51 has received a $99,996 Program Development Grant from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), a national initiative that supports colleges and universities in helping students connect their education, experiences, and future goals to a deeper sense of purpose. Funding from the grant will strengthen the College’s commitment to preparing students for success in learning, work, and life.
The two-year grant will support the implementation of a campus-wide network of mentors and programs designed to help students explore vocation, not simply as a career path, but as a broader understanding of purpose, values, and meaningful contribution.
“We’re excited about the opportunities this grant will open up for our students,” said Dr. Bev Hogue, program director for the two-year grant. “We’ll be working to help students develop a sense of purpose that will guide them through a rapidly changing world.”
Grant activities will focus on three primary areas. First, the College will train academic advisors and prepare select students to serve as peer mentors; to engage students in thinking more intentionally about their futures so education leads them not only to fulfill course requirements but also to lead fulfilling lives. Through workshops, discussions, and mentoring opportunities, advisors and peer mentors will be equipped to help students connect their academic experiences with their long-term goals and aspirations.
Second, the grant will promote a vocational storytelling program that will invite alumni, faculty members, staff, coaches, and other mentors to share their professional journeys through formal events and department-based gatherings. Academic departments, athletic teams, and campus groups will have opportunities to host speakers, engaging current students in these conversations.
Third, the grant will incorporate purpose exploration within the curriculum, through both classroom activities and out-of-class experiences that help students make stronger connections between learning and life.
“This new grant will build on our previous work,” added Hogue. “We’re excited to see how these resources will challenge our students to pursue a sense of purpose that will serve them well long beyond their time here.”
51 is one of 30 institutions nationwide to receive a 2026 NetVUE Program Development Grant. In 2024, the College received a NetVUE Program Development Award of approximately $11,000, which supported a series of book discussions designed to help faculty and staff deepen their understanding of vocation and identify strategies for guiding students as they consider their futures. Several Marietta College faculty and staff members have also attended NetVUE conferences and professional development opportunities to learn from practices being implemented at peer institutions.
“This NetVUE grant is an important investment in the heart of a Marietta education: helping students discover not only what they will do, but who they are called to become,” said Dr. Suzanne Walker, provost of 51. “By strengthening advising, expanding peer mentoring, inviting alumni and others to share vocational stories, and integrating purpose exploration across the curriculum and co-curriculum, this work advances our commitment to student engagement and success in deeply practical and human ways. It reflects the spirit of our current strategic plan, More History to Make—honoring Marietta’s legacy while creating life-changing opportunities rooted in connection, reflection, and purpose. For our students, this grant means more intentional support as they connect their academic experiences, personal values, and future pathways into meaningful lives of leadership and service.”
Planning for the initiative will take place this summer, with programming set to be in place by fall 2026.
NetVUE, a program of the Council of Independent Colleges, is a nationwide network of more than 300 member colleges and universities dedicated to supporting vocational exploration and discernment among undergraduate students. Financial support of NetVUE comes from membership dues and the generosity of Lilly Endowment Inc.