Since classical times, character development has played a key role in the proper functioning of democracies. This article outlines a modern reimagining of a classical archetypal character construction as a novel method for character development. The author presents examples of its operation in higher educational settings and in professional…

In a recent volume of the "Journal of College and Character," Matt Mayhew and Alyssa Rockenbach presented their frameworks by which they have designed and utilized their IDEALS study over the past several years. In this present article, the authors contend that despite their rigorous research, the researchers and measurements oftentimes…

Increase in individualism and a coinciding increase in anxiety among Chinese youth propelled our inquiry on Chinese college students' self-construals and their anxiety. We surveyed 335 Chinese college students (females: n = 229; 68.4%) aged 18-24 (M = 19.30, SD = 1.16) on their self-construals and anxiety. We found that the students scored…

This article focuses on the role of modern-day culture centers in higher education. An interview of 26 staff members from campuses across the country found that culture centers took on a significant role in coalition building between Asian American and Black communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the current time of racial reckoning. The…

This article problematizes the practice of relying on participant self-identification in research on religious, secular, and spiritual identity (RSSI) within the field of higher education, with particular attention to the implications related to participants who chose non-religious labels. While this practice is commonplace in the field, it is…

By sharing the lived experiences of Chinese descendants who grew up in the United States, this article highlights the complex and dynamic interactions that occur when navigating between Chinese and Euro American cultures. We focus on two groups of Chinese descendants: one raised by Chinese immigrant families and the other raised by Euro American…

A reinvigorated commitment to the study of religion, spirituality, faith, secularism, meaning-making, purpose, and interfaith dialogue in higher education is evidenced through the production of various scholarly texts. The pendulum among higher education scholars seems to swing toward finding ways to explicitly engage with what has been described…

The purpose of this special issue is to share the best research, theory, practice, and perspectives from presenters at the 2017 Religious, Secular, and Spiritual Identities Convergence conference, alongside the new writing of scholars and practitioners who were inspired by the themes of the conference. Readers will have access both to the best of…

Current literature about religion in higher education typically emphasizes belief as a central component of religious identity. Through framing this discourse with a critical social justice lens, I argue that there needs to be a purposeful distinction between religious/spiritual belief and religious identity/culture in order to acknowledge the…

Matters of interreligious engagement and worldview orientation are becoming more salient on campuses across the country. All-comers policies, conflicts about the Middle East, and intersections of spirituality with other aspects of identity present challenges for professionals working with students on college campuses. This article will discuss…

Evidence of Christian privilege in America is not difficult to find. At the same time, however, Christians, particularly in evangelical settings, commonly think of themselves as a marginalized minority being overrun by the power of secular liberalism. The authors propose that "both" perceptions are accurate descriptions of reality. For…

This critical essay reviews Small's (2011) book reporting research on the spiritual identities and discursive practices of college students in intrafaith and interfaith dialogue. Small's recommendations and research methods are instructive and helpful to both scholars and practitioners in higher education and student affairs. This research opens…