Dive Brief:
- A new book, "The Purposeful Graduate: Why Colleges Must Talk to Students about Vocation," urges colleges to step away from career training and take on a cultural role that encourages students to think about their contributions to the world.
- The book, by College of New Jersey sociology professor Tim Clydesdale, looks at data from programs funded by Lilly Endowment grants, which for years went to religiously affiliated institutions in hopes of inspiring more students to think about going into the clergy.
- University Business reports that Clydesdale found a divide between faculty and staff on many campuses that undermined the work of educating the whole student.
Dive Insight:
The Lilly Endowment grants — which are still available, though in much smaller amounts than they were in the past — fund programs that encourage students to talk broadly about big ideas and cultivate a sense of purpose. Clydesdale found that tenure track faculty are especially absent from such programs on campuses as they focus on research and publishing. Participation in these programs could be encouraged for faculty, but it would have to be taken into account during performance reviews.