Cultivating Civic Character for the Common Good (C4G)
A Vision for Higher Education, Democracy, and Human Flourishing
Ball State’s Cultivating Civic Character for the Common Good (C4G) seeks to revive the role of higher education in preparing students not only for meaningful careers but for virtuous lives of purpose, responsibility, and engaged citizenship.
Awarded a prestigious Institutional Impact Grant from the Educating Character Initiative at Wake Forest University, C4G places Ball State at the forefront of a national movement to revitalize democratic life through the intentional formation of civic character.
What Is C4G?
C4G is a multi-tiered initiative rooted in a powerful framework of six virtues:
• Moral Virtues: Justice, Civic Courage, Responsibility
• Relational Virtues: Respect, Gratitude, Hope
These are supported by civic competencies such as:
• Epistemic Integrity
• Public Wisdom
• Civic Agency
The initiative integrates these virtues across academic programs (via the Civic Studies Minor), faculty development, student leadership opportunities, community-engaged learning, and a digital resource hub for educators.
Faculty Opportunities
Ball State faculty are invited to become C4G Faculty Fellows and contribute to a vibrant campus-wide initiative by:
• Embedding character education in their courses
• Participating in professional development seminars and workshops
• Presenting at the annual Conference on Civic Studies and Democracy
FACULTY INFO [Tab link to form]
Student Leadership & Engagement
• Students can participate through:
• The Democracy Fellows Program
• Leadership roles in civic forums and speaker series
• Immersive service-learning experiences
• Internships and fieldwork in democratic institutions
STUDENT INFO [Tab link to form]
Community Partnerships
C4G partners with key organizations, including:
• Community-Engaged Alliance (CEA)
• Third Way Civics
• Indiana Bar Foundation
COMMUNITY INFO [Tab link to form]