DELTA On Purpose Program

DELTA On Purpose Program is sponsored by University of Notre Dame Institute for Ethics and the Common Good (ECG). This program is open to faculty and staff applicants from U. S.

colleges and universities interested in implementing the On Purpose model of undergraduate formation in their own institution. The program involves week-long formative experiences over academic breaks.

Fellowships & Grants › Now accepting grant proposals Priority Deadline: August 10, 2026 For any questions, please reach out to Allie Griffith at agriffi7@nd. edu The Institute for Ethics and the Common Good invites U.S. colleges and universities to join a transformative moment in undergraduate formation.

As we navigate an era of unprecedented technological disruption and social fragmentation, the need for students to anchor themselves in questions of purpose has never been more morally urgent. On Purpose participants attended Mass together at San José de la Laguna Mission Church, built in 1699. The interior of the church includes original Laguna art, such as symbols of a rainbow, the sun, moon, and stars.

The Institute seeks to award nine grants of $125,000 (total budget) to institutions ready to pioneer the DELTA On Purpose immersion model. These experiences invite students into meaningful encounters with people and communities confronting systemic social issues, prompting reflection on what it means to be human in light of challenges provoked by AI.

Grantees will be required to adapt existing program elements to their institution, ensuring their version incorporates all core requirements of our existing model—including a minimum week-long formative experience over an academic break. The DELTA On Purpose grants will be awarded for programs beginning in Spring 2027, and, pending successful grant requirement completion, are renewable for up to three years.

The DELTA On Purpose Model and Goals The Institute for Ethics and the Common Good’s On Purpose program invites students to explore questions of calling and purpose through meaningful immersion experiences.

The program structure includes pre-meetings that center substantive engagement with relevant materials, reflection, and community building, a week-long immersion experience (typically over the institution’s spring break, though exact dates can be determined by the institution), and a post-immersion gathering that helps students consider how this experience might shape their particular way of living well in pursuit of the common good.

The rise of artificial intelligence has changed the landscape of the future, urging us to look beyond an “ethical floor” of safety and privacy and toward a deeper, faith-based approach rooted in Christian values.

To meet this moment, our Institute developed The DELTA framework —an acronym for Dignity, Embodiment, Love, Transcendence, and Agency —as a vision of human flourishing that can help orient our institutions, communities, and imaginations in a time of profound technological change.

The DELTA framework provides a new lens for designing On Purpose experiences to help students make sense of their own calling and purpose in light of such disruption.

DELTA On Purpose experiences allow students to unplug and engage in unique and formative learning experiences guided by questions animated by these fundamental notions: Dignity: Every human being possesses inherent worth—not because of productivity, intelligence, or economic value, but because they are made in the image of God. As Pope Leo XIV reminds us, “The person is not a system of algorithms.

” In an age of comparison to machines, we must reaffirm that human dignity is non-negotiable. Embodiment: We are embodied, relational, and mortal beings—our lives unfold in space, time, and community. Christian ethics centers the Incarnation: God takes on the vulnerability of human flesh.

While technology can extend capabilities, it must not obscure the sacredness of human presence or diminish authentic experience. Policies must guide appropriate use in healthcare, education, and other areas where embodied life matters most. Transcendence: Not everything of value can be created, optimized, or sold.

Wonder, beauty, truth, and gratitude draw us beyond ourselves to rejoice in the gifts that God gives us. As technology unlocks new forms of creativity, Christians must resist the temptation to confuse innovation with ultimate meaning. We must nurture practices—like worship, contemplation, and awe—that root us in something higher than the digital.

Agency: To flourish, humans need to pay attention and exercise freedom and moral responsibility. The Christian tradition teaches that agency is not just task completion, but the capacity to choose truth and good. As technological systems suggest, filter, and even act for us, it is vital to guard the kinds of decisions only human consciences should make.

Discernment and virtue must be taught alongside technological fluency. DELTA On Purpose immersions facilitate experiential learning opportunities to engage with, and learn from, exemplars and organizations wrestling with these ideas across an array of fields (not just in the tech sector). Each immersion should also include a retreat component for the cohort to come together around discerning lives of purpose and virtue.

Expectations and Eligibility DELTA On Purpose subgrantees are expected to fulfill core grant requirements, including: Design a curriculum that intentionally integrates key elements of the DELTA Framework into the proposed experience, including pre- and post- travel meetings and the week-long immersion.

Meet regularly with Institute staff (DELTA Director, On Purpose program director, etc.) for guidance and reflection on proposed immersion experience and curriculum Execute the proposed immersion experience according to the approved plan and budget, including: Recruitment and selection of students (25 students minimum) Itinerary planning and travel arrangements Pre- and post-trip formation meetings Provide a final evaluation report that includes student reflections and self-evaluative report of the experience and student outcomes Attend (2 staff members) the DELTA Summit on AI, Faith, and Human Flourishing, Monday, September 21, 2026 – Wednesday, September 23 at Notre Dame (Funding for the Summit will be reimbursed up to $1,000 post-Summit.

More information to follow if selected.) We welcome applications from a broad range of institutions with a demonstrated history of offering and executing undergraduate formation experiences rooted in reflection and discernment.

Cover letter / Statement of interest A brief letter outlining the institution’s interest in the DELTA On Purpose program, how it aligns with your institution’s mission, and overview of the proposed immersion experience.

Faculty/Staff PI Curriculum Vitae or Résumé (limit: four single-spaced PDF pages) A current CV or Resume for the lead faculty or staff member(s) Subrecipient commitment form (Sections E1 through E4 may be left blank as they are not applicable to this funding opportunity) Project Proposal (limit: eight single-spaced PDF pages) A Statement of Work with a detailed description of your proposed student experience that includes: What the student experience will entail (location, key people/organizations, activities, etc.).

While not an exhaustive list, examples of student experiences may include the following topics/areas: exploration of the natural world human creativity in the arts conservation/sustainability efforts pilgrimage and reflection A project timeline, detailing all dates of pre- and post-meetings and the immersion How the curricular design elements and set of experiences align with the DELTA framework and On Purpose program goals The applying institution’s demonstrated capacity to manage and execute an undergraduate student formation program and history of collaboration Hopes for students who participate in the program A detailed budget (up to $125,000) using the DELTA Budget Template .

Total Amount Requested must not exceed $125,000 in direct costs. Of this total, no more than 30% should be used for personnel costs. See budget instructions for more details.

The priority deadline for applications is Monday, August 10, 2026 at 11:59 ET.