Funds will be made available each year from the Annual Development Fund to support small conferences involving national and international authorities on important topics of current scholarly interest.
The format may vary, but the intent is to foster working conferences comprising perhaps 8 to12 of the leading figures in the selected area. Normally, each participant will be expected to present an original paper, prepared and made available in advance of the conference and open to critique from others. Inasmuch as the conference will presumably treat a topic in which there is substantial interest and expertise on this campus, participants should include UIUC faculty members. It is expected that the papers presented at the conference will be published, or otherwise disseminated in a way that will bring the widest possible attention to scholarship generated on the UIUC campus. One aspect of the budget for the event, then, may be support for publication, in order to encourage swift production of a timely and important volume of studies.
Normally, these conferences will not be public events, although arrangements can certainly be made for interested faculty and graduate students to attend as observers. In addition, planning can include public lectures by some of the participants, receptions in the relevant departments and similar activities, in order to introduce the visiting scholars to the campus and its resources.
Conferences supported under this program generally are held on a budget ranging from $7,500 to $20,000, including travel (international travel or broader than average scope tend to account for budgets exceeding $10,000-$12,000). Honoraria are not covered by this program. Each proposal must include a budget and indicate support from other sources (e.g.,outside foundation or agency funds, departmental funds, MillerComm, IPS, IPRH, Research Board); at least half the funds are expected to come from non-LAS College sources. Proposals should clearly designate a person responsible for arrangements and include a draft of the conference program, a list of invites with notes on their expertise and their affiliation. Proposals should be submitted by departmental Executive Officers (and School Directors where applicable) who must review and comment on the institutional value of the proposal.
The Executive Committee of the College will review all proposals and may recommend a re-submission of especially promising projects that appear to be incomplete. Proposals may be submitted twice a year. Proposals submitted by November 1 will be reviewed in the fall semester and those submitted by April 1 will be reviewed in April. Proposals should be submitted at least nine months ahead of the proposed date of the event.
Although the range of topics is not restrictive, preference will be given to those for which funding is not generally available from sources external to the campus, and to those for which conferences have not been held in recent years. Funding is limited for this program, but in recent years between one-third and one-half of the proposals have been funded at least in part. A sample proposal may be obtained from Paula Hays (phays@uiuc.edu) 333-1350. Any proposals submitted for review this year should be for conferences to be held in FY08 or beyond.
Updated August 2006 |
