Exploratory Seminars on Integrative Scholarship or University Community Challenges
This initiative is intended to promote either seminars of integrative scholarship or seminars that address University community challenges. The former explores areas of common interest for faculty from different disciplines, for example, ancient philosophy, multi-cultural diversity, ecology, family, or ethics and science. The latter addresses issues in academia broadly or at Notre Dame specifically, for example, integrating academic and residential life, teaching strategies in light of new technology, promoting the intellectual development of students, or balancing career and family obligations.
Seminars require five or more faculty (or possibly students) from at least three departments or academic units who are committed to exploring a topic of significant importance in the arts, humanities, social sciences, or in the university community. Seminars will normally be funded for up to four years, although when a strong case can be made, funding can be extended. Funding must, however, be renewed annually. In all cases, continued funding in subsequent years is conditional on the accomplishment of milestones set forth in the initial proposal and the justification of new avenues to pursue.
Groups are required to meet a minimum of twice a semester. Seminars recipients are encouraged to formulate specific goals such as a proposal for a conference or Henkels Lectures grant, develop a new curriculum, submit a grant proposal to a foundation or federal agency, or simply investigate a significant intellectual issue.
Proposals should articulate the intellectual problem, explain the objectives, and provide the specific plans of the group. These must include the names and departments of the participants, the planned meeting dates, the types of activities, and any required materials. At the conclusion of the seminar each group must submit a one-page summary of their activities.
The award will consist of a $5,000 annual grant. Each group must indicate how it intends to spend its funds - on meals, speakers, book purchases, photocopies, etc. No more than $2,000 can go to the group organizer in the form of a materials grant. If the proposal involves studying practices at other universities, travel subsidies or the use of a work-study student to gather information can be included in the budget. If funds will go toward speakers, please follow the guidelines for the Henkels Lectures in terms of what information should be supplied for evaluation and review.
Preference will be given to topics that resonate with the distinctive character of Notre Dame. Proposals that include cost sharing will also receive priority. Criteria for evaluating proposals include the quality of integrative dialogue, severity of the problem or relevance of scholarly issue, the fit of collaborators, and the identification of support (e.g. matching funds) from appropriate institutes or centers.
For more information contact the ISLA office, 1-7531.