What happens when your institution joins NetVUE?
When your institution joined NetVUE, a NetVUE Campus Contact was selected as part of submitting the membership form. The Campus Contact is the point person for your institution who receives all the information about upcoming events, opportunities, resources, and grants. Having an active and engaged Campus Contact has been a key component of success for our institutions that take the best advantage of their NetVUE membership. Ideally, this would be someone who is close to the work of vocational exploration and discernment among undergraduate students at your institution. If you don’t know who your Campus Contact is, email Ashley Woodbeck, NetVUE office manager, at awoodbeck@cic.edu.
If your institution joined NetVUE in the past year, the NetVUE executive director has reached out to your president, provost, and campus contact for a welcome conversation. The goal of this conversation was to review opportunities and needs at your institution and to build a team of people across campus who are well-positioned to help your campus engage its NetVUE membership well. If you would like to learn more, your institution’s campus contact should know who was part of that initial visioning meeting.
Recommended Starting Points for Engaging with NetVUE
Invite campus engagement with vocation
Consider one or more of the following NetVUE opportunities as a way to start the conversation about vocation and engagement with NetVUE on your campus. These opportunities are for faculty members, staff, and administrators across member institutions. Because they are funded through member dues and generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc., they are available at little or no additional cost to members.
- Order NetVUE Conversation Cards
NetVUE campus contacts receive two copies of Conversation Card decks as a tool for vocational discernment and exploration on their campuses and can order additional decks at no cost. The cards invite reflection upon personal strengths and perspectives, professional aspirations, religious and ethical commitments, and the dispositions and habits that constitute a life well lived. (Action: Campus Contact)
- Join the NetVUE Big Read
The Big Read program offers faculty members, staff, and administrators the opportunity to read and learn together about vocation. This is a good opportunity to develop shared language and deepen campus-wide reflection on vocation. (Action: Campus Contact)
- Host a vocation workshop
A NetVUE workshop, whether in person or virtual, is ideal for campuses that want to develop shared language around vocation or launch new vocation-related initiatives. The workshop is facilitated by a trained NetVUE consultant and is highly customized to the needs and language of the institution. (Action: Small Planning Team)
- Consider a consultation
NetVUE Consultations are a great option for institutions preparing to launch a new initiative, considering a grant application, or seeking to strengthen vocational programs. These consultations are tailored to the specific needs and goals of the campus and can support a wide range of strategic conversations. (Action: Small Planning Team)
Connect with the Network
One of the significant benefits of membership is the opportunity to connect with and learn from other institutions that are also engaging with vocation on their campuses. There are a variety of ways to learn more about what is happening across the network, depending on the time of year.
- Check out the Vocation Matters blog and Callings podcast
Blog posts include original content from leaders at NetVUE institutions, reflections on the nature of vocational reflection, and occasional links to other relevant content on the web. The podcast offerings focus on the process of exploring and discerning one’s vocation, with particular emphasis on mentoring and supporting undergraduate students. (Action: Any Individual)
- Check out the online community
A wealth of NetVUE resources are housed in the online community, which is available only to those at NetVUE member institutions. (Action: Any Individual)
- Attend an upcoming Regional and Topical Gathering
These gatherings allow focused discussions and useful networking opportunities based on campus roles, institutional location and affiliation, program offerings, and other points of mutual interest. (Action: Any Individual)
- Build a team for the 2026 National Conference
NetVUE hosts a biennial national conference to which all member institutions are invited to send a three- to five-person team. This inspiring and transformative event features plenary sessions with recognized experts, workshops on vocation-related topics, campus presentations on best practices, and plenty of time for networking and socializing. (Action: Campus Contact and Cabinet Level Leader)
- Nominate (or be nominated for) a summer seminar
NetVUE offers various seminars for faculty members, staff, and recently appointed administrators. Participating in a seminar is an excellent way to cultivate campus leaders and deepen vocational expertise at your institution. (Action: Any Individual and Cabinet Level Supervisor)
Plan for a Grant Application
Collaborate with others on campus to learn about grant opportunities and to consider which grants might be the best fit for your next vocation initiative. Some of the grants have particular eligibility requirements. If you are uncertain about your eligibility, contact Jane Walters, NetVUE grants and membership manager, by email at jwalters@cic.edu or by phone at (202) 978-2099. (Action: Small Planning Team)
NetVUE also offers a program of Grants to Individuals for Vocational Exploration for faculty members and staff who wish to pursue their own projects (not directly supporting a campus program) in scholarship, pedagogy, or institutional service. (Action: Any Individual)
Follow us on Social Media
Stay up to date on new resources and upcoming events and opportunities by following us on LinkedIn! (Action: Any Individual)
To report a technical problem with the website, or to offer suggestions for navigation and content issues, please contact Alex Stephenson, NetVUE communications coordinator, at astephenson@cic.edu.