Character Initiatives at North Central College

The Kern Family Foundation believes that strong character and a high-quality, rigorous education are critical to individual and organizational excellence, and contributes to flourishing communities.

Our North Central mission aligns. We are a diverse community of learners dedicated to preparing students to be curious, engaged, ethical, and purposeful citizens and leaders in local, national and global contexts.

North Central's Cultures of Character Initiatives have been designed to:

1. Enhance the master of education in educational leadership program with scholarships, fellowships, and curriculum enhancements.
2. Establish a Character Education Institute with a Character Education Certificate as well as a Principal Academy providing on-site coaches and mini-grant opportunities.

• The Kern Family Foundation is enabling North Central to provide scholarships to students who are underrepresented in administrative ranks, who currently work in underserved communities, or who are committed to fostering cultures of character in schools. 
• Candidates meeting eligibility requirements will benefit from tuition reduction throughout the entirety of their programming.
• Participation and renewal requirements can be located on the Grants and Scholarship tab located on the master of education in educational leadership webpage.

• Fellowship funding will cover the cost of a full-time substitute, allowing the educational leadership candidate an opportunity to engage in a semester-long internship with a dedicated principal mentor. Those selected for this opportunity will learn to lead a school by working as part of the administrative team-all without disrupting the educator's regular employment income.
• More information, including how to apply for the fellowship, will be available once accepted into the educational leadership program. North Central College will work with candidates to coordinate agreements with local school districts.

This certificate program will be open to eligible undergraduate education majors, practicing teachers and administrators, and other community stakeholders interested in studying a virtue ethics core that addresses both pedagogy and content.

This academy, open to principals and other administrative leaders, will demonstrate how to use character education to facilitate school improvement. Mini-grant opportunities will be available and trained coaches will provide support and mentoring on-site.