This program compensates departments for release time for research leave by self-declared tenure-track humanities faculty who have passed their departmental third-year review without qualification. The release covers two courses during the faculty member’s fourth year, to be arranged at the discretion of the faculty member and the department. The purpose of the release is to provide qualified tenure-track faculty with the opportunity to develop early in their careers a program of continuing scholarly research.

The program follows the criteria and expectations of the College of Arts and Sciences for faculty performance and development. In accord with the College’s guidelines, faculty who have established a favorable record through their third-year review have established that “there are no doubts about solid teaching effectiveness,” and “no grounds for reservations about the performance and promise of the individual as a contributing teacher/scholar in the college community.” Because later reviews will require that “actual scholarly accomplishment should replace the indications of promise that were acceptable at earlier stages,” it is important that these faculty have the opportunity at this time to realize the scholarly promise they already have shown as teachers. This program is not focused solely upon the preparation for tenure, however; it is intended to nurture early development of the life-long commitment to productive scholarship that would merit tenure.

Applications for support should be made to the Director of the Center. Consideration will be given to completed applications by the Center’s Board. Faculty may apply for support through the program upon passing their third-year review without qualification. The Center depends upon the departments to conduct a thorough and vigorous review. Applications should consist of a prospectus for the research project that will include a description of the project and a working bibliography. The description should explain briefly the area of inquiry, the research problem or interest, the texts and methods to be employed, and the intended significance and outcomes of the research.

The Center encourages the faculty member to develop a project that will have specific plans for refereed publication, but also be the start of a continuing research program that could lead well beyond immediate publication. It is understood that, since this program is designed to assist faculty as they initiate research, the description might be somewhat speculative and that the actual work might proceed differently than planned. As with our other programs, the Center’s resources are appropriately limited to those projects that draw upon and contribute to the methods and modes of understanding characteristic of the humanities. Early in their fifth year, each of those granted support shall give a presentation of their research to the university community. The format of the presentation will be decided by the faculty member in consultation with the director of the Center. Following the presentation, the faculty member will submit to the Director a brief summary of the research conducted through the program.

Upon approval of the request for funding by the Board, the Center will provide to the faculty member’s department at least the standard amount needed to purchase part-time instruction for two courses