Mission and History
The Center for Social and Character Development at Rutgers University (CSCD@RU) has been established to provide guidance, networking and evaluation services for educators, parents and community members in order to help them ensure that children are nurtured in safe and caring schools guided by agreed upon core ethical values.

CSCD@RU was started by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) in 2002 under the provisions of a Partnerships in Character Education grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the No Child Left Behind Act and located at the Center for Applied Psychology.  CSCD also receives support from the New Jersey Department of State's Learn and Serve America program. CSCD@RU collaborated successfully with the NJDOE to receive a second federal Partnerships grant in 2006, under which it is currently operating.

Current Grant-Funded Projects
Fostering Change in School Culture Through Character Education (FCSCCE) - Increasing the quality and sustainability of social and character education programs using inter-school coaching model to effectuate change in school culture.
Caring Schools Inclusion Project (CSIP) - Evaluating the impact of an evidence-based character education program on the social inclusion of students with disabilities in 12 middle schools.
Code of Student Conduct Training Project—Assisting school districts in structuring and initiating a process to adopt and implement a code of student conduct supporting a positive school climate and student academic and social development.
Teacher-Created Curriculum Resources Project—Partnering with education stakeholder groups to facilitate the creation of practitioner-developed lesson plans and training resources.

Other Current Projects
Partnership for Advancing Character Education Through Service-Learning (PACES)
New Jersey Schools of Character Award Program
Facilitating the Development of a Statewide Social and Character Development Association

Website: www.rucharacter.org