BACKGROUND OF THE SOMOS FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AWARD
The Chican@ & Latin@ Studies Program offers the Somos Faculty Development Award annually to budgeted or affiliate faculty. The award is supported by the generosity of Dr. Andrea-Teresa Arenas with proceeds from the sale of her book Somos Latinas, and by her husband, former Chancellor John Wiley. Each Spring, the Program will award up to $1500.00 for at least one faculty professional, academic, or artistic initiative to be carried out during the following summer or the following academic year. Examples of eligible initiatives include travel to professional meetings, research expenses, research assistants, travel to collections, training that would enhance teaching, and creative projects. Applications will be screened by a committee of CLSP faculty and staff who will determine the award winner or winners.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants for the award should submit the following materials directly to the CLS Program via email:
1) A project proposal (1-3pp) describing the proposed initiative and outlining a schedule of activities. The proposal should include information about times and places of activities, the applicant’s role in them and information about collaborators or faculty supervisors if applicable. Conference presentations, research papers, and creative projects should have titles.
2) A project budget, including information about support requested from other sources.
3) An academic CV.
4) Biographical sketch of applicant, which demonstrates how this opportunity relates to current area of study or post-graduate plans.
5) If applicable, documentation of the feasibility of the initiative (for example, a letter of acceptance from an internship site, acceptance of scholarship (i.e. a paper, poster, art, poetry, etc. at a conference or conference type event).
The Deadline for Spring 2024 is April 5th. Faculty members selected for an award must complete the following requirements upon acceptance:
1) Providing the Program with a personal photograph suitable for use on the Web, one that is different from the recipient’s profile picture on the CLS website.
2) A meeting to check in with CLSP Director after the initiative is complete. The Director and awardee may make alternate arrangements at their discretion.
3) A brief (1-2pp) written report on the initiative, submitted three weeks after its completion. This may take the form of an essay that could be used as part of the Program’s newsletter.
4) At the CLS Advisor’s discretion, the Program may ask the awardee to present about their experience at the CLS Community Gathering. The awardee may accept or decline the request at their discretion.
The award will be distributed as reimbursement following the completion of the initiative, or on a timeline to be determined by the awardee and the Director.