Grant opportunity for faculty and staff announced

Grant opportunity for faculty and staff announced

You are invited to apply for a grant at St. Thomas.

Several years ago, the university received a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment as part of a nationwide effort to stimulate a theological exploration of the idea of vocation on college campuses. This grant project, Beyond Career to Calling, has enabled the university to initiate or support more than 30 programs on campus, ranging from student retreats and internships, to symposia and workshops for faculty and staff, to international conferences.

As part of this larger project, the Ireland Fund for New Initiatives encourages new programs and activities, designed by faculty or staff, that support the objectives of Beyond Career to Calling. You are invited to consider developing a proposal and applying for funding through this grant program.

Beyond Career to Calling, has three principle themes, and proposals could address any of them. The first theme concerns the priesthood and religious life. Projects focused on this theme help students consider the possibility of such a vocation in the Church.

The second theme concerns vocation in a larger sense. Projects focused on this theme take a variety of forms but their purpose is to help students think about their lives as an integrated whole, especially in terms of integrating faith with career preparation.

The third theme concerns reflection among faculty and staff on the vocation of the University of St. Thomas; that is, how we live out our institutional vocation as a Catholic university.

All faculty and staff are eligible to apply. Specific information about the Ireland Fund’s objectives and application criteria can be found on the Ireland Fund for New Initiatives Web site. Completed applications are due by Friday, April 7. Proposals will be screened by a committee and decisions will be announced by early May. Awards are normally made in the $3,000 to $5,000 range.

For more information, contact the program’s coordinator, Dr. Mary Reichardt, (651) 962-5707; the grant’s coordinator, or assistant coordinator Brian Green, (651) 962-5864); or visit the Ireland Fund for New Initiatives Web site.