Faculty Language Development Grants
Deadline: Deadline is the first Monday in February
Funding Amount: Funding Amount: Up to $5,500
Purpose
For many faculty in the College of Arts and Letters, the ability to speak and write in another language is critical for advancing knowledge in their field. This fund is designed for those who are already somewhat proficient in a language and want to enhance their skills based on goals related to research, scholarship, or creative works.
Restrictions
This grant is designed to enable faculty members to engage in language learning in ways that are not possible on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. An applicant will qualify for this grant only if the language in question is not taught at Notre Dame or if the applicant has exhausted the language-learning possibilities for this particular language at Notre Dame.
Prior to submitting a proposal, the applicant must confer with Alessia Blad, Director of the Center for Study of Languages and Cultures. Language programs proposed by the applicant should be reputable for the purpose of enhancing language skills for scholarship and artistic or creative works, and the Director of the CSLC will be able to provide a list of approved language schools. Most of these schools have 6-8 week intensive summer courses.
The applicant must be able to demonstrate current writing proficiency based on the following ACTFL Language Testing International Scale:
- European Languages: Intermediate (Low)
- Less frequently taught languages: Novice (Middle)
If there are questions concerning current proficiency, ISLA can arrange for faculty in the language to assess the applicant’s current level of proficiency.
ISLA will fund only one or two applications per year and the upper limit on funding per application is $5,500.
Application Instructions
To apply, please submit a proposal through ISLA's web portal with the following:
- Faculty member's name, department, and rank
- Current research/scholarship/creative work
- Rationale for language enhancement based on scholarship or artistic goals
- Evidence of proficiency or need for testing current language proficiency described above
- Brief 2-page CV
- Budget
- Description of the language institute, courses, or learning experiences
- Invoice or some information showing the training costs
- Costs for lodging, meals, and transportation
In addition, the department chair must send a letter to the ISLA Director supporting the language proficiency training and indicating how it will enhance the scholarship or artistic work of the applicant.