NetVUE Topical Guides are resources to support member institutions as they weave vocation into specific curricular and co-curricular offerings on their campuses.
While educating students for vocation is most effective when it is embedded into the wider culture of the campus—and NetVUE encourages institutions to engage in campus-wide conversations and implementation—the work itself is delivered through specific programs, activities, coursework, and student services.
Moreover, at many member institutions, vocation programs are often initially seeded and piloted in only one or two areas, whether due to the interest of a specific staff or faculty member, the specific needs of the student population, or connections to an institution’s mission or strategic plan.
Every institution is different. In some places, vocation is rooted in academic advising or career development; in others, in the general education curriculum; and in others, in the office of religious and spiritual life.
Whether an institution is just beginning to develop its programming, or it is looking to expand already robust vocation programming into new areas, the topical guides will help them begin to reflect upon existing strengths and needs in various areas of the curriculum and co-curriculum. Each guide includes a brief introduction to the topic, a few questions to consider as institutions envision and develop vocation in a specific area, and a selection of print and digital resources that provide grounding in the topic—including background for practitioners as well as activities for students.
General Considerations
NetVUE encourages institutions, prior to robust program building, to develop a foundation in the language and concepts of vocation and to reflect on the relation of vocation to institutional mission. Professional development programs and institutional grants are available to advance that foundational work.
Some educators might know which Topical Guide they are interested in, while others may wish to investigate several to stir their thinking about what at their institution. Regardless, here are some general questions to consider:
- Does the institution have shared language / concepts for vocation and for its relation to the institutional mission?
- Who on campus would be good conversation partners to assess the campus’s strengths and needs, to discuss possibilities, and to explore the provided resources?
- Who might be active partners (the “doers”) in this work, and who might be the champions (“the supporters”) of this work?
- Where is vocation work already being done on campus? What is working well, and what lessons have been learned thus far?
- What sort of vocation work makes sense, given the various campus factors—for example, institutional mission; current strategic or accreditation plan; institutional philosophy of student formation; the current needs and interests of the student population; and the capacities and interests of campus professionals?
Just the Start of a Conversation
These Topical Guides are an entry point, intended to stir reflection on campus. They do not provide a full roadmap for program development.
The Topical Guides are designed to be used as a prelude to a NetVUE Consultation (a free benefit of membership). A NetVUE consultant can partner with an institution to reflect on strengths and opportunities, consider models and case studies, and design a plan for moving forward with implementation. If you have questions about this program or whether it is the right fit for your institution, you can contact NetVUE associate director Rachael Baker at rbaker@cic.edu to discuss possibilities for a consultation.
Links to Topical Areas
Belonging & Flourishing
General Education
First Year
Sophomore or Middle Year
Major & Academic Disciplines
Capstone
Career Services & Development
Advising & Mentoring
Acknowledgements
The content for these Topical Guides and the supporting materials used by NetVUE consultants was developed as part of a collaborative network-wide effort. NetVUE is grateful to the following individuals for lending their subject-matter expertise and their considerable efforts in gathering, organizing, and curating the materials.
Samantha D. Brown (Special Consultant)
Associate Professor of Psychology and Faculty Co-Director of the Center for Careers, Community, and Creativity (C3), Coe College (IA)
Monique Jiménez-Herrera (Special Consultant)
Vice Provost, Academic Initiatives and Faculty Success and Professor of Psychology, St. Edward’s University (TX)
Michelle Steffenhagen (Special Consultant)
Adjunct Assistant Professor of General Studies and Introduction to Wellbeing Coordinator, Bethel University (MN)
Antonios Finitisis
Professor of Hebrew Bible, Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
Michelle Horhota
Associate Dean for Mentoring and Advising and Professor of Psychology, Furman University (SC)
Leah Martin-Visscher
Associate Professor of Chemistry, The King’s University (AB, Canada)
Richard J. Meagher
Professor of Political Science and Director of Social Entrepreneurship, Randolph-Macon College (VA)
Janet Nava Cardenas
Assistant Director of Student Employment and Career Education, Mount Saint Mary’s University (CA)
Dan Ross
Associate Professor of Mathematics, Maryville College (TN)
Rodney Palmer
Associate Professor of Religion, Andrews University (MI)
James Stukes
Assistant Dean of Student Success and College Access, Wofford College (SC)
Cynthia A. Wells
Dean of Faculty Development and Professor of Higher Education, Messiah University (PA)
Ryan White
Associate Dean of Leadership Development and Applied Learning, Hope College (MI)
David Wilstermann
Program Analyst, Calvin University (MI)
To report a technical problem with the website, or to offer suggestions for navigation and content issues, please contact Madeline Smanik, NetVUE communications specialist, at msmanik@cic.edu.