Celebrations
Congratulations to the 2026 Recipients of NetVUE Program Development Grants
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), through its Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), has awarded NetVUE Program Development Grants to 30 institutions totaling over $2,750,000. These grants support institutions in deepening, expanding, or otherwise strengthening programs that support students as they explore and discern their many callings in life. CIC and NetVUE are grateful for the support of Lilly Endowment Inc., which makes this grant possible. This is the thirteenth year that this NetVUE grant was awarded, bringing the total to 280 Program Development Grants awarded to member institutions.
“Warm congratulations to the recipients of our latest cohort of NetVUE Program Development Grants! The application pool was exceptionally competitive, and on behalf of the evaluation committee and the staff of CIC and NetVUE, I extend sincere gratitude to all who applied,” said Carter Aikin, NetVUE grants director. “To those awarded funding, we look forward with anticipation to the launch of your projects and the contributions they will make.”
NetVUE empowers independent colleges and universities to guide undergraduates in exploring and discerning their many vocations. This year’s cohort proposed inspiring projects in areas such as advising and mentoring, community-engaged learning, the inclusion of vocational reflection in general education and major curricula, and co-curricular vocational exploration in areas such as athletics and student life. The wide variety of programming supported by these grants reflects the diverse and creative ways institutions are engaging with vocation. For more information about each project, visit the NetVUE website.
The following institutions were awarded a NetVUE Program Development Grants in 2026:
Azusa Pacific University (CA)
Pathways to Purpose: Enhancing Vocational Exploration in the APU Core
Bellarmine University (KY)
Reflection in Community: Deepening Vocational Discernment in the Honors Program
Bethany College (KS)
Transforming Our Core Education program
Coe College (IA)
Progress with Purpose
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (LA)
Empowering Futures Expansion Project
John Carroll University (OH)
An Integrated Model of Academic and Career Advising
Le Moyne College (NY)
Purposeful Advising: The Manresa Difference
Lipscomb University (TN)
Vocational Pathways Initiative
Luther College (IA)
Integrated Advising as a Four-Year Pathway to Meaningful Work and Life
Marietta College (OH)
Vocational Exploration Throughout the Academic and Co-Curriculum
Mars Hill University (NC)
Incorporating Vocational Discernment into the Experience of All Students
Maryville College (TN)
Strengthening the Significant Practical Experience at Maryville College
Milligan University (TN)
Strengthening the Institutional Commitment to Vocational Exploration
Montreat College (NC)
Calling & Convocation Initiative
Mount Saint Mary’s University (CA)
(M)POWER Sophomore Summit
Pfeiffer University (NC)
Advancing Purpose: Building a Community of Shared Vocational Exploration
Rhodes College (TN)
Integrating Values and Vocation across the Liberal Arts
Saint Louis University (MO)
Ignatian Colleagues Network
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (IN)
Encouraging Vocational Pedagogy and Exploration in General Education
Saint Mary’s College (IN)
Ministry for Social Transformation Program
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
The Academy of Human Flourishing
Saint Xavier University (IL)
Preparing Future Nursing Leaders
Seattle University (WA)
WorkPlus@SU
Southwestern Adventist University (TX)
Purpose through Practice: Integrating Vocation and Calling into SWAU’s Innovation Framework
St. Catherine University (MN)
The Purposeful Leadership & Community-based Exploration Initiative
St. Thomas University (FL)
Hearts on Fire: An Augustinian Journey of Vocation at St. Thomas University
Stillman College (AL)
A Campus-Wide Initiative for Leadership Development and Vocational Reflection
Susquehanna University (PA)
Finding Meaning and Purpose in a Future Shaped by AI
Viterbo University (WI)
Strengthening the Vocational Formation of Viterbo Undergraduate Students
Westmont College (CA)
A Shared Framework for Vocational Formation across the Institution
More about CIC and NetVUE
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of over 600 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils, and higher education affiliates that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. CIC provides members with ideas, resources, and programs that help institutions improve their leadership expertise, educational programs, administrative and financial performance, and institutional visibility.
The Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) is a program of CIC with over 350 members. The purpose of NetVUE is to increase the capacity of independent colleges and universities to support their undergraduate students as they explore and discern their many callings in life. The process of vocational reflection is an interdisciplinary endeavor, bringing together theological, philosophical, ethical, historical, and affective approaches, and implementing the theoretical reflections of these fields in vocation-related practices. Campuses are encouraged to support students in this work through a variety of academic departments, pre-professional programs, and campus offices. NetVUE is governed by a principle of subsidiarity: individual member institutions are encouraged to shape their work related to vocation and calling— including the vocabularies that they use to describe this work—in ways that are best suited to their own missions, teaching philosophies, student demographics, and other matters best known to those who lead and guide this work on campus.
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.