Faculty Release Fellowships


Purpose

These fellowships are available to support long-term research/creative projects. Projects submitted for consideration must be extensive undertakings and within the areas designated for support under the terms of the Taft bequest. All full-time faculty in Taft departments and other full-time A&S faculty whose principal area of expertise is covered by the Taft bequest are eligible. Although no preference will be given to faculty rank, it is expected that applicants will have demonstrated the ability to undertake and complete research/creative projects before the time of their application, exclusive of degree thesis/dissertations. Previous awardees are not eligible for 36 months subsequent from the last Taft quarter of Faculty Fellowship release.  In compensation for release of the applicant, the department receives $5,000.  In addition, the applicant may receive a supplement for research expenses based on availability of funds. The supplement may not be used for travel to academic meetings.


Applications

Applications should be submitted at the regularly scheduled deadlines.  Applications should be sent to the Taft secretary, ML 0369. 

SIX COLLATED COPIES of the application packet should contain the following:

1. Cover Sheet
2. A proposal of 800 to 1200 words that outlines the project in detail, including but not limited to the following:
   1. a justification of the project as a long-term work that will result in significant contributions to the applicant's field;
   2. an explanation of the relevance of the project to the applicant's professional development;
   3. a detailed project schedule;
   4. an explanation of the proposed format for final publication/performance.
3. A brief budget outline with explanation of costs, if research supplement is requested.
4. A letter of support from the applicant's department head assessing the merits of the proposal project and the prospects for completion within the schedule outlines.  The letter should detail the specific release agreement between head and applicant for the Taft quarter and the additional quarter of release.
5. One letter from outside expert (mailed directly to the Taft secretary) in the applicant's field evaluating the merits of the proposal, its significance to the field, and its prospects for publication/performance upon completion.
6. A two page curriculum vita that has been updated within the past month.

Reimbursement Procedures

The following procedures should be followed in order to insure reimbursement of travel and or research expenses:

• As you will be required to present receipts to obtain payment, please be sure to obtain receipts.  If you are using an e-ticket for air travel, please request a receipt from the airline which clearly indicates the travel points and dates, and the fare.  When in doubt, request a paper ticket.

Upon Return:  The grant recipient should complete an expense envelope (A113 for travel expenses) or Request for Payment (A114 for non-travel expenses). Relevant receipts should be enclosed. The envelope should be sent to the Taft secretary at ML 0369 no later than three months following your return. Please note that:

• Original receipts (including the boarding stub from your plane ticket) must be included in the envelope. ALL receipts for any expenses pre-paid by the university must be included.
• The total expenses claimed cannot be more than authorized, nor can line items be claimed that were not authorized.
• Any transfer between line items on approved budgets must be approved by the Chair of the Taft Faculty Executive Board.
• The expense envelope must be sent to the Taft secretary for processing and signature, even if other campus agencies are also funding the travel and or research. Department level processing to reimburse using department funds should be completed first and A113/A114 should then be sent to Taft.

Criteria for Selection

1. The quality or promise of quality of the applicant's work as a scholar or creative writer and teacher.
2. The significance of the contribution that the proposed project will make to thought and knowledge in the field of the project.
3. The conception, definition, organization, and description of the proposed project.
4. The current state of the research, the schedule to do the research, and the timeliness of the grant to ensuring the completion of the project.
5. The likelihood that the applicant will complete the project.
6. The manner in which the application fulfills the stated requirements.
7. Evidence of productivity from any Taft grants in the past five years.

Terms of the Grant

1. Subject to approval of the Faculty Awards Committee, other support may be accepted concurrent with the Fellowship. Full disclosure of non-Taft funds received, both inside and outside the University, is required.
2. The intent of the award is to provide a release from instruction and service responsibilities so that the faculty member can concentrate on the research project.  Acceptance of the Fellowship requires release from regular faculty duties during the Taft-funded quarter and the additional quarter.  The Fellowships will be awarded in two circumstances: (1) as an additional quarter off during a sabbatical leave of two quarters at full pay, or (2) as a quarter linked to a second department head-granted quarter of release.
3. Within thirty days of the end of the fellowship year a progress report must be submitted to the Taft Faculty Awards Committee.
4. Fellows agree to acknowledge support received from the Taft Fellowship in any publication/ performance resulting from the fellowship project.
5. Fellowship recipients are expected to contribute to the annual Taft Research Symposium. Each year, the Executive Board will select a set of Fellows to be highlighted at the symposium.

Reimbursement Procedures 
The following procedures should be followed in order to insure reimbursement of research expenses:

• As you will be required to present receipts to obtain payment, please be sure to obtain receipts.  If you are using an e-ticket for air travel, please request a receipt from the airline which clearly indicates the travel points and dates, and the fare.  When in doubt, request a paper ticket.

Upon Return:  The grant recipient should complete an expense envelope (A113 for travel expenses), or Request for Payment (A114 for non-travel expenses). Relevant receipts should be enclosed. The envelope should be sent to the Taft secretary at ML 0369 no later than three months following the completion of your project . Please note that:

• Original receipts (including the boarding stub from your plane ticket) must be included in the envelope. ALL receipts for any expenses pre-paid by the university must be included.
• The total expenses claimed cannot be more than authorized.
• The expense envelope must be sent to the Taft secretary for processing and signature, even if other campus agencies are also funding the travel and or research. Department level processing to reimburse using department funds should be completed first and A113/A114 should then be sent to Taft.