The CHAMPS Way
The clamor for change has never been louder as it is today. It has become a global call that reverberates with intensity as an aftermath of the economic meltdown, the worst to hit the world in recent history. Compounding the major economic catastrophe are the natural disasters occurring in rapid succession: floods, earthquakes, sea disasters, nations at war, and the like continue to plague many countries, including the Philippines. The apparent suffering and anguish brought about by these problems leads one to look at these as signs of the decaying of our values.
In searching for solutions, world leaders, thinkers, decision-makers and plain citizens have come to realize that the root cause of all these can be turned to a breakdown in moral values particularly man’s penchant for greed, the unabated quest for power, fame and wealth. Ethical standards are set aside at the expense of the greater good; thus, in coping with the disastrous effects of these services of misfortune the call for CHANGE had become a global password.
Admittedly, education is the best agent of change. Educational institutions are taking the lead in carrying the burden of responsibility of effecting the much needed change called for: moral recovery through a reformed value system-CHANGE does not happen in a vacuum. Everyone has a responsibility to make it happen. Everyone has a role to play in effecting a meaningful change that can lead to a transformation of the human spirit, of society and eventually the world.
Northwestern University has taken the lead among educational institution in heeding the call. It recognizes the fact that CHANGE must start from everyone’s heart. A heart that is willing to embrace what it takes to consider the welfare of the greater good over and above oneself. As a starting point, it feels the need for a sweeping reform action by revisiting the core values and emergent values of the institution and finding out when and where it failed in moral decency and decorum. The institution looked for the missing puzzle that must have led to the failure of education in molding and producing educated men and women with a strong moral fiber. Thus, a corporate cultural manual evolved where everyone in the organization must embrace it as a way of life both as an individual and in the exercise of his profession. The manual is a product of various sectors of the academe sharing their ideas and insights. After subjecting it to intensive discussions and critiquing, a corporate culture manual called CHAMPS came into being. The CHAMPS manual embodies the core values, emergent values, redirected practices and traditions, new attitudes and mindsets needed to bring about change in the university’s value system. It is also about a new Northwesternian, whose education first and foremost is grounded on strong moral values.
The CHAMPS as an acronym stands for:
C- Commitment to Excellence
H- Honesty and Integrity
A-Active Involvement
M-Management of Resources
P- Professionalism
S- Selfless Service
For CHAMPS to work it will require everyone in the organization to lead, teach and serve with a heart. It means changing our hearts, giving our best efforts and living by example. The power of modeling will do wonders in making it everyone’s way of life. CHAMPS will work with a heart filled with love, with enthusiasm, and intense passion and moral courage to do what is good and right.
Culture is about individuals in a group sharing patterns of behavior.
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