The Program of Study in a Second Discipline offers faculty an opportunity to
extend their scholarship through study in a separate field for one academic
year. Awards are limited to a maximum of four Fellows per academic year. The
Senior VPAA and Provost will provide $20,000 in funds to the home units of the
Fellows. These funds may be expended as the unit chooses.
Awards are on a competitive basis. Competition is limited to tenured faculty
members who have established a record of scholarly or creative
activity within their base discipline. Fellows are required to report on their
activity at the close of the period of study. As part of the program, a
follow-up inquiry will include both the unit head and the Fellow after a
one-year period.
The following guidelines apply:
- The purpose is to provide an opportunity for faculty to have released time
(except from direction of dissertations and theses) to enlarge the range of
their knowledge by study of disciplines other than those in their present
field(s) of specialization. Applicants propose a systematic program of study
in a new discipline through auditing courses, undertaking independent study,
conducting research, or other activity that will contribute to their
acquiring competence in the new discipline in consultation with one or more
advisers from the host department(s). (The proposal will be certified by the
host department executive officer.)
- A goal of the program is to increase interdisciplinary scholarly work
through understanding and cooperation among faculty in disparate fields of
study. A record of scholarly or creative accomplishment in one’s own
discipline will serve as an indicator of the applicant’s likelihood of
ultimately contributing toward this goal. There must be a demonstrable
relationship between the individual's primary field of specialization and
the new discipline. Application for study in a field which the applicant
already employs in current work is not acceptable. The executive officer of
the home unit must authorize the program.
- Eight
(8) copies of the application will be due in the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost by
Friday, November 30, 2007.
- Applications for the program will be reviewed by a Committee appointed by
the Senior VPAA and Provost. It will recommend up to a maximum of four
academic year awards.
- The sponsoring department, or other appropriate unit, must agree to
release the successful applicant from all departmental responsibilities for
at least one academic year with the exception of supervisory and related
committee responsibilities for theses and dissertations. At his or her own
discretion, the successful applicant may undertake departmental activities
provided that these do not interfere with the study in a second discipline.
Six broad criteria will guide the selection process:
- The need for formal study in another discipline to undertake new inquiries
in research
and teaching;
- The second discipline should be sufficiently distant so that the
applicants could not accomplish their objective on their own;
- The second discipline should not be so remote from the applicants' primary
areas that they cannot apply the new field in their research and teaching;
- The goals of the proposal complement the goals of the University and the
sponsoring department;
- The proposal would add significantly toward the knowledge in the
discipline and to the University community in general;
- The proposal must include a well-developed plan for study. This may
include specific courses or other activities to be accomplished in the host
unit.
Questions regarding this program should be directed to:
Susan Landrum
Executive Assistant to the Provost
Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
105 Administration Building
Phone: 542-0415
Revised 6/2003