Sherman, Texas -- The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), through its Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), has named Austin College one of its 2026 Professional Development Award recipients.

Austin College was among 46 institutions awarded the Professional Development Award, which supports initiatives that develop campus conversations about vocation and deepens the capacity of those who lead vocational exploration efforts at NetVUE member institutions. This is the 13th year the NetVUE grant has been awarded, bringing the total to 379 Professional Development Awards granted to member institutions.

“This year’s cohort of Professional Development Award grantees continues in a long tradition of staff and faculty members committed to deep engagement with vocational scholarship and resources as they imagine possibilities for future initiatives on campus,” said NetVUE Director of Member Engagement Robert Pampel. “Projects this year envision collaborations across departments, among student affairs staff, and across the institution to explore vocational ideas and to build moments for and structures around vocational discernment into the core curriculum, advising frameworks, and career service initiatives. I expect these projects will provide an essential foundation for continued vocation work on NetVUE member campuses, and I am eager to see how these projects come to fruition over the next year.”

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 45 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.