Vocation Mini-Grants Application

Overview:

The Vocation Implementation Team at the University of Dayton invites students, faculty, and staff to apply for mini-grants ranging from $500-$1000 to support the design and development of programs, activities, and events both inside and beyond the classroom that offer students opportunities to explore, discern and act on their vocations. Vocation may be defined as follows: Answering a call to discover one’s unique gifts and employ them in service for the common good in ways that are personally satisfying and bring meaning to one’s life. Vocation is central to our institutional mission and our call for UD to become the "University for the Common Good" by preparing students to positively impact the world through servant-leadership.

Grants may be used by students, faculty, and staff to develop creative approaches to supporting students’ vocational exploration and discernment.  Preference will be given to classroom activities or experiential programs and events that engage students by: discussing their vocation and calling openly; identifying and reflecting on their unique, defining gifts, talents, skills, interests, and experiences; articulating who they are and how they can serve others in community; examining activities that bring meaning and joy to their life; questioning their life’s meaning and purpose; deepening their relationship with God through a journey of self-discovery and response; learning and practicing the skills of effective discernment in the context of community; reflecting on their responsibilities toward others; analyzing how interactions with employers, mentors and wisdom figures impact career choice and vocational discernment; exploring the vocational implications of their education, professional training, and employment opportunities; and preparing themselves for a lifetime of vocational exploration.

Examples of programs, activities, and events that would be eligible for funding:

• The thoughtful exploration/ integration of vocation into a new or existing course, including necessary materials and supplies
• An experiential learning activity connected to vocation that engages students, faculty, and/or staff in hands-on learning, inside or beyond the classroom
• Workshops or short retreats that guide or engage participants in a process of vocational discernment
• Mini-conferences or forums that bring people together to dialogue about topics of vocation
• Creative projects such as short documentaries, performance art, or visual art that examine vocation from different perspectives
• Research and scholarship on vocation, such as research exploring the multi-cultural dimensions and challenges of vocation work

Mini grant funds cannot be used for the following:

• Ongoing fac/staff costs that the institution is already providing

• Capital expenditures, including major equipment purchases
• Direct fundraising expenses
• Indirect or overhead costs
• Bringing in NetVUE campus consultants or campus visits (there is a separate process for that)
• Costs related to attending NetVUE gatherings and conferences

Eligibility:

University of Dayton faculty (tenured, tenure-track, non-tenure track and adjunct faculty at all ranks and in all departments including lecturers), staff (exempt and non exempt) and students.  

Application Instructions:

Submit applications through this Google Form. Applicants will be asked to provide a project description as well as a proposed timeline and budget. Applications should demonstrate how the proposed curricular or experiential program, activity, or event will 1) contribute to the mission and vision for Vocation at the University of Dayton and connect with the Common Good and 2) directly impact University of Dayton students and, potentially, wider audiences.

Proposals are due October 22, 2018 for Winter/Spring 2019 vocation programs, events, or activities. Grant recipients will be notified in November 2018.

Expectations:

Grant recipients will be asked to:  

1. Share the highlights and outcomes of the activity/project/program with the broader UD community at an event organized by the Vocation mini-grant committee
2. Submit a brief reflection report on the highlights and outcomes of the project to be shared on the Vocation website
3. Submit a budget/expense report

Interested students, faculty and staff are welcome to email Karen Velasquez, Director of Experiential Learning at kvelasquez1@udayton.edu or Maria Ollier Burkett, Assistant Director, Programs Coordination, University Honors Program at mburkett1@udayton.edu with any questions regarding the Vocation mini-grants.  Interested individuals may also set up a time for a one-on-one consultation to discuss application details or receive feedback on proposals in progress.