MEMORANDUM
DATE:
DECEMBER 27, 2012
TO:
OTTERBEIN FACULTY
FROM:
ANDREW MILLS, CHAIR, HUMANITIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
RE:
HUMANITIES FACULTY PROJECT GRANTS
DEADLINE: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2013
The Humanities Advisory Committee (HAC) invites applications for grants to fund projects
related to the Humanities by Otterbein faculty or administrative personnel. This year, the
Committee has approximately $20,000 to award. This year's competition will fund projects
to be undertaken between June 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014.
Since funding for the HAC was obtained from a Challenge Grant from the National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), projects must meet the definition of the
Humanities as defined by the NEH. The NEH definition of the Humanities is included
below. Please note that applications may be submitted by Otterbein faculty in any discipline;
the project, however, must meet the NEH definition. In the past, the HAC has supported
many Otterbein faculty whose department is not a part of Otterbein's Humanities Division.
The deadline for applying for a Faculty Project Grant is MONDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2013.
One copy of each proposal is due to by email Andrew Mills (amills@otterbein.edu) no later
than 5:00 p.m. The HAC encourages applications from faculty who have not previously
applied.
The basic purpose for a Humanities Faculty Project Grant is to support research,
experimentation, and development. Grants are awarded for both scholarly and curricular
projects.
Humanities Grants may be used:
a) to carry out a project on an experimental scale to the point at which it can be
evaluated;
b) to cover the evaluation of programs at their completion;
c) to pay for materials, travel, or other expenses of a scholarly project;
d) to underwrite the costs of a summer seminar;
e) to engage outside consultants to humanities departments or programs.
f) to pay for a part-time teacher or administrative staff member, if necessary, to give
release time from duties to be devoted to the work of an approved project, dependent
upon the approval of the Department Chair, the School Dean, and the Provost.
g) To cover permissions costs associated with the publication of a book.
Humanities Grant funds will not be used for items normally covered by the operating budget
of the University. Specifically, the grants will not normally be used for the purchase of
equipment that can be classified as capital expenditures (greater than $100) or to pay
supplemental salary to any person while under contract to the University.
Faculty members may submit proposals for supplemental funding beyond that normally
granted by the University for projects undertaken as sabbaticals. Proposals may be submitted
by faculty or administrative personnel; a proposal may be submitted by one individual or a
group of individuals. A project leader accountable for the project must be designated if more
than one person is involved.
Additional funding for a specific project may be requested twice after a project is first
funded, for a total of three grants.
EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS
The HAC will review the proposals. The proposals will be evaluated based on the following
criteria:
a) its appropriateness under the broad definitions of the humanities as described by the
National Endowment for the Humanities,
b) its merit,
c) its clarity,
d) the extent to which it meets the specific criteria listed in the application guidelines
(especially those under Roman numeral III below),
e) and the project's broader significance for the field, for the humanities at Otterbein,
and for the University as a whole.
After reviewing the proposals, the HAC will recommend a funding level to the Provost for
each proposal. Given the competitive nature of the funding the HAC may recommend that
not all proposals be funded. The Provost will either accept the recommendations or indicate a
higher or lower amount of funding. The proposals and recommendations will then be sent to
the President of the University, who may, at his or her discretion, choose to accept the
recommendations or choose to deny or reduce funding. Agency accounts will be established
for each project that is funded. Final reports are due on the dates outlined in the proposal; one
copy of the final report is to be submitted to the Provost.
The successful candidate will report to the Otterbein community as a whole at an appropriate
public forum.
THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES' DEFINITION OF THE
HUMANITIES
In the act that established the National Endowment for the Humanities, the term humanities
included, but is not limited to, study of the following disciplines: history; philosophy;
languages; linguistics; literature; archeology; jurisprudence; the history, theory, and criticism
of the arts; ethics; comparative religion; and those aspects of the social sciences that employ
historical or philosophical approaches.
Work in the creative or performing arts--such as the writing of fiction or poetry, painting,
sculpture, musical composition or performance, acting, directing, and dance--is not eligible
for support by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Those interested in support in
these areas should write or call the National Endowment for the Arts. Critical, historical, and
theoretical studies of the arts, however, are eligible for NEH support.
Studies in the social sciences that are historical or philosophical in approach or that involve
questions of interpretation or criticism traditionally in the humanities are also eligible for
NEH support, as are studies that use the disciplines of the humanities to interpret, analyze,
or assess science and technology.
If you have questions regarding this opportunity for funding, please do not hesitate to
contact one of the members of the Humanities Advisory Committee: Andrew Mills,
Committee Chair, Department of Religion/Philosophy; Shannon Lakanen, Department of
English; Denise Shively, Integrative Studies Program; Lou Rose, Department of
History/Political Science; Martha Bermudez Gallegos, Department of Foreign Languages,
Jonathan Johnson, Department of Art.
HUMANITIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FACULTY PROJECTS APPLICATION GUIDELINES
To complete your application for funding, please include the following:
I.
Otterbein University Grant Application Cover Sheet
Please complete this cover sheet, which can be found at:
http://www.otterbein.edu/files/pdf/academicaffairs-intranet/Forms/grantforms/grcoverform2012.doc
II.
HAC Application Cover Sheet
On this cover sheet, please include:
 Project Title
 Your Name (and other team members, if applicable)
 Dates during which the project will be carried out
 Deadline for final evaluation of project
 Total funds requested
 A 150 word-single spaced abstract that provides a concise overview of the proposed
project that
(1) is written for those not specialized in your field,
(2) highlights the significance of your topic, and
(3) outlines the potential contributions it will make to (a) the field, if a research
project, and/or to (b) the institution, if a curricular project.
III.
Body of the Proposal
The body of your proposal should be no more than five, double-spaced pages. You must use a
10 or 12 point font and leave one inch margins all around. In your proposal, please use
language and terms that can be understood by those who are not specialists in your field.
In your proposal, please do the following (when applicable):

describe the project: include details about the ideas, objectives, and methods

place the project in academic context, citing major works and, if relevant, providing a
bibliography (a one-page bibliography may be added to the five-page body of your
proposal)

explain how your past teaching/professional experiences are relevant to the project

show how the project can be completed in the proposed time frame; please provide a
timetable

discuss the meaning of your project for the field, for your professional development,
and/or for your teaching

indicate how the results of the project will be disseminated.
If the project has a curricular focus, be certain to:

indicate how the curricular proposal will relate to the existing curricular program

describe any relevant background experience you have in developing or enhancing
courses to provide context for your proposal
If travel is necessary:

explain why travel is necessary to achieve the goals of the project

describe arrangements for access to any archives, libraries, or other institutions
necessary for the project

discuss and demonstrate competencies in foreign languages needed for investigating
or interviewing, if applicable
IV. List of Previous HAC Projects
If you have previously received funding from the Humanities Advisory Committee, please
indicate the title of the project, the date, the amount of the funding, and the objectives and
results of the project, including paper presentations, publications, etc.
V. Budget
Provide a detailed budget for the project, including staff, supplies, clerical support,
equipment, etc. Indicate if the project can be carried out if the HAC does not provide full
funding. If it can be carried out, show how you will adapt your project and reduce your
budget. Also, list other funding sources (on-campus and off-campus) for which you intend to
apply or have applied.
VI. Curriculum Vitae
Please include a curriculum vitae, no longer than three pages, highlighting your most recent
work.
To review, your application should include these items, in this order:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Otterbein University Grant Application Cover Sheet
HAC Application Cover Sheet
Body of Proposal (5 pages double-spaced maximum); bibliography, if relevant (I page
maximum)
List of Previous HAC Projects
Budget
Curriculum Vitae (3 pages maximum)