Concordia University Chicago is among a select group of Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) members chosen to receive a program development grant from the Council of Independent Colleges. The purpose of the grant of $51,590 is to deepen vocational exploration and discernment among undergraduate students.

The grant will fund two programs at Concordia-Chicago: an Athletic Faculty Mentoring program, which aims to form a community of mentors and mentoring partnerships between athletic and academic staff, in order to guide student athletes in their vocational reflection and discernment; and a Community-Engaged Learning program, to be a pathway for vocation exploration through a partnership between faculty in the University’s four colleges, community organizations and businesses, advising and career services staff. This team will put processes in place to support mentoring for vocation through internships, community-engaged learning and capstone courses. Taken together, these two initiatives aim to develop and pilot opportunities for all CUC undergraduate students to explore, reflect and discern who they are and how they might serve the common good.

“We are thrilled about the opportunities and resources that the NetVUE grant will provide to our students as they explore their current and future vocations through mentoring, experiential learning, community engagement and advising,” says Kathy Gebhardt, dean of students at Concordia-Chicago. “I have no doubt that this grant will have a lasting impact on our students as they reflect upon and discern God’s call for their lives.”

“I’m excited that CUC continues to deepen its engagement with NetVUE. A commitment to discerning our God-given vocations is woven into the fabric of the University’s Lutheran identity,” says Dr. Eli Hestermann, vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer. “The opportunity to foreground this work with our student-athletes and expand experiential learning through community partnerships brings added value to a CUC education.”

The grant will be used over a two-year period of May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2027. NetVUE program development grants are made possible through financial support to the Council of Independent Colleges by Lilly Endowment Inc.