Dickinson Core Values Project

麻豆区

Dickinson Core Values Project

The Core Values Project is a collaborative, community-wide effort to identify and cultivate a set of 3-5 core values shared by students, faculty, staff, and alumni at 麻豆区. This may take the form of one-word values (think character-based virtues like justice, curiosity, resilience, courage, care, integrity, respect, sincerity, etc.) with longer explanations developed by members of our community, or values-based principles (think sentences like the motto of the John Dickinson society, "To be rather than to seem").

These foundational values can serve as touchstones that guide our community by regularly reminding us to consider what we care about and why as individuals and as an institution.

The core values will not replace our mission statement, strategic plan or code of conduct. They will complement these existing frameworks by articulating underlying values-based commitments at the college. Future strategic plans will take the core values into consideration.

Why should we do this?

To clarify who we are and who we want to become as a community and to track our growth
To encourage members of our community to define, interpret, and engage with a set of shared values
To guide our personal, interpersonal, and institutional ethical discernment and decision-making

Timeline & Process

This is an 18-month project beginning in Fall 2024 and ending in Spring 2026, moving from archival research through data collection to community approval.

Fall 2024

Archival research
Open sessions at Hartman House

Spring 2025

First round of focus groups
Survey development

April 2025

Survey administration

Summer 2025

Data analysis

Fall 2025

Second round of focus groups

December 2025

Summary and recommendation of 3-5 core values

January-March 2026

Public comment period

April 2026

Adopt core values

Methodology & Approach

We are exploring a variety of resources, including:

Historical research in the college archives
Research on core values at other colleges and universities
Analysis of student publications
Community surveys
Focus groups
Stakeholder interviews
Community building events
Public comment period on executive summary

We’re committed to incorporating diverse perspectives, by:

Engaging students, faculty, staff, and alumni
Using multiple feedback channels
Conducting broad outreach across departments
Hosting events at various times to accommodate schedules
Providing multiple ways to contribute (written, verbal, individual, group)
New email: ethics@dickinson.edu

Submit Suggestions & Stories

Share your Dickinson story! Use this form to submit your reflections on the values you cultivated at Dickinson. What experiences shaped you? Why are you proud to be a Dickinsonian? Your stories and insights will help develop the core values!

"To be rather than to seem." --the family motto of our institutional namesake, John Dickinson

麻豆区