To: Department Chairs and Program Directors
From: Meredith Woo
Re: Initiatives to Advance Interdisciplinary Scholarship
We are pleased to announce that a portion of the Page-Barbour Funds will again be made
available to support a wide range of initiatives to promote interdisciplinary scholarship,
consistent with the general terms of the endowment. In our previous rounds of grants, we
supported a wide diversity of very promising projects.
The types of activities to be supported include symposia, workshops, short-term
residencies, speaker series and the like. Their common purpose will be to promote
scholarly excellence.
Created by departments and programs, these interdisciplinary initiatives will supplement
the Page Barbour Lectures that have, for more than a century, brought so many
distinguished scholars to Grounds for three-day engagements. We look forward to the
ongoing success of this program.
Eligibility
We invite all departments and programs to submit proposals. As noted, we will consider
many different types of initiatives and indeed welcome proposals that promote
intellectual exchange in novel ways. All proposals must be jointly submitted by the
members of at least two participating departments or programs. Each department or
program may participate in multiple interdisciplinary submissions.
Topics
Proposed initiatives should be designed to promote lively exchanges about issues at the
forefront of interdisciplinary scholarly concern. The topical focus of these initiatives is
open—what departments and programs think is intellectually compelling—but at the
same time we will be especially attracted to initiatives that build on existing strengths and
advance strategic aims. We anticipate supporting interdisciplinary initiatives that address
many different topics – and thereby stimulate the whole of our academic community.
We further encourage proposals that involve an active role for students, especially
graduate students.
Scope
Proposals should not exceed $15,000, and they should include plans to expend the
requested support within two semesters. So that we can broaden the number of
participants over the years, support will not be granted for ongoing, long-term programs.
Awards of support will be competitive. The Page-Barbour Committee will fund proposals
that hold the greatest promise of advancing scholarly excellence.
2
In this round of applications, the Committee anticipates funding five or more proposals.
Application
A proposal should address, in no more than two single-spaced pages, the following:
1) the intellectual focus of the initiative, including how this initiative differs from regular
departmental activity;
2) its organizational format (e.g., a two-day workshop involving Departments X and Y),
including, to the extent possible, names of key participants and those administratively
responsible for its execution;
3) its anticipated audience (e.g., all faculty and graduate students in Departments A and
B and some in Department C) and the size of this audience;
4) planned dates and venue (or hoped-for venue).
This proposal should be accompanied by a separate sheet clearly indicating cost estimates
of major line items in the budget. If appropriate, departments may hire graduate students
to help administer the initiative at $15 per hour. Please work with your departments’
fiscal administrators for assistance with cost estimates.
If you have any questions about submitting an application, please contact Associate Dean
Leonard Schoppa – 982-2241 or Schoppa@virginia.edu
Submission
All proposals must be received by Friday, 26 October, 2012; the Page-Barbour
Committee will make its decisions soon thereafter. These proposals may involve
spending funds any time Fall Semester 2013 through Spring Semester 2014.
Send applications to Richard Jones—rcj4xp@virginia.edu
We look forward to many creative ideas and the stimulating initiatives that will follow.