Many NetVUE member colleges and universities have strong historical ties to a specific religious tradition, a particular educational philosophy, or a pioneering educator. These elements of an institution’s heritage are important, but their significance may not always be clear in the midst of changes in the institution’s demographic profile, surrounding community, and founding organizations. These changes can influence student recruitment and retention, curriculum design, and the composition of faculty. The purpose of this grant program is to enable institutions to produce an updated account of their history and mission in light of their current context.
This initiative is administered by CIC with generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Current Status
Grants may be requested in amounts ranging up to $40,000 for use over two years. Funds may be used for a range of purposes, but not to substitute for faculty and staff costs that the institution is presently providing for its vocational exploration activities. Additional buyouts of faculty and staff time to produce an updated institutional narrative may be included as a part of the grant. Certain expenses are ineligible for grant support; for details, please consult the Grant Budget Guidelines. In general, grants should be used to offset one-time costs of the process of reframing the institutional saga, as well as the creation of one or more written enduring products that reflect deep research and gather the results of this process.
In the previous rounds of this program, CIC awarded 62 grants to NetVUE member institutions.
In February 2021, awards were given to 20 NetVUE campuses. View summaries of the 2021 program initiatives.
In February 2022, an additional 24 NetVUE campuses received awards. View summaries of the 2022 program initiatives.
In February 2023, an additional 18 NetVUE campuses received awards. View summaries of the 2023 program initiatives.
Eligibility
All NetVUE member institutions that have not completed, and that do not currently hold, a Grant for Reframing the Institutional Saga are eligible to apply for this award. This grant may be held currently with other NetVUE grants; however, please note: If an institution already holds another NetVUE grant, the application must demonstrate that staffing and other resources are adequately distributed to allow both projects to succeed. Ordinarily this will require that the programs supported by the two grants be directed by distinct leadership teams.
An official Invitation for Applications for this grant program is typically issued in the spring for applications that are due in the late summer. Proposals are reviewed in the fall, and applicants are notified of the outcome shortly thereafter. The first half of funding is typically distributed in February for the first year of the grant period; the remaining funds are disbursed the following February, after submission and approval of an interim report. Spending must be completed within the two-year timeframe of the grant.
Contact Information
Questions about this initiative can be addressed to Carter Aikin, NetVUE grant director, at caikin@cic.edu or (217) 854-5619.
About NetVUE
Learn more about NetVUE, including the array of programs and services that are available to member institutions.