Warner Pacific University will begin a novel Faculty Mentorship pilot in the 2026-2027 academic year thanks to a professional development grant through the national Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE).
WPU has been awarded a $24,376 professional development grant to support its Faculty Agile Mentorship (FAM) pilot to match all of its first-year incoming students and selected transfer students with Faculty Mentors. The Office of Academic Affairs will oversee the effort.
NetVUE is a nationwide network of over 300 colleges and universities formed to support and enrich vocational exploration and discernment among undergraduate students. A program of the Council of Independent Colleges, it supports colleges and universities in helping students explore questions of purpose, calling, and meaningful work. The Professional Development Award is designed to deepen vocational exploration and discernment among undergraduate students by investing in the professional development of faculty and staff.
The 2026-2027 pilot is part of a comprehensive three-tiered support system being built at WPU for all undergraduate students to remove academic, social and workplace barriers to successful completion.
“Our goal is to create a strong high-touch environment for all students, with three Academic connections – a professional tutor, an academic advisor, and a faculty mentor supporting their educational journeys,” said Dr. Latrissa Lee Neiworth, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Faculty. “We are grateful to NetVUE and the Council of Independent Colleges for their investment in this important work.”
The University has a strong professional tutor and academic advisor system; faculty mentorship is the final piece needed for the three-tiered support project. The concept of FAM focuses on bridging academic theory at the undergraduate level with industry practices, by implementing ideas like iterative workflows, fostering psychological safety and providing ongoing structured feedback.
The new pilot will be kicked off as part of the Faculty Retreat in August and will include support from a NetVUE facilitator. If the pilot is successful, the plan is to expand Faculty Mentorship so it is available to all WPU students.
The award is made possible through funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. and recognizes institutions committed to fostering meaningful vocational exploration among students. Warner Pacific was selected as part of a group of NetVUE member institutions receiving funding during the 2026 award cycle. It recognizes Warner Pacific’s ongoing commitment to providing a Christ-centered education that prepares students to engage actively in a constantly changing world.