Application to host a Network Exchange Program

2009 Network Exchange

At its 2008 fall meeting, the National Network Board awarded the following school funding to host the Network Exchange in the 2009-2010 academic year.

Calvin College
From Every Nation: Revised Comprehensive Plan for Racial Justice, Reconciliation, and Cross-Cultural Engagement at Calvin College
Director: Michelle Loyd-Paige
October 4-7, 2009
For more information, click here.

Description and Guidelines

Network Exchange Programs allow Network institutions to showcase distinctive projects, institutes, or curricula that highlight the Christian or church-related characteristics of their schools. They provide for an extended visitation by faculty and leaders from other Network colleges, allowing close observation and study of the pertinent program, so that other institutions might learn from the host institution's experience and perspectives.

Any established and distinctive institution, program, or curricular emphasis that especially promotes the college or university's mission and Christian character may be an appropriate focus for a Network Exchange. These may be programmatic initiatives like core programs, honors programs, interdisciplinary programs, or capstone courses. Or they might take the form of research or study institutes, international experiences, co-curricular programs, off-campus study centers, or service learning programs.

A Network Exchange program may be funded for $25,000. Institutions that have already received a grant in this category will not be eligible in the same category again for three years after the original grant was awarded. Application deadline: September 15, 2009 for a program planned for the 2010-11 academic year.

The precise character and format of each program is to be determined by the applicant. The normal expectation is that the program should run from three to five days, allowing participants to observe and experience first-hand the particular aspect of the institution being featured. There should also be well-planned opportunities for visitors to exchange ideas with the host institution and with one another about possible lessons and applications of the program in other settings. Each Program should consist of ten to fifteen participants from other Network schools, with a limit of two participants per institution.

Institutions selected to host a Network Exchange Program will be responsible for organizing and structuring this Program, making all on-campus arrangements, publicizing the Program at National Network institutions, and recruiting participants. At the conclusion of the Exchange the Coordinator must submit a written report.

Each application must include a proposed budget. The budget should cover on-campus expenses, fees for speakers or presenters, a stipend for the program Coordinator, and a 10% overhead cost for the host institution. The budget should also include funds for participant costs for travel, food, and lodging; these costs may be paid directly by the host institution, or allotted in the form of stipends to each participant.

In developing their applications, institutions may request descriptions and copies of applications directly from the hosts of previous Network Exchange Programs.

Application deadline is September 15, 2009 for a program planned for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Application to host a Network Exchange Program

Network Exchange Programs previously funded

2008 - Geneva College
Returning to the Roots of Civil Rights
Director:  Todd Allen

2007 - The Entrada Scholars Program at Calvin College
Coordinator: Rhae-Ann Booker
July 10 - 13, 2007

2007 - Catholic Studies Program at Loyola College in Maryland
Coordinator: Angela Russell Christman
April 18-21, 2007

2002 - The Paideia Exhange Program at Luther College
Coordinators: Ruth Kath, Department of Modern Languages and Literature
Mark Muggli, Department of English

2001 - The Lasallian Honors Program at St. Mary's University of Minnesota
Coordinator: Jane Kelley Rodeheffer

2001 - Academically Based Service Learning at Calvin College
Coordinator: Claudia Beversluis, Dean of Instruction

2000 - The Goshen College Study-Service Term Abroad (SST)
Coordinator: Russell A. Leichty, Special Projects Director

1999 - Christ College, the Honors College, Valparaiso University
Coordinator: Margaret Franson, Assistant Dean of Christ College