Pfeiffer University has been awarded a $75,754 NetVUE Program Development Grant to support a two-year initiative focused on deepening vocational exploration and discernment among undergraduate students.

The project, titled “Advancing Purpose: Building a Community of Shared Vocational Exploration,” will strengthen Pfeiffer’s commitment to purpose-centered education by reframing vocation and leadership as shared, community-centered responsibilities rather than solely individual pursuits. Through campus-wide engagement, reflection, and dialogue, the initiative will help students more intentionally explore questions of purpose, meaning, and calling in relation to their academic, co-curricular, and community experiences.

The NetVUE Program Development Grant is administered by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and made possible through the generous support of Lilly Endowment Inc. NetVUE (Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education) is a nationwide network of colleges and universities dedicated to fostering vocational exploration and discernment among undergraduate students.

“This initiative reflects Pfeiffer University’s mission to prepare students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership,” said President Dr. Scott Bullard. “We are grateful for the support of the Council of Independent Colleges and Lilly Endowment Inc. as we deepen our work of vocational exploration across the university and within our surrounding community.”

During Year One, Pfeiffer will host a year-long, campus-wide series of purpose-centered gatherings known as an “Advance,” intentionally named to emphasize forward-looking engagement. These gatherings will bring together faculty, staff, coaches, and student leaders to develop a shared vocabulary and vision for integrating vocation and purpose across academic programs, advising, athletics, and campus life.

In Year Two, the initiative will expand beyond campus through a community survey and facilitated focus groups with local leaders, organizations, and stakeholders. These conversations will help align student service-learning opportunities with community-identified needs while deepening students’ understanding of vocation through real-world engagement. Additional campus focus groups will guide reflection, assessment, and long-term integration of this work.

“By embedding vocational reflection into the university’s general education curriculum, advising practices, and co-curricular programming, Pfeiffer aims to ensure that the impact of this initiative extends well beyond the grant period,” said Dr. Ted Royston, planning team co-chair.

Outcomes will include clearly defined vocation-focused learning goals, community-engaged learning models, and a shared institutional language that helps students articulate who they are becoming and how their education prepares them to contribute meaningfully to the world.