One of the most pressing questions facing any university student––and an especially developmentally appropriate question at their life-stage––is what to do with their life. Sadly, most universities today give little space to help students answer this central question. While the Christian tradition has rich resources to answer this question, students won’t find them in the secular university, and only to a limited extent in most churches. We press into this desire on the part of students to answer questions of purpose for life, inviting students to devote intentional time and attention to finding answers as part of the Fellows community. Based on the insight that we can only act rightly in the world when we make sense of our life as part of a larger story, our program is designed to help students answer the fundamental question, “How do I live well in God’s story?” This approach centers theological education on developing a student’s identity in relation to God’s character and action in the world, in order that they can see clearly their own part in His ongoing story.

The content of Fellows cohorts build cumulatively upon one another, and fellows benefit from continuous, deep relationships in community during their entire USF career. Each cohort involves instruction, reading, and verbal and written reflection, 

YEAR 1 

The Good Story: Fellows read and discuss selections from the entire Bible to see it as one connected story of the world, discovering how to find purpose within God’s larger plan for humanity and all of creation.

YEAR 2

The Good Life: Fellows explore their calling and what it means to be fully human through an exploration of the Christian virtues that make for a life of true flourishing.

YEAR 3 

The Common Good: Fellows consider the general challenges and opportunities for Christian leadership in our time and place, and explore what specific types of leadership and faithfulness to which God may be calling them, given their unique set of interests, talents, opportunities, and giftings.

In this inaugural cohort we will be offering an accelerated version of the year 1 curriculum. Fellows accepted into this first program will complete the first year program in one semester and will give input helping us to shape the program for years to come. 

Program start date January 2026

There will be 8 required Fellows classes through the semester, consisting of dinner, lecture, and discussion. There will be reading and some writing/reflection expected for each of our times together. 

The class will gather on Monday nights, approximately every other week, with optional outings and social opportunities scattered at various times throughout the semester. 

The Fellows Kickoff will be January 19. 

Students selected for the Fellowship will receive all of their books and materials, instruction, and program related meals and educational outings. Additionally, for this first cohort students will also receive a $500 scholarship, to be received at the successful completion of the accelerated year 1 curriculum (end of the Spring Semester). 

Spaces are limited for this opportunity, and the application deadline for the January cohort is November 30, 2025. 

Student Outcomes

1. Foundational theology, reframing self identity in the light of theological reality.

2. Thoughtfulness, learning how to think Christianly about every aspect of the human condition. 

3. Spiritual formation, growing in Christian virtue and Christlikeness 

4. Vocation, discerning personal calling as related to integration of faith and knowledge in both public and private life.