The Institute on Character and Admission is the joining of educators with a common interest in elevating non-cognitive, character-related attributes in the admissions process. The goal of the Institute is to change admissions practice at the secondary and high education levels to reflect the significance of character strengths in attaining success in school, college, and work.
Shaped by discussions involving David Holmes and his colleagues at Community School (ID), Bob Massa, longtime college admissions leader now at Drew University (NJ), and educational leaders across the nation, the Institute on Character and Admission has taken shape since early 2016. The Institute includes important constituencies committed to our common goal, including college admissions deans, school placement directors, college administrators, secondary school heads, independent educational counselors, parents, researchers, educational reformers, etc. A premise is that the admissions process and admissions decisions are complex, play out over many years, and involve many people across many arenas. There is much at stake for students, parents, schools and colleges, and our nation.
The intended outcome is to define strategies and experiments that elevate character attributes in the admissions equation. The results of the Institute will be communicated nationally through a “white paper” and other avenues.
The inaugural meeting of the Institute will take place on September 21-22, 2016, at the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel in Columbus, Ohio.
The Institute website aims to reinforce the mission of the Institute by (1) providing useful information and sources, (2) reporting pertinent news and developments, and (3) serving as a vehicle for ongoing dialogue via the “Journal.” Institute participants are encouraged to send insertions to David Holmes at dholmes@communityschool.org.
Sponsors of the Institute on Character and Admission