University Humanities Research Excellence Award

We are pleased to announce the call-for-application for the University Humanities Research Excellence Award 2024-25. The award acknowledges humanities research and scholarly activities as defined by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Humanities Alliance, and the National Humanities Center.

"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; archaeology; 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." --National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, 1965, as amended

Established in 2023, the University Humanities Research Excellence Award highlights and recognizes exceptional humanities research and scholarship undertaken by Texas State University faculty members. The University Humanities Research Excellence Award consists of a $5000 stipend. Faculty may receive the Award more than once, but not more than once every five years.

Criteria

Criteria for the University Humanities Research Excellence Award include 1) sustained commitment or activity in the humanities; 2) internal and external recognition of activity; 3) impact or significance of individual activities; 4) overall significance to the advancement of the humanities; 5) quality of the writing and organization of the application.

Documentation

Applicant portfolios will consist of the following:

1. completed nomination form

2. Texas State University curriculum vitae (please make sure that sections I and III are complete and updated);

3. A 4–5-page narrative (double-spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman font, pages with one-inch margin) to discuss the following two important aspects:

a. applicant’s accomplishments while at Texas State University, highlighting research goals or philosophy and/or a statement that ties together the related activities, and

b. the significance of applicant’s humanities contributions and the impact of applicant’s humanities work.

4. Three to four invited letters, statements, or testimonials to support accomplishments in award category, combined into a single PDF. At least one of these letters must be internal and one external.

5. Three to four examples of applicant’s work as evidence to support the narratives, statements, and letters. Examples should demonstrate external recognition and other evidence of impact (book reviews, citations, footnotes, media coverage, etc.). Each example should not exceed 10 typed pages.

Application Submission

Acceptance of application: open on Wednesday March 20, 2024

Deadline for application: 5pm on Wednesday May 1, 2024

Submission: Please submit complete application package as email attachment to Nabila Cook by the above deadline. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Review Process

The Associate Dean of Research in the College of Liberal Arts will serve as chair of the University Humanities Research Excellence Award Committee. The Committee will include the NEH professor, the Jones Professor, four humanities-focused representatives from the College of Liberal Arts, and up to three humanities-focused representatives from the College of Fine Arts and Communication, chosen by the respective deans.

The Committee will review and rank complete applications in May. The Committee will forward their recommendation to the provost and VPAA for final selection. The awardee will be notified in the summer. The award will be presented at the Faculty Recognition in the Fall.

Inquiries

For more information about the University Humanities Research Excellence Award, including application details, please contact Dr. Yongmei Lu  or Dr. Mary Brennan.