Eminent Scholar Grants

The Humanities Center, through funding provided by the Humanities Eminent Scholar Endowment, offers Eminent Scholar Grants on a rolling basis. The purpose of these grants is to contribute to the intellectual growth of UAH faculty and students at UAH, increase the visibility of the humanities in the Huntsville community, and highlights the value of the humanities to matters of public interest.

Proposals funded with Eminent Scholar Grants bring an eminent scholar to the UAH campus on a temporary basis. The scholar participates in a series of events that address humanities-related topics of interest to faculty, students, and the Huntsville community.

Guidelines for Submitting an Eminent Scholar

1. Any department or program at UAH is eligible to submit a proposal.
   • Faculty who submit a proposal should consult with their colleagues prior to applying.
   • The Humanities Center especially encourages proposals that cross the boundaries between academic disciplines and departments.
2. Proposals should invite scholars who are eminent.
   • Scholars need not have an academic appointment.
   • Eminence is a function of the quality, significance, and originality of the scholar’s published works or creative activities.
   • The Humanities Center especially encourages proposals that invite scholars who have expertise in areas that are underserved by academic programs and/or faculty expertise at UAH.
3. Proposals should include a current C.V. or resume for the invited scholar.
4. Proposed contributions by the eminent scholar must relate to the humanities, as defined by 20 U.S. Code § 952(a):
   • 20 U.S. Code § 952(a): "The term “humanities” includes, but is not limited to, the study and interpretation of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archeology; comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism, and theory of the arts; those aspects of the social sciences which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life."
   • The National Endowment for the Humanities, which is the funding source for the M. Louis Salmon Humanities Center Endowment, endorses this definition.
5. The proposed duration of residency for the eminent scholar may range from one week to one semester.
6. During their residency, the eminent scholar should lead at least one significant program, free and open to the public, that provides an opportunity for discussion.
   • Appropriate programming includes demonstrations, forums, lectures, symposia, and workshops.
   • The program should be planned for one of the larger facilities on the UAH campus.
   • The program should be advertised to the Huntsville community.
   • The Humanities Center especially encourages proposals that involve special effort to invite local groups or organizations that might be interested in the planned programming.
   • The Humanities Center also encourages proposals that provide community organizations with an opportunity to cooperate with the eminent scholar.
7. During their residency, the eminent scholar should teach UAH students on a topic in their area of expertise.
   • Scholars appointed to a semester-long residency should offer one course in their area of expertise.
   • Scholars appointed to a short-term residency should teach at least one class meeting in a scheduled course.
   • The Humanities Center especially encourages proposals that provide UAH students a significant opportunity to discuss with the eminent scholar post-graduation opportunities.
   • The Humanities Center also encourages proposals that contribute to the activities of the UAH Honors Program.
8. During their residency, the eminent scholar should meet with UAH faculty in a manner that supports faculty development.
   • Potential meetings might discuss research, curriculum development, pedagogy, library resources, or graduate school admissions.
   • The Humanities Center encourages proposals that involve the eminent scholar meeting with faculty from multiple programs, departments, or colleges.
9. Proposals should include a narrative, not much longer than two pages, that explains why the invited scholar qualifies as eminent, specifies the approximate dates of the scholar’s visit, provides a schedule of planned events along with a description of activities planned for the scholar, and articulates how the scholar’s visit is expected to contribute to the purpose of the Eminent Scholar Grant.
10. There is no minimum or maximum award limit.
    • Grants are awarded at the discretion of the Director of the Humanities Center, on the basis of funding availability, number of requests received, and merits of the proposal.
    • At present, the available budget for Eminent Scholar Grants is able to support awards that are quite generous.
11. Proposals should include a one-page estimated budget that shows all projected costs.
    • Proposals may also involve external funding.
    • Funded proposals that involve external funding should give prominent acknowledgement to the Humanities Center in any publicity.
12. Each proposal should be no more than four pages (apart from the invited scholar’s C.V./resume) and should include the following information:
    • Contact information for the person leading the proposal
    • Total amount of funding requested
    • Explanation of why the invited scholar qualities as eminent
    • Schedule of planned events, including approximate dates of the scholar’s visit
    • Description of activities planned for the scholar
    • Explanation of how the scholar’s visit is expected to contribute to the intellectual growth of UAH faculty and students at UAH, increase the visibility of the humanities in the Huntsville community, and/or demonstrate the value of the humanities to matters of public interest.
    • Estimated budget, no longer than one page, that shows all projected costs
    • Current C.V. or resume for the invited scholar
13. Each proposal should be submitted by email to humanitiescenter@uah.edu, preferably with the subject line "Eminent Scholar Grant Proposal".
14. Members of the Humanities Center Steering Committee, and the Director of the Humanities Center, are good sources of advice about Humanities Center Eminent Scholar Grants.
15. Direct questions about Humanities Center Eminent Scholar Grants to humanitiescenter@uah.edu

Evaluating Eminent Scholar Grant Proposals

Members of the Humanities Center Steering Committee evaluate each proposal for its relevance to the goals of the Eminent Scholar Grant program as well as its cost. More specific evaluation criteria for determining whether a proposal should receive funding include:

• Is the application complete?
• Is the scholar eminent?
• Do the programs planned for the scholar relate to the humanities?
• Is the scholar’s visit likely to contribute to the intellectual growth of UAH faculty and students at UAH?
• Is the scholar’s visit likely to increase the visibility of the humanities in the Huntsville community?
• Is the scholar’s visit likely to highlight the value of the humanities to matters of public interest?
• Is the estimated budget reasonable and appropriate?

Members of the Steering Committee will review all proposals. The Director of the Humanities Center will rely upon the Steering Committee’s recommendations to determine how much funding to authorize, and thereafter notify all applicants about the status of their application.

Applicants can expect a verdict on their applications 2-4 weeks after submission (if not sooner). Applicants who do not receive notice of a verdict in a timely fashion should contact the Director of the Humanities Center to confirm the status of their application.