Full-time faculty members on renewable-term appointments and nearing the completion of a research or creative project in the humanities may apply for reassignment from one, or, in special circumstances, two courses during one semester.
In deliberating on proposals, the Board of Directors will consider the merit of the work in progress, the amount of work still to be completed, and the work's promise of publication, exhibition, or production. The Center will cover the cost of replacement instruction, at the standard university rate, for the program or department from whose course offering(s) the applicant requests reassignment. Please note that deans, in consultation with department chairs and program directors, are responsible for authorizing course reassignment. The Center only funds the replacement costs.
These grants are costly and the Center is only able to award a limited number of them per year. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to submit as early as possible.
Note that Course Reassignment Grants require a degree of advance planning. Applicants should confirm in their application that they have secured approval from their dean and their department chair or program director, and departments will need time to arrange for adjunct or other replacement instruction. As such, planning for a course reassignment can and should begin at least a year in advance.
The Board recommends the following:
Spring 2021: The Board will meet on the first Friday of each month in spring 2021. Please submit funding requests one week in advance of any given meeting, to ensure consideration. Spring deadlines fall on Jan. 29, Feb. 26, March 26, and Apr. 30. In general, requests for retroactive funding will not be considered, but faculty may inquire with the Director if extenuating circumstances arise.
The following criteria will guide the Board in its deliberations:
In addition to explicitly addressing the ways in which the proposed project meets the criteria above, applications must include an overview of the project itself; applicants are welcome to use proposals and reports written for other purposes—for example, to presses, editors, and agents—as the basis for this overview.
All proposals must include the applicant's current curriculum vitae. Funds underwriting successful proposals will be released contingent upon hiring replacement instruction.
Because course reassignment grants are a relatively costly way of advancing research, the Board of the Center awards only a few each year, depending on the funds available each year, the programmatic priorities established each year, and the number and size of requests received.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the Director of the Center well in advance of submitting a proposal. Complete applications should be emailed, as attachments in a standard document format to leah.kalmanson@drake.edu.