EUGENE, Ore. – Bushnell University is honored to announce that it has been selected to host an upcoming NetVUE regional gathering Oct. 2–4. The event, titled “The Purposeful University,” will convene faculty, staff, and thought leaders from across the region to explore the role of purpose, vocation, and calling in higher education.
This gathering is part of the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education and is funded through a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges. The funds will cover event costs, including pre- and post-event gatherings. The grant is made possible through NetVUE member dues and generous support from the Lilly Endowment Inc.
An Opportunity for Purposeful Reflection
“This gathering is more than a conference — it is a vital conversation about meaning making and purpose in the work of colleges and universities”, said Dr. Agam Iheanyi-Igwe, Bushnell Associate Dean and Professor of Bible, Theology, & Ministry. “We are grateful for the opportunity to host this event on our campus and to join colleagues from across the region in reflecting on the future of higher education through the lens of vocation.”
Building on NetVUE executive director Dr. David Cunningham’s assertion that colleges, like individuals, have callings, the gathering examines how institutions discern, articulate, embody, and live out their institutional callings. This examination will also explore how institutional vocation contributes to the flourishing of the broader communities that colleges and universities serve.
Planning is already underway for the three-day gathering, which will include keynote presentations, facilitated discussions, and breakout sessions designed to spark meaningful dialogue, provide practical tools for furthering purposeful education, and foster collaborative relationships among participants.
Three Days of Engaging Conversations
Opening the event, Cunningham will present the first keynote address, “The Importance of Vocational Reflection for Colleges and Universities in the Present Landscape,” in which he
will explore how the framework of vocation and purpose can be applied at the institutional level. He’ll explain why this approach is particularly vital in the current landscape and compare it with alternative models.
On Friday morning, Bushnell President Dr. Joseph Womack will lead the first panel session with fellow staff to discuss the university’s journey through institutional vocational reflection. The panel will discuss Bushnell’s Saga Project, the Presidential initiative on creating Becoming Beloved Community, and how this has played out in institutional interactions with visitors during regional accreditation visits.
Several other excellent sessions follow throughout the day and into Saturday. There will also be meals, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. The gathering will close with a call for “Institutional Purpose and Courage” in Dr. Matthew Hartley’s keynote address. Hartley is an internationally recognized expert on academic governance, leadership, and reform in higher education, and he serves as professor and board of advisors chair of Education at University of Pennsylvania.
To learn more about the NetVUE regional gathering at Bushnell, including ticket prices and the schedule, visit bushnell.edu/netvue-regional-gathering.
If you have questions about the event, please contact Dr. Agam Iheanyi-Igwe at aiheanyi-igwe@bushnell.edu.
To learn more about NetVUE, visit www.cic.edu/netvue.