The Keeter Center

Character Programs

Character Curriculum

The Character Curriculum at College of the Ozarks invites students to examine character through great works of literature, philosophy, theology, and most importantly, the Bible. The Curriculum is comprised of five classes: Biblical Ideals of Character, Classical Ideals of Character, Medieval/Renaissance Ideals of Character, Reformation/Modern Ideals of Character, and the capstone class, American Ideals of Character. The courses substitute for courses offered in the General Education Curriculum, and students may take as many of the classes as they like. The goal of the program is that students will have a well-grounded and well-integrated understanding of character as the West has traditionally understood it. The Character Curriculum seeks to recover a love and appreciation of humane letters while preparing students to live as free and responsible citizens.

Gittinger and Herschend
Focus on the Family Exchange

C of O student Jon Hetzel
with Focus on the Family Group

This scholarship program enables students to spend a semester at the Focus on the Family Institute in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While there, students study the importance of family values as brought to the nation's attention by noted author and psychologist Dr. James Dobson.

The Gittinger Scholarship and The Sherry Herschend Scholarship help provide the financial means for the Focus on the Family Exchange program.

Character Camp

A special orientation prior to the beginning of each semester called Character Camp introduces all new students to character development and how vital it is to their success at College of the Ozarks and after college. Two upperclassmen serve as "Mom and Pop" to each small group of incoming students. They spend ten days with their "family" teaching them about the expectations of the college, locating buildings, how to use services on-campus, and visiting their work stations.

Laws of Life

In 1987, Sir John Templeton initiated the Laws of Life Essay Contest in his hometown of Winchester, Tennessee. Students are encouraged through the contest, to search deep within themselves and write about their own "laws of life." Organizations concerned with the moral ideals of youth may sponsor a contest, and College of the Ozarks is proud to do so. Each semester, entering freshmen participate in the contest during Character Camp. The student authors of the winning essays receive book scholarships from the College and the John Templeton Foundation.

The Frances C. Berger
Citizens Abroad Program

As an enrichment of the classroom experience, students have the opportunity to study in other cultures. They can experience first-hand how good citizenship or the lack thereof impacts our world. The program aims to provide students with an awareness of the world while fostering an appreciation of America and what it represents.

It was the philanthropic desire of the late H.N. and Frances C. Berger to help young men and women, and the foundation continues to operate under this philosophy, as evidenced through its generous contribution to the Citizens Abroad Program. The goal is to give as many students as possible the opportunity to have a travel abroad experience. Recent trips abroad have included London and Oxford "A Study of the Friendship of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien", a trip to Ireland to study Irish authors, "Bach and Luther" trip to Germany, and a "Cell Death" conference in Brazil.

The Bonner Community Service Program

The Bonner Scholars Program is based on the premise that young people care about others and, given the opportunity, will become involved in the community. Students not only serve and receive work credit for their work-study needs, but also help make a difference in the lives of others.

Patriotic Education Travel Program

In the spring of 2009, a unique partnership was formed between College of the Ozarks and the Greatest Generations Foundation, whose mission is to take Veterans back to the battlefields where they fought and to help educate the younger generation about the sacrifices of American soldiers.

The College recognized this trip as a powerful opportunity to reinforce one of the five goals of the College, patriotic education. In June, students travelled with WWII Veterans to Normandy for the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion, and to the Netherlands in September, for the 65th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden. In December, 2009, more students will accompany Veterans to Belgium honoring the 65th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.

The rich educational journey provides a life-changing experience for College of the Ozarks students, who not only learn volumes of history from firsthand participants, but grow to love and appreciate them as well. The students who have attended the Greatest Generations Foundation trips have returned with renewed respect for Veterans and dramatically increased love for their country.

First PLACE!

College of the Ozarks has taken a leadership role in establishing a character education initiative for the public schools and communities in Stone and Taney Counties. There are 12 school districts and 555 First PLACE! partnering organizations, businesses, and individuals who are committed to supporting this effort through visibly demonstrating the trait of the month each month. First PLACE! is focused on decreasing disciplinary issues, increasing standardized test scores, and increasing attendance, as well as creating a more positive climate in the area schools, and is being used as a model throughout the State of Missouri.

S. Truett Cathy Poverty Summit

The Poverty Summit provides programming for teachers, ministry leaders, church staff members, and government officials who want to be more effective in helping struggling individuals by revealing the "hidden rules" of class and by providing practical tools for reaching those in need. The Summit is named in honor of Mr. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A and friend of College of the Ozarks.