired Lt. Gen. Claude Kicklighter. Kicklighter, a University alumnus, “has been a generous and essential force in enlivening and growing the center,” Dr. Forrester said. “His vision, energy and commitment to Mercer’s mission have given our work so much momentum. He continues to help bring the center’s values to life in ways that inspire students, faculty and community members alike.”
With the grant, “what excites me most is that we’re not starting from zero,” she said. “Mercer already has a rich tradition of service-learning and leadership. This grant allows us to build on that strong foundation and weave intentional conversations about character right into the fabric of what we already do so well.”
Mercer already has programs that promote strong character, such as MerServe, Mercer On Mission and the Leadership Fellows Program. This grant will create the “connective tissue that helps students, faculty and staff see how character development serves as the catalyst that transforms learning experiences into a foundation for lifelong growth,” Dr. Forrester said.
The funding will support faculty development workshops and book clubs, student engagement through book discussions and keynote speakers, and recognition and awards ceremonies. The center is also developing a team with representatives from each college and school to ensure its work reaches all disciplines.
The Pathways to Virtue initiative will kick off with a launch event at 5 p.m. Sept. 11 in the Presidents Dining Room at the University Center on the Macon campus. Mercerians who are interested in character development and the study of virtue are welcome to attend.
“The idea is to generate discussion and create a framework around the idea of the importance of character in what we do in our everyday life,” said Dr. Bill Carty, assistant professor of strategic management in the School of Business.
It’s not about having one class that teaches character education but rather incorporating it into everything from the classroom to student activities. Teaching students how to build character and incorporate virtue into their lives will help them — and society — once they leave the University, he said.
“We’ve seen some leadership in companies that have gotten themselves in difficult positions having not taken into account considerations of what’s right and wrong or having made decisions that really tie back to a lack of character or failure to apply character,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is give people a solid foundation of character before they head out into the world in an effort to prevent that from happening.”
This semester, Mercer is offering student-athletes and undergraduate students the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Character in Leadership, further underscoring its importance to the University.
The grant-funded Pathways to Virtue initiative will benefit the entire University community, Dr. Forrester said.
“For students, it means new opportunities to connect their leadership and service to real character growth,” she said. “For faculty, it means practical tools and a supportive community to make character education a natural part of their teaching. And for the broader Mercer community, it means greater recognition and more opportunities to celebrate character in action.
“What makes this especially meaningful is how closely it aligns with Mercer’s vision, ‘To change the world, one student at a time.’ Since 1833, Mercer has been committed to educational excellence that transforms both people and society. This grant helps us live that out in today’s world — a world that can feel complex and divided. Our hope is to prepare students whose character gives them the courage and integrity to turn knowledge into meaningful action for the common good.”
