The Values and Vocations Project (VVP) encourages members of the Occidental community to explore the relationship between values and beliefs and meaningful work or vocation. The VVP is funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment through the Programs for the Theological Exploration of Ministry initiative.
The VVP seeks to create a culture of discernment on campus within which students explore the relationship between the beliefs they hold and the choices they make. Ultimately, this self-understanding will extend to a deeper engagement between self and world as students pursue experiences that help them determine what for them is meaningful work.
Key components of the VVP include:
Values and Vocations Independent Research Projects:
These grants provided students opportunity to engage in
independent research by designing projects that nurtured their intellectual, ethical, moral, spiritual and religious development and understanding of meaningful work.
The Office for Religious and Spiritual Life is no longer able
to award research grants.
What Matters to Me and Why: Occidental faculty speak to members of the Occidental community about their intellectual, research and vocational passions and interests.
Values and Vocations Retreats: The Office for Religious and Spiritual Life hosts retreats to support students in their vocational discernment process.
Values and Vocations Speakers:
The Office for Religious and Spiritual Life works with other
offices on campus to host speakers to discuss topics related to
social justice, politics, spirituality, religious diversity and
vocational discernment.
Interfaith Baccalaureate Service:
This annual interfaith service honors graduating seniors by celebrating the spiritual and religious dimensions of their undergraduate experience.
Values and Vocations Fellowships
These paid fellowships offer selected students the opportunity
to explore the nexus of spiritual development and a commitment
to serve the common good through social justice. Students
work on a project of their own design in a local community
organization and participate in a weekly integration seminar.
The Office for Religious and Spiritual Life offers an academic
year program and a seven week summer program. The
Fellowship program is made possible by funding from the Angell
Foundation.
