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Friday, June 4, 2004
Contact: Brad Lyons, Director of Communications
(314) 991-3000 - blyons@dhedisciples.org

College/University Grants Awarded to Hiram, Midway, and William Woods

A program that will immerse students in local congregational ministry and a pair of programs working to establish campus ministries on Disciples campuses will be supported by the 2004 College/University Grants, the Division of Higher Education announced at its recent board meeting.

For 22 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 the Disciples Mission Fund into this special fund.

This year, $45,000 will be divided among three Disciples-related colleges and universities: Hiram College, Midway College, and William Woods University. The DHE Board of Directors approves new grants each spring based upon applications submitted by the schools.

    Hiram College: Religious Life Internships
    Hiram College's request would partially fund three elements of its Religious Life Internship Program: 1) Hire a consultant to envision, implement, and evaluate the program, 2) Offer a workshop to 20 area clergy to establish and improve relations with area congregations, and 3) Fund three student internships in nearby churches.

    Midway College: Unity of College and Church: Building a Campus
    Midway College, in partnership with Midway Christian Church, would establish a Campus Minister and ministry program to the college. Using the grant as seed money, Midway's overall project would provide pastoral care and Bible study programs to the campus, create a Disciple Fellowship group for students, and lead the campus community in service projects.

    William Woods University: Faith and Service Coordinator
    William Woods University's grant will help with the start-up costs to create the Office of Faith and Service. Its coordinator, a full-time position, would serve as chaplain, teach courses, and provide value-based programming for the LEAD campus and community involvement program.

Supported by contributions from colleges and universities in covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the College/University Grant Fund represents a commitment by the church to special programs and projects that enhance and strengthen its relationship with the colleges and universities related by covenant to the church. The fund receives a portion of Disciples Mission Fund revenues for this purpose, in consultation with the Council of Colleges and Universities. Grants are made only for projects that represent new initiatives beyond present programming. Grants will not be made for physical plant, endowment, general operating budgets, or for programs already in existence.

Including this year's proposals, the program has funded 83 projects. Each institution in covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has received at least one 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."

DHE helps students discover how they will change the world in partnership with Disciples congregations, higher education institutions, and campus ministry programs. Including cooperative efforts with local congregations, DHE helped distribute more than $270,000 in scholarships to 141 recipients in 2003. This summer, DHE will change its name to Higher Education and Leadership Ministries (HELM) to better reflect its ministry of leader development.