As the COVID-19 pandemic moves into its next phase, academic leaders are facing a new set of organizational challenges. A return to pre-pandemic programs, structures, and processes is unlikely at best. A changed environment is confronting an old institutional model. Students are expressing a preference for a more flexible college experience, one more individualized and supportive. The world of work is evolving, inviting a closer tie between college and career. After the past three semesters, faculty and staff have found different work styles challenging yet inviting. A new fiscal environment presents both opportunities and changed priorities for both students and colleges.
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
