The Higher Education Character Convening (HECC) is held this year in Pensacola, Florida, May 13-15.
Keep reading for the At a Glance Schedule
The HECC was first established in 2019 by Anna McEwan, dean, Orlean Beeson School of Education, Kara Chism, assistant professor and director, MSE in Instructional Leadership and the late Jodi Newton, former associate dean.
This two-day conference was created to establish a higher education character community in the southeastern United States and beyond; to foster professional networks of collaboration among educators and scholars interested in character education and virtues formation; and to provide an annual opportunity to support faculty development and fellowship.
At Samford University’s Orlean Beeson School of Education, character education and values curriculums are woven into the fabric of the school’s mission to prepare students to educate, lead and serve. Every program in the school utilizes and implements character education to produce confident and skilled graduates ready to face challenges and demands of disciplines such as teacher education, human development and family science and educational leadership.
This year marks the 5th annual HECC and welcomes Perry Glanzer as its keynote speaker. Glanzer is a professor of Educational Foundations at Baylor University and a resident scholar with the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion. He has coauthored, authored or edited several publications, including Higher Education: An Empirical Guide, Stewarding Our Bodies: A Vision for Christian Student Affairs, and several others.
At a Glance Schedule
Monday, May 13, 2024
4-5 p.m. Registration
5:30 p.m. Welcome Reception
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
7:15-8:15 a.m. Registration and Breakfast
8:15-8:30 a.m. Welcome and Introduction of Keynote Speaker
8:30-9:30 a.m. Keynote and Discussion #1
9:30-10:30 a.m. Keynote and Discussion #2
10:30-11 a.m. Mid-Morning Break
11 a.m.- 12 p.m. Breakout Session #1
12-1 p.m. Lunch
1:15-2:15 p.m. Breakout Session #2
2-30-3:30 p.m. Keynote and Discussion #3
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
7:15-8:15 a.m. Breakfast
8:15-9:15 a.m. Lipscomb
9:15-10:10 a.m. Keynote and Discussion #4
10:10-10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m.-11:05 p.m. Breakout Session #3
11:10 a.m.-12 p.m. Breakout Session #4
12-12:45 p.m. Lunch
12:45-1 p.m. Closing Event
More About Character Education
According to the U.S. Department of Education, character education is a shared responsibility of parents, teachers and members of the community, who come together to support positive character development.
Educating for character is the process equipping students and adults to understand, care about and act on shared ethical values. Values such as respect, justice, citizenship and responsibility for self and others shape attitudes and form actions. The resulting behaviors have been proven to be hallmarks of safe, healthy and informed communities.
Orlean Beeson School of Education faithfully sponsors and develops initiatives which support the research-informed implementation of character education both on and off campus.
“Character education is foundational to developing healthy and whole adults who, in turn, develop healthy and whole communities,” said McEwan. “We implement this teaching because we believe it produces graduates who can and will make the world a better place.”
Learn more about character education at Samford University.
How Can You Support This Work
Character initiatives in Orlean Beeson School of Education, and in communities across the globe, have never been of greater significance.
Orlean Beeson School of Education’s character development fund prioritizes the work of virtues development and character education as a foundational element of the school’s culture. Funds raised through Samford Giving Day support practical applications such as service events, trainings and conferences, curriculum development and innovative projects designed to create school cultures and communities of character, furthering the school’s mission.
“Our school’s work with virtues and character development is vital in producing top quality graduates in our fields. The environments we send our alumni into are foundational to ensuring our schools, families and communities continue to grow and thrive,” said McEwan. “When we faithfully cultivate virtues in our students, we are blessed to witness the ripple effect of our efforts. We are engaged in work that makes the world a better place and advances the kingdom of God.”
Give to the Character Development Fund
