Identification Process

The John Templeton Foundation sent a nomination packet to the president, public information officer, and vice president for academic affairs and vice president for student life at all four-year accredited colleges and universities in the United States. Institutions were invited to nominate character-development programs that deserved special recognition. Each college and university was also encouraged to nominate its president for distinguished leadership in the field of character development, as well as to nominate itself for the Templeton Honor Roll designation. In addition, the nomination packet was sent to a wide range of higher-education associations and centers that promote character development as an important aspect of the undergraduate experience.

Each program, institution, and president nominated was promptly mailed an extensive application form that required the contact person to respond in writing to a list of questions that addressed specific selection criteria.

At the same time that the Foundation was receiving nominations and applications, we recognized that some exemplary programs would not receive or return a nomination form to us. Therefore, the Foundation asked the Institute on College Student Values at Florida State University, under the direction of Dr. Jon Dalton, to conduct an exhaustive and comprehensive proactive search to identify additional exemplary programs, presidents, and institutions. Between the nomination process and this proactive search, the researchers at the Institute on College Student Values reviewed more than 2,500 programs and 1,000 institutions.

Selection Process

In collaboration with members of the project's Advisory Board, the Institute on College Student Values developed a set of rigorous selection criteria for each of the 10 Exemplary Program categories, the Presidential Leadership recognition, and the Templeton Honor Roll designation. The Institute's research team read, reviewed, and rated each application. Although Florida State University is very committed to character development and has received national recognition for its programs, the University was excluded from consideration in any category to avoid any perception of conflict of interest.

Institute on College Student Values

The Institute on College Student Values at Florida State University was established in 1991 to provide a forum for college and university educators to explore more effective ways to promote ethical development as an integral part of the undergraduate experience. The Institute's annual conference brings together researchers and educators to exchange ideas and perspectives on character-development programs for college students.

Jon C. Dalton, Ed.D., director of the Institute on College Student Values, is a past president of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators; in that capacity, he also served as a member of the board of directors of the American Council on Education. Dr. Dalton is Vice President for Student Affairs and Associate Professor of Higher Education at FSU.