At the University of Providence, virtue formation is a central part of its educational mission. The university describes virtue formation as a process that involves becoming someone who consistently chooses what is good through intention, practice, and the influence of community.
The approach to virtue formation at the University of Providence draws from Catholic tradition and modern virtue ethics. According to the university, “Virtue is learned over time, through repeated choices, honest reflection, and the support of community.” Growth in virtue also requires vulnerability and engagement with others. Stanley Hauerwas is quoted: “We become holy by being part of a story and a community that tells us who we are and how to live.”
The university emphasizes that college years are especially important for personal development. Students face decisions during this period that shape their identity and future relationships. As stated in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.”
Virtue formation at the institution aims to help students develop moral clarity, practice responsibility and empathy, resist harmful habits, and pursue lives dedicated to service. James Keenan, SJ notes: “Virtue is not about perfection. It’s about trying to be good and getting better at it.”
The University of Providence’s method for fostering virtue includes three main elements:
1. Habituation—learning virtues through consistent practice.
2. Communal Formation—developing character within community settings.
3. Narrative and Identity—shaping identity through shared stories rooted in compassion and justice.
Aristotle’s idea that excellence comes from habit is referenced: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” The role of community in shaping character is also highlighted by Hauerwas: “Character is shaped by the practices of the communities we belong to.” Additionally, Colossians 3:12 encourages compassion and humility.
Specific virtues emphasized include mercy (compassion), fidelity (faithfulness), justice (fairness), self-care (dignity), hospitality (welcoming others), humility (self-awareness), courage (acting for good despite difficulty), and charity or love.
These values are integrated into various aspects of student life such as residence halls, campus ministry activities like prayer or retreats, restorative approaches in student conduct processes, leadership programs focused on servant leadership principles, and academic courses encouraging ethical inquiry.
Students are encouraged to engage actively in their own growth by practicing small acts reflecting these virtues daily, seeking feedback from mentors or peers, reflecting on their habits and relationships, learning from failure with humility—as expressed by St. Augustine: “He who created you without you will not save you without you”—and letting their actions serve as examples for others (“Let your light shine before others…” Matthew 5:16).
The university provides resources for further study including works by James Keenan SJ (“Virtues for Ordinary Christians”), Stanley Hauerwas (“The Peaceable Kingdom”), St. Thomas Aquinas (“Summa Theologiae”), Aristotle (“Nicomachean Ethics”), St. Augustine’s writings as well as scriptural references.
Programs supporting virtue formation at the University of Providence span campus ministry initiatives; leadership development; student rights education; mission integration; connection with Catholic identity; and honoring the legacy of the Sisters of Providence.
According to university statements: “At the University of Providence, we don’t just prepare you for a career—we help you grow into a life of meaning, service, and virtue.”
