Humanities Institute Grants

Humanities Institute activities vary but usually include weekly seminar-type meetings, some public lectures, and perhaps an affiliated symposium. The Institute should normally encourage scholars from different fields to engage in scholarly production (possibly including the publication of a book or journal issue consisting of work by members of the institute).

Depending on the specific topic and goals of a particular Institute, the group might consist of some combination of the following (including course releases, the cost of any Institute is typically in the $175,000 range):

• A Dartmouth faculty director (sometimes co-directors), who receives a course release for organizing and leading the Institute
• A senior fellow from outside the college (to be designated the William H. Morton Distinguished Senior Fellow) and/or guest presenters.  In some cases, we may be able to arrange for the senior fellow to receive a temporary faculty appointment at a fee to be negotiated, so that they can be in residence for the full term of the Institute. Most guest speakers attend the Institute for one or two sessions only.
• Up to eight selected Dartmouth faculty fellows, who will receive research stipends of @ $1,500 for full participation in the Institute
• Up to four junior fellows from outside the college, who will each receive stipends of @$7,500 to participate in the full Institute either in person or remotely
• Up to four student fellows, who might receive fellowships for providing research/technical assistance and participating in the Institute
• Additional Dartmouth faculty members admitted without Center funding.

Eligibility

Proposals will be accepted only from full-time Dartmouth faculty members.

Application Deadlines for AY 2027-28

Due by June 1, 2026: A statement of intent to apply (500-word description of the topic, brief possible structure, list of possible Dartmouth faculty and external faculty).

Due by September 1, 2026:  Final application.

Application Procedures

A proposal from one or more Dartmouth faculty members should describe the topic, indicating its research significance and its potential interest to the Dartmouth community. Applicants should indicate in which academic term the institute will be held, and designate the likely Senior Fellow(s), if applicable, or invited speakers. Possible Dartmouth fellows should also be named, with some information about their credentials.

Applicants are encouraged to regard the term "interdisciplinary" as including not only the humanities but the sciences and social sciences as well.

Guest presenters need not be senior scholars; institutes may include graduate students, and junior faculty from other campuses, as well as independent scholars and artists.

Institutes will be selected on merit. Criteria of selection include:

• Degree of innovativeness
• Involvement of faculty with demonstrated continuing interest or expertise in a particular domain
• Promise of continuing impact on the research or pedagogic undertakings of the College
• Breadth of interdisciplinary scope
• Availability of co-sponsorship from other campus or off-campus sources

Preference will generally be given to applicants who have not recently conducted a Humanities Institute and/or who have not already received substantial Center funding for similar projects.

Please submit proposals to humanities.center@dartmouth.edu.  If you have questions, contact the Humanities Center Operations & Finance Manager by email or at 603-646-0896.

The Leslie Center provides administrative assistance for organizing an Institute. Any additional funding required for the institute must be obtained from other Dartmouth units.

The selection of Dartmouth faculty fellows will be made by the Institute director(s) and approved by the Director of the Leslie Center and by the Associate Dean of the Faculty for the Arts & Humanities. Institute Directors issue open calls for faculty interest at least one term in advance of the relevant term.

External Fellows

Up to four junior fellowships of $7,500 each may be awarded to applicants from outside Dartmouth. These fellowships will be advertised in venues including The Chronicle of Higher Education, and will generally be awarded to candidates with completed PhDs who may be currently employed in an academic institution or anticipating such employment.

In exceptional cases, ABDs may be considered. Candidates in doubt about their eligibility should contact the Institute director.