HELEN S Astin, professor of Higher Education and Associate Director of the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, defined character as “the values and behaviour as reflected in the ways we interact with each other and in the moral choices we make on a daily basis”.

Building character in our students is of paramount importance, and it is by so doing that we help them to develop values, skills and competencies that are essential to success in the workplace.

It therefore prepares them for situations and decisions they will experience at the workplace. According to Elkind, David and Sweet, Freddy (1997): “Character is best expressed in the kind of choices that people make, than by teaching students how to make good choices.”

Dr Thomas Lickona (1991) in his book, Educating For Character, states, “When we think of the kind of character we want for our children it is clear that we want them to be able to judge what is right, care deeply about what is right and then do what they believe to be right – even in the face of pressure from outside and pressure from within.”

We tend to believe that if we are not teaching the academics in a classroom setting then we are not contributing to student learning and development. All persons in educational institutions, including support staff, play an important role in helping students develop their character, and so the type of character formed will be based on the quality of their interaction.

The students will observe how you, as support staff, deal with them as external customers, as well as how you interact with one another (internal customers), learn the behaviour, then seek to emulate you in their daily interactions, at home, in the workplace and in the community generally.

You therefore need to ask yourself at all times, is my behaviour appropriate? How you deal with critical issues on a daily basis should actively engage the student and force critical thinking, which is needed in examining ethics, values and other character issues.

As an assistant librarian, how do you deal with the student who borrows a book and returns it late or returns it with one chapter or pages missing?

As a cafeteria staff member, how do you deal with issues like friends putting other friends in front of others waiting in line? Do you overlook these issues or deal with them in such a way that students see the moral and ethical implications?

Dealing with these issues is important because the values we inculcate, as already stated, will help to determine later behaviours based on critical decisions which are to be made in personal life, workplace and the community.

Elkind D and Sweet F (1997) confirm that you are a character educator: “Let’s get one thing perfectly clear – you are a character educator, whether you are a teacher, an administrator, custodian, school bus driver, you are helping to shape character of the kids you come in contact with. It’s the way you talk, the character you model, the conduct you tolerate, the deeds you encourage, the expectations you transmit.

For better or worse you are doing character education.”

Some of the important character traits that we should build in our students in order to develop sound morals, values and ethics for the world of work, and indeed for life, include acceptance, integrity, accountability, interpersonal relationships, compassion, loyalty, confidence, perseverance, co-operation, professionalism, courtesy, punctuality, decision-making, reliability, dependability, respect, responsibility, endurance, teamwork, time management, honesty, truthfulness and independence.

Service learning, sports, career development programmes, clubs and societies are also recommended as powerful approaches to character building.

They involve the academics, as well as practical skills in organising, collaborating, problem-solving, respect, taking responsibility, empathy, co-operation, citizenship and persistence.

Educational institutions, realising the importance of character building and its importance to success, have begun to place greater emphasis on learning experiences outside of the classroom, by introducing Student Services Departments that develop and deliver programmes focusing on character building.

Merrit Henry is student services manager/career counsellor, at the Placement and Career Services, University of the West Indies, Mona.