The theme evolved through discussions with students last year about the transition of leadership at the College and their vision for the school. One student responded to the Student Assembly Visions project by saying, "Dartmouth should continue to challenge the brightest minds and release them to the world experienced in life, not just academics.". Another said, "It disturbs me that students can go through four years at this College without their beliefs about crucial issues such as race or class having ever been seriously challenged or expanded." These thoughts and others like them encourage us to explore our collective mission for educating good people, not just good minds.
Most colleges and universities in the United States were founded with explicit social and moral missions. Some, like Harvard, were established to prepare leaders for our civic and religious institutions. Others, like Dartmouth, were founded to educate disadvantaged or under-served parts of our population. Until the middle of the 20th century, almost all colleges and universities acknowledged an explicit mission to nurture the character and conscience of youth.
What has become of our mission to nurture a sense of community responsibility and social values? Should our institutions of higher learning focus only on intellectual development and the expansion of human knowledge, or should we accept responsibility for the application of this intellectual power and knowledge?
Throughout the coming year, the Tucker Foundation will sponsor programs to stimulate an ongoing conversation about our responsibilities as students, faculty, administrators, and staff to nurture the growth of character, conscience and community. The programs will include co-sponsorship with the Education Department and the Ethics Institute of the 1998 Annual Meeting of the Association of Moral Educators, discussions and speeches by educators and activists, a film series, and community dinners and conversations with students to reflect on the meaning and mission of our College.
Students or others with suggestions for programs that may fit the Tucker theme should contact Scott Brown at the Tucker Foundation.
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