During the past several weeks, you might have seen a number of students wearing “Explore Your Purpose, DePaul University” t-shirts, and wondered what that was, exactly. Well, wonder no more: the university’s vocation, or purpose, project, “Vincentian Vision and Values” (V3) has changed its name to “Explore Your Purpose.”

Recent research has shown that when college students are intentionally connected to their values and purpose when exploring majors and career options, they are more likely to succeed in college and in the long run, they are happier. The “Explore Your Purpose Program” is a new program that is attempting to do just that. With a $50,000 grant from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE), DePaul hopes to make purpose exploration a more significant part of the student experience.

Mark Laboe, associate vice president in Student Affairs, and the person who spearheaded this program at DePaul, explains:

Q. Who developed the program, and how?
A. The program was developed by a group led by the University Ministry staff and included a core team of people from Enrollment Management and Marketing areas, Academic Advising, Mission and Values and Teaching, Learning and Assessment, among others.

Q. What is the main message you hope students take away from this program?
A. Living a fulfilling life is about more than just getting a job or experiencing academic or personal success – it is also about finding a way to contribute in meaningful ways to the world and people around you. Purpose is not just all about you, but also about how you relate to those around you.

Q. Why change the program name?
A. The name change was simply about making it resonate more immediately and more easily with students. We still speak of Vincentian vision and values as part of the project.

Q. How will the program be implemented?
A. We will use the involvement fairs, Vinnie Fest and tabling during the fall to invite student engagement with purposeful reflection and conversation. We will also host small, purposed-oriented discussion groups and other activities throughout the year that will draw students into more opportunities for reflection.

Q. How do you see this program growing?
A. This is a two-year initiative. The hope is that after two years, we have woven the content and message of this program into the fabric of DePaul and into various touch points that students have during their time here, so that it becomes an integral and common part of the culture at DePaul. 

If you are interested in learning how to get involved or would simply like more information, attend the “Explore Your Purpose” partners meeting on Thursday, October 13th at 2:30 pm in room 325 of the Lincoln Park Student Center.