Application Deadline has been extended to December 1, 2022
Background
A UW System Center of Excellence, C21 builds a community of scholars to address the pressing issues of our time. Each year, C21 offers fellowships that provide the time, space, and collegial support to generate new knowledge and ideas. C21 centers the humanities in its belief that innovation comes from diversity of opinions, disciplines, and experiences.
Themes
C21 has identified three major themes that inform the Center’s rolling symposia and programming. These themes are drawn from responses to surveys completed by C21 stakeholders identifying research interests and yearnings. The themes are intentionally broad to capture a wide range of scholarship and practice while encouraging innovative methodologies. They are:
- Well – invoking concepts of health & well-being in an age of myriad public and climate health concerns and crises– as well as salutations in a pandemic era “I hope this finds you…”
- Trust – invoking challenges of working across difference in education, research, and policy in an age replete with partisanship and tribalism, fueled by media, social and otherwise. Trust might also apply to the matter and practice of environmental sustainability.
- Duty – invoking considerations of what people owe each other, their communities, their country and government. And in turn, as the twin to freedom, what duties and responsibilities their government / country and communities have to them. Duty might also, like Trust, invite explorations of ecological and geological stewardship.
Related, the 2023-2024 symposia at the Center will be entitled “Trust the Vote,” and C21 welcomes applicants who would be interested in engaging with speakers in the philosophy of trust, history and sociology of voting, and topics related generally to democracy.
Research Projects
Applicants should propose a research project in one (or a combination) of the above thematic areas. Projects can be individual or collaborative. Examples of projects include:
- Researching / preparing material for public presentation in a wide variety of forms including (but not limited to) monographs, essays, podcasts, performances; art installation/exhibits, community programs; digital interfaces; archives or artifacts.
- Researching for / development of large-scale collaborative projects (grant proposals, building networks etc.).
- Researching / preparing syllabi for innovative, inter-disciplinary team-teaching initiatives or credit-bearing programs such as certificates, minors, degrees, or micro-credentials.
Terms/Eligibility for UWM Faculty
UWM faculty in all departments who hold the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor may apply. Faculty Fellows receive a reduction in their teaching responsibilities sufficient to bring their course load down to no more than one course each semester, and relieved of major committee work.* The Center provides each Fellow with access to office space on the ninth floor of Curtin Hall and with research support (up to $500) as resources permit. Fellows are expected to participate in the biweekly Center Fellows’ seminar and to attend C21 public programs throughout the year. Fellows are expected to offer a public presentation on their research no later than the academic year following the fellowship.
No one may hold a Center fellowship more than twice in a five-year period. Active Center Fellows may not serve on the Center Advisory Council in the same year.
* As necessary and to the degree possible, C21 will consider alternative course reduction arrangements for faculty outside L&S.
Terms/Eligibility for UWM Academic Staff
UWM academic staff in all departments may apply for a fellowship. In these cases, C21 will work with academic staff on a case- by-case basis to provide compensation for participating in the seminar. The Center provides each Fellow with access to office space on the ninth floor of Curtin Hall and with research support (up to $500). Each Fellow is expected to participate in the biweekly Center fellows’ seminar and to attend C21 public programs throughout the year. Fellows are expected to offer a public presentation on their research no later than the academic year following the fellowship. No one may hold a Center fellowship more than twice in a five-year period. Active Center Fellows may not serve on the Center Advisory Council in the same year
Terms/Eligibility for UW System Faculty
Through funding provided by UW System, C21 has the capacity for 2-4 UW-System Faculty Fellows to join the UWM cohort. Faculty at the assistant, associate, or full professor levels across the comprehensive universities and branches of the UW-System are eligible for this opportunity.
System Fellows may apply for a full year or one semester fellowship. Fellows will receive a reduction in their teaching responsibilities sufficient to bring their course load down to no more than one course each semester, and relieved of major committee work.* The Center provides each Fellow with access to office space on the ninth floor of Curtin Hall and with research and travel support (up to $1000) as resources permit. Fellows are expected to participate in the biweekly Center Fellows’ seminar and to attend C21 public programs throughout the year. Fellows are expected to offer a public presentation on their research no later than the academic year following the fellowship. No one may hold a Center fellowship more than twice in a five-year period. Active Center Fellows may not serve on the Center Advisory Council in the same year.
* As necessary and to the degree possible, C21 will consider alternative course reduction arrangements based on the fellowship period. Please email Nicole Welk-Joerger (welkjoer@uwm.edu) if you have any questions or would like more details about the funding granted to the home institution to support course reductions.
Procedures
Submit a single pdf including the following components as an email attachment to c21@uwm.edu:
- an application cover sheet (Download here: UWM Fellowship ; System Fellowship)
- NOTE: your chair must sign this cover sheet to confirm that they are aware and willing to have your teaching load reduced and have you released from service.
- a four-page statement (roughly 1,000 words), describing your research project and
- a) its relation to one or more of the Center’s themes
- b) how it fits into your past research (if applicable) and future plans for research; and
- c) how being part of a community of scholars addressing the pressing issues of our time will benefit you and the project.
- a curriculum vitae/resume
- a recent offprint, manuscript (article length), or example of your work that will best demonstrate your capacity to complete your proposed project.
If you are applying in collaboration (two people), please follow these same guidelines (submit just one, four-page statement) and add cv/resumes and research/writing samples for each applicant.