Imagine first-year and sophomore students interviewing faculty members associated with their major, discussing possible research projects and sharing common passions. Picture these students attending student organizational meetings, learning about services available to them, assessing their “fit” for their major, and reflecting upon their professional goals. These are some outcomes that faculty in the special education program at Northern Illinois University (NIU) envisioned when we developed the one-credit Introduction to the Major course four years ago.
Character (Still) Counts: Moral Injury and the Case for Character Education
Many academic leaders remember the Character Counts! initiative from the 1990s and early 2000s. It was visible in schools and youth programs nationwide, emphasizing as core values the Six Pillars
Teresa Maggard Stephens
June 15, 2026
