William and Mary-Virginia Foundation for the Humanities Sabbatical Initiative

The College of William and Mary is pleased to announce a joint program with the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities to fund faculty Fellows during the term of their research leaves. 

The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH) offers residential fellowships to scholars and writers in the humanities. There are no restrictions on topic, and applications are invited from across the broad spectrum of the humanities. Applications should be intellectually stimulating, imaginative, and accessible to the public. 

In addition to having visiting faculty status at the University of Virginia, Fellows have private, sunny offices at the VFH. Each office is equipped with a desktop computer and internet connection. Fellows may order library books through UVa’s online system and have them delivered directly to the VFH. The VFH building has kitchen facilities, meeting space, a lounge, and ample parking and is surrounded by spacious lawns, shady spots, and two ponds. VFH is also home to numerous arts and cultural programs, including the Center for the Book, the Center on Violence and Community, the Virginia Festival of the Book, Encyclopedia Virginia, Virginia Folklife, and VFH Radio. Fellows have the opportunity to get to know VFH staff members and become involved, formally or informally, in a variety of public humanities projects. Fellows also appear on “With Good Reason,” a VFH Radio program. A full description of VFH programs is at www.virginiafoundation.org.

Eligibility and Application Guidelines:

All faculty participating in the SSRL program next year are eligible to apply. In their cover letter applicants should specify if they are seeking a one-semester or year-long residency. The College will provide a $4000.00 housing stipend for semester residencies, and an $8000.00 housing stipend for year-long residencies.

A selection committee appointed by the Dean of Arts and Sciences will nominate two finalists to the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, and the Foundation will select one William and Mary fellow based on merit, relevance of research to VFH goals, and overall fit with selected cohort. 

Applications must include: 

• A brief cover letter with a statement of interest
• Project Description: An abstract (250 words maximum) and proposal describing the work to be completed in residence (6-8 pages, double-spaced, in 12-point font)
• Curriculum Vita or Resume

Please submit these materials as three email attachments (Word documents or PDF) to the Dean for Educational Policy ([[srtand]]) and write “VFH-WM Fellow application” in the subject line. The application deadline is November 1st.