Valparaiso University, in partnership with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, has been awarded a joint Institutional Impact Grant from the Educating Character Initiative, a project of The Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University. The grant, totaling $492,703, will support a new initiative titled "Building Lives for Good: Character Formation through Story." This program is designed to benefit individual students by assisting them in forming a consistent, internal narrative, which aims to foster their growth and development through the application of narrative pedagogy.
Narrative pedagogy employs storytelling and shared experiences as educational tools, helping students establish connections within their personal lives and their broader communities. The initiative addresses a contemporary challenge faced by students: managing numerous fragmented identities. Students often find themselves navigating different versions of themselves, expected to present distinct identities across various contexts, such as with their families, friends, and on social media platforms.
This fragmentation can become more pronounced in higher education settings, where students are simultaneously developing professional identities and navigating the distinct expectations of their major courses alongside their general education studies. "Building Lives for Good" seeks to mitigate this fragmentation by utilizing narrative pedagogy, which involves teaching and learning through the exploration of stories.
The foundation of this initiative, and narrative pedagogy itself, lies in narrative psychology. This field has significant ties to Valparaiso University. Dan McAdams ’76, Ph.D., a Valpo graduate who was a student in Christ College — the Honors College and the College of Arts and Sciences, is recognized for his foundational contributions to this area of study. Currently, his former Ph.D. student from Northwestern, Ariana Turner, Ph.D., is collaborating with both Valparaiso University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to research and implement this new program.
Dr. Eric Johnson, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, stated that this initiative aims to more intentionally connect student learning with their developing identities. He elaborated that it will help students cultivate character, a sense of purpose, and a commitment to others, which will guide the application of their talents throughout their lives.
Implementation of narrative pedagogy will begin with all incoming students. They will encounter these approaches in their initial classroom experiences, specifically within the first-year Valparaiso University Experience or in Christ College — the Honors College. Key components will include students learning to articulate their own personal stories. Additionally, they will gain insights from the stories shared by older students, university alumni, various authors, and members of the wider community.
The College of Engineering is set to pilot narrative approaches within its technical courses. This effort aims to encourage engineering students to embrace all aspects of their character, irrespective of the academic or professional setting. Dr. Reva Johnson, associate professor of biomedical and mechanical engineering, who played a leading role in proposing this initiative, noted a tendency in engineering to separate personal identity from the discipline. She expressed a desire for students to bring their complete selves to both the classroom and their engineering work, anticipating that this will foster a coherent sense of character and enable them to consistently live out their values.
Students at Valparaiso University will continue to engage with narrative pedagogies throughout their academic careers. Following the piloting of each stage of the program, Valparaiso University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology plan to incorporate the lessons learned. They will then proceed to pilot a revised version of the practice within their respective programs.
The realization of "Building Lives for Good" is the result of a collaborative effort by a cross-disciplinary team of faculty and staff. This team includes Professor Johnson; Anna Stewart, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Leadership and Service; Michael Chikeleze, Ph.D., J.D., professor of leadership studies and Richard C. & Francelia A. Gozon University Chair; Lisa Jennings, clinical associate professor; Sam Graber, Ph.D., associate professor of humanities and literature; and Devin Sodums, M.S., director of the office of sponsored and student research. University President Rev. Brian Konkol also contributed to refining the idea and shaping the initiative's overall direction. The Educating Character Initiative, which provided the grant, receives its funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.
