Seton Hill University received a NetVUE (Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education) grant of $45,000 from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) that is being used to develop a more robust academic service-learning program.

This spring, Seton Hill University kicked off a two-year academic development program that incorporates discipline-specific service-learning as an essential pedagogical tool for student vocational discernment. 

This project will support and enhance faculty development in service-learning pedagogy to incorporate critical community-engaged education into their courses to assist in vocational discernment for the common good. Specifically, this project will support faculty cohorts to pursue discipline-specific professional development in service-learning to design or redesign curriculum to integrate critical community-engaged learning for vocational discernment. 

The pillars of the project include summer faculty immersion institutes, discipline-specific professional development, book studies, and course development throughout all five schools of Seton Hill University.

The project began with a two-day faculty immersion institute in May to discern best practices for service-learning and vocational discernment in our community. The kickoff included sessions with service-learning scholar-practitioner Darby Ray of Bates College and a community partner fair with more than 30 of Seton Hill’s community partners on campus. Around 20 faculty and staff participated in this inaugural workshop to integrate service-learning for vocational discernment into their courses and programs. 

A second community partner fair will be held in Cecilian Hall on campus October 1. 

“The tradition and charism of the Sisters of Charity have highlighted the importance of service and community empowerment. Academic community-engaged learning is one way the university is seeking to live into this Setonian mission and to help students to discern their own meaning and contribution to the common good,” said Amanda DeWitt, M.Div, M.Ed, MTS, Director of Service Experience. 

“Community-engaged learning provides an opportunity for college students and community members to work together to accomplish a community goal or meet a community need. It is a mutually beneficial partnership where students learn through praxis, and the community grows more self-sufficient, empowered, and sustainable.” 

The project continues this semester with the initial cohort of five faculty members – one from each of Seton Hill’s five schools – committed to service-learning professional development design or redesign courses to incorporate service-learning as a tool for vocational discernment. 

Members of the first-year Cohort include:

• Dr. Shavonne Arthurs, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, School of Education and Applied Social Sciences
• Dr. Sarah Joiner, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, School of Natural and Health Sciences
• Dr. Catie Clark-Gordon, Assistant Professor of Communication, School of Business and Technology
• Dr. Jennifer Beasley, Assistant Professor of Art Therapy, School of Visual and Performing Arts
• Dr. Roni Kay O’Dell, Associate Professor of Political Science, School of Humanities 

NetVUE’s Program Development grant is administered by the CIC with generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc. NetVUE Program Development Grants are for use over two years to deepen, expand, or otherwise strengthen programs that are already underway and supported by the institution itself. In the previous rounds of this program, CIC awarded over 250 grants to NetVUE member institutions.