Questions Relating to Moral Development: JCC, August 2021

Here are some important questions that relate to moral development that are explored in articles in the August 2021 issue (vol. 22, no. 3) of the Journal of College and Character:

1. What effect does a sense of calling have on academic burnout in law students?

Called to Counsel: Examining the Links Among Calling, Life Meaning, Life Satisfaction, and Burnout Among Law
Students
Rachel Lauren Abouras

Author Rachel Aboouras used path analysis to explore the relations among calling, person-environment fit, life meaning, living one’s calling, academic burnout, and life satisfaction in a sample of law students to examine the predictive role of calling in law student well-being.  Read the article. 

2. What is the role of attitude in the critical thinking skills of college students?

What’s With the Attitude? Implicit Attitudes and Critical Thinking in Traditional Undergraduate Student Leaders
Russell W. Waltz and Pietro A. Sasso

Waltz and Sasso examined critical thinking development in a sample of traditional undergraduate student leaders at two land-grant universities. Results from the study suggested there was a relationship between the incidence of implicit attitudes and poorly demonstrated critical thinking skills.  Read the article. 

3. How does engaging with chaplaincy services influence students' spiritual lives?

Assessing Student Engagement With Campus Chaplains: A Pilot Study From a Residential Liberal Arts College
Elena G. van Stee, Taylor Paige Winfield, Wendy Cadge, John Schmalzbauer, Tiffany Steinwert, Shelly Rambo and Elizabeth Clifford

The authors looked at student engagement with chaplaincy services by means of a pilot survey administered at a private liberal arts college. Respondents who had engaged with chaplains were more likely to report integrating spirituality into daily life, feeling supported in wrestling with life’s big questions, and experiencing spiritual growth. Read the article.

4. How can service-learning reinforce a sense of belonging among students??

The Cave and Service-Learning: Developing a Sense of Belonging in Summer Bridge
Henrietta Williams Pichon

Pichon focused on findings of a case study that explored the use of Plato’s “Allegory of the 5 Cave” to supplement a service-learning project. The project was initiated in an academic orientation course as a part of a summer bridge program in order to foster a sense of belonging.  Findings suggest that helping students transition into their new environment by using their strengths to help others through a service-learning project helped to reinforce their sense of belonging. Read the article. 

5. What is the institution’s role in protecting minoritized religions groups from hate crimes?

Targeted and Omitted: Institutional Role of Protecting Minoritized Religious Groups Against Hate Crimes  
Shafiqa Ahmadi, Jacob Boarnet, Brandon Garcia and Milie Majumder

The authors examined the prevalence of hate crimes directed at Muslim, Sikh, and Jewish students and found thatt offenses and incidents directed at these students peaked from 2016–2018. They argue for the need of further research the impact of hate crimes on policy and professional practice so that campus leaders are better equipped to address hate crimes. Read the article.