University of Dubuque Joins the LearningWell Coalition, Advancing a Campus-Wide Culture of Character and Purpose
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque has joined the LearningWell Coalition, a national network of colleges and universities dedicated to cultivating students' identity, agency, belonging, character, and sense of purpose on campus to create and sustain wellbeing for life.
UD was invited to be part of the coalition through its Wendt Center for Character and Leadership, a 21-year anchor of the University's mission to cultivate good character and prepare students for lives of purpose and service.
Rooted in its Presbyterian heritage, the Wendt Center has long embodied UD's commitment to character. Its initiatives, ranging from the Wendt Character Scholars program and faculty grants to the Michael Lester Wendt Character Lecture Series, have established the Wendt Center as a defining influence on the campus culture. Under the leadership of Liza Johnson, EdD, director of the Wendt Center, the center is now broadening its reach, ensuring that every student - not just a select few - has the opportunity to engage deeply with questions of meaning, purpose, and moral leadership.
"The Mission of the University of Dubuque aligns directly with the LearningWell Coalition values," said Adam Hoffman, PhD, vice president for academic affairs at UD. "As an institution we are deeply invested in cultivating inclusive, high-impact learning environments that support wellbeing and meet the evolving needs of our students and communities. This represents an excellent opportunity to join forces to continue to support holistic student education and formation."
Two new initiatives exemplify this expanded vision. The Pathways to Purpose program, now in pre-launch, will extend character development opportunities to all students, not just those in the Wendt Character Scholars program. Through collaboration with campus partners and the greater Dubuque community, Pathways to Purpose will integrate character, wellbeing, and identity into students' daily experiences. The program debuted pilot events this fall and is designed for scalability across the institution, allowing every student to engage meaningfully with the principles of purpose and flourishing.
At the same time, the Character Learning Outcome Faculty Development Initiative will support faculty in developing and assessing meaningful character learning outcomes across disciplines. Beginning with departments for a summer 2026 pilot, the effort will help academic programs embed character, wellbeing, and purpose within their curricula, ensuring students connect classroom learning with the values and virtues that prepare them for life beyond UD.
Keith Buffinton, PhD, executive director of the LearningWell Coalition, welcomed the partnership.
"The University of Dubuque brings a rich tradition of purpose and character to the coalition," he said. "Through the Wendt Center's innovative programs and commitment to whole-person education, UD is modeling how institutions can integrate student formation into every dimension of student life. We are thrilled to have them as partners in advancing this work nationally."
By joining the LearningWell Coalition, UD becomes part of a growing network of colleges and universities committed to transforming higher education so that every student is prepared to flourish in work and in life.
