Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) plans to use a $95,858 Program Development Grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), through its Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), to enhance the first-year student experience.
SMWC is one of 30 institutions awarded a Program Development Grant. The College plans to use the grant over two years, May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2028, to transform the first-year seminar into a more engaging experience through integrating vocational exploration. Grant-funded activities are supported by the Council of Independent Colleges and Lilly Endowment Inc.
“It’s helping students reflect on their purpose, strengths and how they want to contribute to the world,” said Janet Clark, Ph.D., provost/executive vice president of academic affairs. “Adding this into the curriculum and connecting it with career development helps retention and completion rates since students better understand how their values and goals align with their education and future pathways.”
The NetVUE grants, totaling more than $2,750,000, help institutions to deepen, expand or strengthen programs that support students as they explore and discern their calling. As project lead for SMWC, Zach Selby, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology, will run the seminar group and administer the logistics of course revisions.
“This program development grant will enable our faculty to develop a shared understanding of how vocational exploration is integral to the mission and values of the College and bring those broader ideas and pedagogical methods into our courses,” Selby said.
The faculty and staff cohort will meet regularly throughout the year to discuss scholarly perspectives on vocation, work together to make updates to the ‘Into the Woods, Out of the Woods’ course – the first-year experience class where all freshmen are introduced to the concept of the SMWC community and its particular values and ideas by learning about communities and how they influence societies, education and the world.
“This program will help the College to continue providing opportunities for students to refine their thoughts about what they think makes their lives meaningful,” Selby said.