Wooster receives a Council of Independent Colleges grant to support faith-driven leadership building. The College of Wooster has received a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) for Fostering Leadership for Communities of Faith. The grant funds a two-year award of $60,000 to develop new or strengthen existing programs that support students as they consider vocations of leadership in established faith communities. Wooster plans to use the grant to build a Faith-Driven Leadership & Vocational Discernment Program that formalizes partnerships with local faith leaders to co-create authentic internship experiences where students can practice leadership and receive mentoring in community contexts. The initiative is designed to strengthen Wooster's existing pre-ministry program, led by Chan Sok Park, chair and associate professor of religious studies. Pre-ministry already supports a broad variety of vocational paths including chaplaincy, social work, non-profit services, and congregational and liturgical leadership. Until now, it focused on fostering vocational discernment and education by cultivating networks with religious practitioners and engaged alumni. It's steadily grown in recent years with an increasing number of students showing interest in gaining hands-on experience through internships. "Partnering with community faith leaders through this grant not only allows us to co-create internships and foster mentoring relationships, it also provides real-world context for students to develop empathy, integrity, collaboration, and communication, which are all competencies central to leadership in any profession," said Park. He will serve as primary investigator for the grant alongside Rev. Travis Webster, incoming campus chaplain, who starts at Wooster this fall. Park and Webster will engage a strategic partnership working group of community leaders and interested faculty to design internships that will prepare students for ministry and other service-oriented vocations, while strengthening connections to the religious community of Wooster. Grant funding will cover student stipends for nine internships spread out across summer 2027, fall 2027, and spring 2028. It will also offer leadership training opportunities such as the Interfaith Academy that link foundational leadership skills with each student's individualized experience. "Not all students are able to commit to an unpaid internship due to financial responsibilities or summer work obligations," said Park. "Being able to offer financial support expands these opportunities to a broader audience." The internships aren't limited to pre-ministry or religious studies students, either. All majors, especially students in other pre-professional programs, can explore how faith-informed leadership and service can intersect with diverse professional trajectories. For example, pre-law students could engage in immigration advocacy and justice-focused service through partnerships with religious organizations committed to immigration justice initiatives. The strategic working group is designed to identify, expand, and co-create opportunities like this. The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of more than 700 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other 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 offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help independent institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility. Featured image: Chan Sok Park, chair and associate professor of religious studies, will serve as primary investigator for the grant to support students as they consider vocations of leadership in established faith communities. Posted in News on June 8, 2026. Related areas of study. Offers guidance for discernment and fellowship, preparing students for seminary, rabbinic school, religious vocations, or graduate studies. Pre-Professional Advising An interdisciplinary, academic approach to the study of religion that includes history, art, theology, and more. Major Minor Plan for your future in law with faculty mentors who have guided generations of Wooster graduates to law school Pre-Professional Advising

Rhodes College receives $100K Grant from Council of Independent Colleges to enhance Undergraduate vocational exploration. Published on: May 19, 2026 Rhodes College, a nationally ranked liberal arts institution, is the recipient of a $100,000 Program Development Grant from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE). This grant will embed career preparation more intentionally and systematically into the college's liberal arts curriculum. Provided by the Council of Independent Colleges and supported by the Lilly Endowment Inc., the grant funds a two-year initiative titled "Integrating Values and Vocation Across the Liberal Arts," which begins on July 1. "We are grateful for NetVUE's support in developing the infrastructure for strengthening connections between academic inquiry and career readiness," said Dr. Rashna Richards, associate provost at Rhodes who will serve as the project lead. "Our faculty care deeply about helping students discern lives of purpose, and this grant will make the curricular work of vocational preparation more intentional and visible." The first year of the grant will include faculty learning communities, campus-wide symposia, and the creation of a comprehensive Rhodes Career Toolkit. The second year will focus on innovative course development, including experiential learning courses that take students to major cities to visit alumni and make connections between liberal arts learning and professional life. "The work supported by this grant is more important than ever," said Dr. Timothy Huebner, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "Students crave meaningful conversations about their futures, and this grant supports just that sort of purposeful engagement and professional development." This initiative is grounded in Rhodes' Vision to "graduate students with a lifelong passion for learning, a compassion for others, and the ability to translate academic study and personal concern into effective leadership and action." It illustrates how a Rhodes degree helps students transform their learning into action, preparing them to make a living as well as a meaningful life.

ACI Board Chair recognized at State Council's Annual Conference. Chicago was host to the Council of Independent Colleges' 2026 State Council's Annual Conference, from April 28 to 30, 2026, held at the Royal Sonesta Chicago River North Hotel. During the three-day program, participants explored current trends in independent higher education, discussed effective ways to support member presidents, and shared leadership strategies and opportunities. The conference also included sessions focused on using data to advocate for state associations and how AI is rewriting the student journey through enrollment with a strategic focus on "post-traditional" learners to bridge the demographic gap. Attendees, including state executives, fundraising officers, and communication and operations staff, benefited from face-to-face networking opportunities and the exchange of best practices with colleagues. Additionally, participants had the chance to think creatively about the work of State Councils and their impact on independent higher education. Lyn Bulman, Chair of the ACI Board, received the Charles W. L. Foreman Award from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) during the Opening Session on April 28. This prestigious award is presented annually to individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a strong commitment to supporting state-based councils and independent higher education. It is regarded as the highest honor given by the CIC's State Councils, recognizing service that sets the recipient apart from their peers. Drawing on her distinguished career in global human resources, Lyn has brought strategic vision, transparency, and a deep dedication to student success to ACI. She has guided the organization through a transformative period, enhancing its capacity to serve students throughout Illinois. During her acceptance remarks, Bulman reflected both on the transformative power of education and the collective responsibility of those who support it, sharing, "I choose to volunteer with ACI because I have lived the change that education can bring." She also reminded attendees of the broader impact of their work, noting, "Each individual change adds up, and by working together as a community, the world becomes a little bit better place." Her leadership has not only stabilized and advanced ACI's mission but also reaffirmed a shared belief in expanding access to education and opportunity for those who need it most.