John Carroll University has been awarded a nearly $100,000 grant from NetVUE to advance the continued development of Onward, its signature student success platform launching in Fall 2026. The funding will help accelerate the development of a discernment-driven advising model that invites students to engage not only with questions of career, but with a deeper sense of purpose—exploring how their interests, values, and talents can contribute to the greater good.
This transformative approach to vocational discernment is made possible through a coordinated advising system that surrounds each student with a dedicated team, helping them develop a clear, evolving plan for their future. By uniting faculty, career advisors, and student success professionals, John Carroll advances a more connected, purpose-driven model that helps students move forward with confidence.
“We’re very grateful to NetVUE and the Council of Independent Colleges for supporting Onward,” said President-Elect Carolyn Noll Sorg. “We have always been dedicated to strengthening the student experience, and Onward is our next iteration of that commitment. We look forward to officially launching Onward in 2026 and advancing our mission of accompanying students on their academic and professional journeys.”
Building on this approach, Onward introduces a new advising structure that integrates academic and career guidance into a single, coordinated system. The NetVUE grant will support cross-functional advising roles and provide faculty and staff with training in evidence-based practices that help students identify their strengths, navigate decisions, and take meaningful action toward their goals. By establishing a shared framework and common language, the university is creating a more consistent and impactful advising experience for all students.
“This new advising model is central to the Onward vision,” said Drew Poppleton, Assistant Vice President for Student Success at John Carroll. “It allows us to bring academic and career advising together in a more intentional way, equip our advisors with evidence-based training, and help students make clearer connections between what they’re learning and where they’re headed.”
While the model introduces a more coordinated approach to advising, it is grounded in a deeper commitment to helping students discern their purpose.
“Rooted in the Jesuit value of discernment, this advising model will guide students to reflect on their values and aspirations while making informed decisions about their academic and career paths,” said Bonnie Gunzenhauser, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “It empowers students to discover not only what they want to do, but who they want to become. It’s meant to help students find their vocation.”
By embedding vocational discernment more intentionally into the advising experience, the university is aligning academic, co-curricular, and career support into a more cohesive model. While opportunities for reflection and purpose-driven exploration already exist across campus, this grant enables John Carroll to align academic, co-curricular, and career support more holistically.
The NetVUE grant, administered by the Council of Independent Colleges and funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., supports institutions committed to helping students explore and discern their many callings in life. At John Carroll, that mission aligns closely with Onward, which is designed to ensure every student graduates with both a strong sense of direction and the support system to pursue it.
