College/University Grants Will Benefit
Three Disciples-Related Institutions

Programs to attract more undergraduates to ministry, to provide leadership opportunities in campus ministries, and to provide guidance on the instruction of ethics courses will be supported by the 2003 College/University Grants, the Division of Higher Education announced at its recent board meeting.

For 21 years, College/University Grants have funded special projects at undergraduate institutions related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that will benefit both the institution and the church as a whole. Funds for the grants are provided by the colleges and universities themselves, who put a portion of the money they are allocated from general denominational funding into this special fund. Including this year's proposals, the program has funded 80 projects. Each institution in covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has received a grant during the program's history.

"College/University Grants are exciting because they show the creativity of the faculty, students, and administrators on campuses, but they also demonstrate the importance of the relationships between the colleges and universities and the church," said DHE President Dennis Landon. "These grants have been instrumental in developing programs that will nurture future leaders for the church and enrich the educational experience for students at Disciples-related colleges and universities."

This year, more than $41,000 will be divided among three Disciples-related colleges and universities: Eureka College, Lynchburg College, and Columbia College. The DHE Board of Directors approves new grants each spring based upon applications submitted by the schools.

• Eureka College's "Living Stones" program aims to build a structure that will tap into undergraduate programs to provide ordained leadership for the church. The grant will provide funding for two fellowships; visits to denominational offices, seminaries, historical sites, and congregations; summer internships; visits by seminaries to campus; courses in applied ministries; spring break mission trips; and Disciples On Campus.

• Columbia College will gather approximately two dozen adjunct instructors from some of its 30 satellite campuses for a seminar on teaching ethics courses. All Columbia College students are required to complete a course in ethics prior to graduation, and this seminar will give adjuncts the tools they need to provide ethics classes at remote campuses.

• Lynchburg College will create a year-long internship for a Lynchburg graduate who plans to enter seminary. The internship will provide an opportunity to see how a campus ministry program works as well as creating leadership opportunities. The intern would aid in developing new ministry opportunities and recruit Disciples students to events on and off campus. The intern would work in LC's Office of Spiritual Life.

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