On Tuesday, Sept. 16, Stetson University will celebrate Values Day 2014. This year’s theme, One Stetson. Many Voices, Values Day is an annual tradition established by Stetson University’s eighth president, H. Douglas Lee. Values Day is a day dedicated to the university’s commitment to its core values–personal growth, intellectual development, and global citizenship.

Values Day is designed to continue dialogue between students, faculty, staff and community partners, so that the Stetson University community shares, learns, and appreciates our shared core values. In order to support the ability for the entire Stetson University community to attend, the university will cancel classes and closes offices, with the exception of evening graduate classes. The entire community is expected to participate in this day of reflection, community and action.

“We want to hear from students, staff and faculty—all members of the Stetson community—about how we can better incorporate our core values into Stetson life,” said Robert Sitler, Ph.D., professor of Modern Languages and Literatures, and head of Stetson’s Values Commitment Steering Team. “Values are not prescriptive; the hope is for our values to emerge from the many voices that represent the members of our community.”

The keynote address by Rev. Vincent A. Pizzuto, Ph.D., professor of New Testament studies in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Francisco, will focus on the importance of contemplation and reflection in spiritual exploration.

The schedule for the day includes:

• Service projects in the community
• Performance by the Stetson University Concert Choir
• The Global Citizenship Fair, where participants can browse and network with local non-profit and government agencies, and search for study abroad opportunities
• A community lunch featuring Mexican food will be held on the Stetson Green.
• Hand Art Center Exhibit – “The Waiting Room: Lost and Found”
• Over 30 workshops focusing on topics related to Stetson University’s core values
• Hunger Banquet

Stetson students can earn 3 cultural credits by participating in any 3 sessions throughout the day (service projects, the keynote address, the workshop sessions, the Hand Art Exhibit, and the Hunger Banquet). There are no options for earning 1 or 2 credits. Students themselves will be responsible for awarding their own 3 cultural credits by checking in with the Honors Council Table, which will be located in front of the Carlton Union Building on Values Day from 12pm-6pm. Such trust is possible since the University has embraced an academic environment that assumes the integrity of its students.

Stetson invites all members of the University community to offer their time, passion and energy to help the institution take further practical steps on all Stetson campuses and in university operations thoughtfully to incorporate its values commitments.

For further information about Values Day, contact any member of the Values Day Planning Committee. To see the accomplishments made to date regarding Stetson’s values commitments, visit Values Commitment Steering Team. To send your thoughts or to talk further with Steering Team members, email [email protected].