Book Reviews
Daily Herald, Roanoke Rapids, NC
5/6/2005
Broken down into categories, the book, website, etc. gives a history of each school and it’s various programs. It is necessary, no. But a good deal at $16.95 if a high schooler needs yet more information to pick a school.
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NACADA - The Journal of the National Academic Advising Association - Volume 22, Number 2
9/22/2002
The Templeton Foundation has created a college guide with the premise that colleges should help students develop moral and civil responsibility. The Templeton Foundation editors, along with those from the Institute for College Student Values at Florida State University, made a massive request for nominations of programs, presidents, and schools that epitomize the values considered important for character development. While 1,000 schools and over 2,500 programs were nominated, only 405 colleges were selected and described in several categories.
The book is organized into three large categories: programs, presidents, and an honor roll of colleges. The first section is divided into 10 program types including first-year programs, academic honesty, faculty and curriculum, volunteer service, substance-abuse prevention, student leadership, spiritual growth, civic education, character and sexuality, and senior-year programs. Schools are listed alphabetically in each section with size, location, contact name, and a brief description of the specific program. Although many schools have similar programs and ideas, the editors present enough differences to open discussion on ways to improve or implement a specific program.
The least practical part of the book is the selection on the presidents who model character attributes. While the biographies and accomplishments are interesting, nothing is applicable to a college advisement setting.
The most useful part of the book is the Honor Roll of Colleges. One hundred colleges/universities in which character development and responsibility are emphasized in overall campus programs are listed. Six criteria were used for selection: mission statement, faculty involvement, external recognition, outcomes assessment, programs that help create individual responsibility, and integration of personal and civic responsibility standards and activities into the core curriculum and academic areas. A school with only one of these six aspects would not be as effective in creating character development as are those on the honor roll. Therefore, the honor roll, on which are only schools that show all criteria, is interesting. This would be the most valuable section for any high school student and his or her parents as well.
This book is a guide or reference to choosing a college and was not designed for use by a college advisor. However, it would make an interesting reference book for a college or university interested in developing, implementing, or improving a specific program.
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Living with Teenagers
8/1/2000
A one-stop resource for parents and students looking for a positive college
environment for teens. Contains invaluable summaries of most of the major colleges
and universities in the USA that implement "exemplary programs" to
encourage moral development in their students.
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Library Journal - Booklist
3/15/2000
BOOKLIST RECOMMENDS AS "VALUABLE IN COLLEGE SELECTION."
As character education becomes more popular, coverage of colleges that encourage
character development seems most fitting. This publication describes 405 college
programs in 10 categories. The guide is geared to parents, educators, potential
students, counselors, and college communities.
Established in 1987, the John Templeton Foundation works with educators, theologians,
scientists, and others to support academic programs that foster character development.
For this book, the foundation invited all four-year universities and colleges
in the U.S., as well as a number of higher-education associations, to nominate
character development programs that deserved special recognition. The project’s
advisory board collaborated with the Institute of College Student Values at
Florida State University to identify additional programs, develop a set of criteria,
and rate each nomination. More than 2,500 programs, develop a set of criteria,
and rate each nomination. More than 2,500 nominations from 1,000 institutions
were reviewed….
Programs are listed under 10 categories, including ’Student Leadership Programs,’
and ’Character and Sexuality Programs.’ A half page is given to each school
to provide address and contact information, a small photo or school quote, and
a summary of relevant programs. In some cases, several efforts are listed, in
others cases, different aspects of a single program are noted. About a quarter
of the schools appear under more than one category…
Each college and university that was sent a nomination packet was also encouraged
to nominate its president for leadership in the field of character development
and to nominate itself for ’The Templeton Honor Roll.’ These nominations were
subject to the same review process as the college programs. Fifty higher-education
presidents are given one-page profiles. In the Honor Roll 100 institutions are
cited as ’character-building’ colleges that ’articulate the expectations of
personal and civic responsibility in all dimensions of college life.’ Each of
these schools is allocated one page for a description of their programs and
philosophy; coverage in the category listings is cross-referenced in this section.
Additional features include a list of advisory board members, a glossary, and
a directory of 70 higher-education organizations that encourage character development.
At the end of the volume, programs are indexed alphabetically, by state, and
by category." --Booklist
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Christian Counseling Today - Vol. 8, No. 2
2/1/2000
This 408-page guide is a ministry book, produced by a Foundation that is able
to be more concerned about giving help and guidance than about making money.
Sir John Templeton and the editorial team that produced this volume believe
that a major goal of higher education is to inspire and teach students to lead
ethical, value-based, civic-minded lives. Character education begins in the
home, they argue, but the college years are critical for the formation of a
strong set of moral values that will guide students throughout the rest of their
lives. Education is described as "inescapably a moral enterprise - a continuous
and conscious effort to guide students to know and pursue what is good and worthwhile."
Many institutions of higher education have forsaken these goals or never embraced
them in the first place. In contrast, this book profiles 555 programs, presidents,
colleges, and universities that build on the belief that character matters.
The book is in three parts. The first lists 405 college programs that are designed
to encourage character education in higher education. Part two profiles 55 college
and university presidents who dedicate their time, talents, and resources to
character development as an essential aspect of the undergraduate experience."
Finally readers are introduced to the Templeton Honor Roll of 100 institutions
that give a strong campus-wide emphasis to character building. A few schools
make all three lists. Some that you might expect to find don’t appear at all.
Bible schools are not included in the list, but the editors have included institutions,
especially some state universities where values education would appear to be
far from the minds of anyone on campus. This is not a counseling book and it
isn’t a book to read cover to cover, it’s a reference book to be consulted.
Most profiles are listed on half a page, attractively arranged and illustrated
with campus photographs. We mention it here because the book can be a very helpful
book for parents, youth readers, and counselors who work with teenagers and
their parents.
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Citizen Times - Asheville, NC
1/10/2000
Though the threat of an F or expulsion may deter students from cheating, some
of the latest efforts to encourage academic honesty take a kinder, gentler approach:
A College guidebook, "Colleges That Encourage Character Development"
identifies schools where civic and moral responsibilities are central to campus
life. The Educational Testing Service kicked off an anti-cheating ad campaign
in the fall in which kids ages 10 to 14 are told. "Doing what’s right brings
a feeling of pride and a sense of accomplishment." Since the fall at the
University of Maryland in College Park, students who want to clear the transcripts
of an honor code violation can take a seminar in which they address the question
"How is life defined, and what is my plan to achieve it?" "Until
recently we have avoided terms like ethics and character," says Gary Pavella,
director of judicial programs at the Maryland campus. Now "we are using
the whole issue of academic integrity as a bridge to broader ethical issues."
Even a former cheater has adopted the approach. Southern Metrodist University
alumnus Bop Corbett, 25, got so good that he wrote a book about cheating. "The
Cheater’s Handbook: The Naughty Student’s Bible", out last year, lays it
all out, from how to hide crib notes to what to do if caught. But Corbett acknowledges
a downside, which he learned the hard way. "People judge your character
and treat you accordingly," he says. Now he’s developing an MTV pilot that
chronicle the maturation of a college student as he faces ethical dilemmas.
The idea, he says, is to "underhandedly moralize in a very sneaky way to
kids."
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Today's Librarian
1/1/2000
To assist students and parents, The John Templeton Foundation categorized college
and university programs that support students in pursuing civic and ethical
activities. The guide furnishes a thorough list of 405 programs categorized
into 10 sections, such as first-year programs and character and sexuality programs.
Also listed are 100 colleges and universities and 50 presidents that strive
to encourage students to tackle and study social problems. A black-and-white
photograph complements each school profile. A glossary aids in clarifying ambiguous
terms, such as value, critical thinking and virtue. The institute on College
Student Values selected the colleges and universities. This is a solid pick
for libraries that don’t have a similar or updated resource.
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Times - Inman, SC
12/8/1999
Presbyterian College has been recognized for leadership in the field of student
character development in "The Templeton Guide: Colleges That Encourage
Character Development" a guidebook released nationally on Oct. 22. Designed
for students, parents and educators, the book contains profiles of 405 exemplary
college programs in 10 categories. It also profiles 50 college presidents who
have exercised leadership in character development, and lists 100 colleges and
universities named to the Templeton Honor Roll for their commitment to inspiring
students to lead ethical and civic-minded lives. Presbyterian College and Furman
University were the only South Carolina institutions selected for the Templeton
for the Honor Roll. Presbyterian College was the only South Carolina school
cited for its academic honesty programs and senior year programs. Established
in 1987, the John Templeton Foundation work closely with educators, scientists,
theologians, medical profession and other scholars throughout the world to support
more than 100 programs. Those programs serve three chief purposes: to encourage
character development in school and colleges; to encourage an appreciation for
the benefits of freedom; and to stimulate serious and scientific research on
the relationship between spirituality and health. The Templeton Foundation has
created a College and Character Web site - www.collegeandcharacter.org - that provides information on the initiative, links to
the home pages of colleges selected for inclusion in the guide and other features.
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School News Service - Raleigh, NC
12/1/1999
An excellent new book that recognizes the renewed interest in the United States
in the idea that education does more than prepare people for jobs is getting
high grades from students and parents across the country. The book, Colleges
That Encourage Character Development, recognizes 600 diverse colleges, universities,
programs, and individuals who are actively involved in "educating the character,"
providing students, parents and advisors specific information that they can
use in selecting a college or university. The book presents more than 400 profiles
or college and university programs and activities that foster honesty, integrity
and compassion, along with the name and contact information for the college
official who coordinates the particular program. The book also contains: A list
of 50 colleges and university presidents whose priorities include preparing
students for lives of persona and civic responsibility. 100 colleges and universities
selected from more than 350 named to the Templeton Foundation’s Honor Roll for
Character Building Colleges. Those selected for the guide particularly articulate
the expectations of personal and civic responsibility in all dimensions of college
life. The college guide was written to serve as a resource to help parents,
students and counselors select schools that support values such as honesty,
service, respect and personal responsibility. In addition to the book, there
is a web site: www.collegeandcharacter.org.
Coming in the year 2000 will be an online journal, a national survey, a symposium,
and other programs to promote public awareness of the issue of college and character.
The John Templeton Foundation also supports programs in higher education organizations
and associations through grants.
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CBA Marketplace
11/1/1999
The book profiles more than 500 college and university programs and is featured
on www.collegeandcharacter.org.
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RNS Religion Week
10/4/1999
Colleges Guides are multiplying but the Templeton Foundation has found a unique
niche by publishing "Colleges that Encourage Character Development."
In more than 400 pages, the book explores programs on secular and religious
campuses promoting volunteer service, spirit growth, civic education, and student
leadership.
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