In this program, CHCI member organizations are “matched” with Fellows in the Recent Doctoral Recipients (RDR) fellowship program of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS). The RDR program provides funding each year for up to 25 scholars pursuing postdoctoral research in the humanities and related social sciences. As a part of the application process, each prospective fellow is provided with the option to associate themselves with a CHCI host organization. As ACLS provides a stipend for each fellow, the ACLS/CHCI partnership provides participating CHCI members with an opportunity to host a low- or no-cost external fellow. CHCI hosts may add to the ACLS compensation package with additional funds, benefits, or other enhancements. RDR fellows may not be asked to teach, but can be asked to present their research to faculty or student groups, or participate in an ongoing program, such as a seminar.
We are inviting all CHCI member organizations – including international members – to identify themselves as possible host sites for RDR fellows. Please click here to view information on current RDR Fellowship sites.
To participate, you must be a CHCI member organization. CHCI members interested in participating in the program should send a brief narrative statement (no more than two short paragraphs) on the types of support your organization will be able to offer RDR fellows, should one be matched with your organization. This information will be provided to RDR fellowship applicants during the application process. Applicants will be asked to choose and rank the organizations in which they are interested, and “matches” will be made each spring for the coming academic year.
Prospective RDR host sites must be able to provide the following minimum infrastructural support for RDR Fellows.
- An office
- Internet and telephone access
- Library access
- Opportunities to participate in Center programs, such as lectures, seminars/workshops
- Access to medical insurance. “Access” is meant to mean that the member organization will either provide health coverage through an employee plan, or will assist the fellow in obtaining and/or paying for coverage. The ACLS award can be routed to your organization or university if you are able to provide employee benefits and your plan requires the fellow to be on your payroll. Each situation is different, so please contact us if you have any questions about this requirement.
By submitting your statement and declaration of interest, we will assume that your organization will be able to provide the basic resources listed above. Please indicate if you are able to enhance any of these basic requirements – for example if you are able to offer paid health insurance, or whether fellows will have access to a self-paid policy via your institution. Please also provide information on additional support you may be able to offer to RDR Fellows, and about the environment your center or institute may offer. This information may make your site more attractive to more fellows, but our experience with the program to-date has shown that additional monetary benefits may not be needed to attract Fellowship candidates to your organization. RDR Fellows will make their selections based on numerous criteria, including access to archives, quality of life, opportunities to interact with specific scholars on your campus, and any number of non-monetary criteria. CHCI members, please note that your participation in this program does not guarantee that you will be matched with a fellow in a given year.
The deadline for declaring your organization’s interest in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 fellowship years is June 22, 2009. For inclusion in the next two fellowship cycles, please contact us for instructions and additional information.
Please click here to view information on current RDR Fellowship sites.