These FAQ are for ACLS Online Fellowship Applications. Since requirements and processes may vary, be sure to read the instructions for the program to which you are applying.
FAQ pertaining to all online applications:
General FAQ
PhD Equivalency for Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Application Process (entirely online)
Technical Support
Reference Letters
The Review Process
Successful Proposals
FAQ specific to individual programs:
Additional FAQ for ACLS Fellowships (the central fellowship program)
Additional FAQ for Ryskamp Fellowships
Additional FAQ for Burkhardt Fellowships
Additional FAQ for Digital Innovation Fellowships
Additional FAQ for ACLS Collaborative Research Awards
Additional FAQ for Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
Additional FAQ for Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowships in East European Studies
Q: Do all ACLS fellowship and grant programs use the Online Fellowship Application (OFA) system?
A: No. The following programs do not use the OFA system:
Comparative Perspectives on
Chinese Culture and Society and the African Humanities Program. Information about these programs is available on the ACLS website through the individual program links.
Q: What kind of work gets funded? Are there some types of projects ACLS does not fund?
A: ACLS supports academic research in the humanities and humanities-related social sciences. The ultimate goal of
the project should be a major piece of scholarly work by the applicant. ACLS does not fund creative work (e.g., novels
or films), textbooks, work that deals purely with translation, or pedagogical projects.
Q: I work in the creative arts and would use a fellowship to do research for a novel/artwork/film/musical
composition/etc. May I apply?
A: No, ACLS fellowship programs do not support individuals who work in the creative or performing arts.
Fellowship research designed for an end-product that is a creative work is not appropriate for ACLS.
Q: I have not finished my PhD. Am I eligible for any ACLS fellowships?
A: If you are a doctoral student, you may be eligible for one of the ACLS
dissertation fellowships: The Mellon /ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship, Henry Luce Foundation/ACLS
Dissertation Fellowship in American Art, or the Dissertation Fellowship in East European Studies.
Q: May I apply for more than one ACLS fellowship in the same competition year?
A: Yes. With the exception of the New Faculty Fellows program and the Public Fellows program, an individual may apply to as many fellowship and grant programs as are suitable. However, not more than one ACLS or ACLS-joint award may normally be accepted in any one competition year.
Q: I have made a typographical error in my contact informtion. How may I correct it?
A: You may make corrections to your contact information (i.e., your name, salutation, password, and security question/answer) by clicking the "Account Information" link on the Program Choice screen. You will not, however, be able to make any changes to your email address.
PhD Equivalency for Postdoctoral Fellowships
Q: I feel that I have the equivalent of a PhD degree. May I apply?
A: If you have published scholarly work on a par with the academic work required by the PhD degree, you may apply. You need to have completed a substantial academic project that required a sustained period of research, similar to a dissertation, in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I do not have an advanced degree, but I have published. Would I qualify?
A: Yes, as long as your publications are scholarly, at least equivalent to a dissertation, and in the humanities or humanities-related social sciences.
Q: I do not hold a PhD, but I do have a master's degree or the terminal degree in my field. Would I be eligible for a program that requires the "PhD or equivalent"?
A: A master's degree of any kind will not in itself be considered equivalent. Equivalency must be established by a list of substantial scholarly publications based on humanities or humanities-related research. A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: I hold a JD degree. Would I be eligible?
A: A JD in itself would not satisfy the PhD equivalency unless it was accompanied by a list of substantial scholarly publications that are humanistic in nature (as opposed to case studies or technical legal issues). A substantial academic project involving a sustained period of research (such as a dissertation or book) is required.
Q: I am currently enrolled in a PhD program, but feel that I already have the equivalent of a PhD in publications. Am I eligible to apply for an ACLS postdoctoral fellowship?
A: No. Current PhD students are not eligible to apply to apply for ACLS postdoctoral fellowships. Your PhD must have been conferred by the application deadline.
The Application Process (entirely online)
Q: I applied last year. Can I edit my old application and resubmit it?
A: No, you will need to start over with a new online application. It is possible to resubmit the proposal portion of your application from previous years, but you will need to upload again any such proposal document.
Q: How long does it take to fill out the application?
A: This will vary, depending on how much work you have prepared before you begin the application process. Simply filling in the form will probably take at least an hour if not two, plus you will need to submit your proposal and supporting documents. You will also need to secure referees to write letters in support of your application. You should start the process several weeks before the deadline to get a sense of what is required and start preparing your materials.
Q: Do I have to complete the application all at once?
A: No, you may work on it in multiple sessions, though you will need to save your work after you finish each section of the application. Once you have submitted the application, you cannot work on it again.
A: No. Our system does not allow for this. Make absolutely sure you are finished before you submit the application.
Q: If I have applied to an earlier ACLS competition, can I apply
again this year with the same proposal?
A: Yes, but you must go through the entire application process for
this year's competition. Note that unsuccessful applicants to the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship and the Luce/ACLS Fellowship in American Art may reapply only once.
Q: I think I will get sabbatical funding during the year I would be taking the postdoctoral fellowship, but I do not know for certain or exactly how much it will be. What should I fill in on the application form?
A: You may estimate the amount you expect to receive, or fill in nothing. You can enter this amount in the section asking you to list other major funding sources to which you ARE APPLYING for your present research proposal. Should you be offered a postdoctoral fellowship, you will need to provide a specific amount and tell us about any other funding you will receive.
Q: After submitting my proposal, I found out that I had an article
(or book) accepted for publication (or to a conference). May I send the
information to ACLS to have it added to my publications page?
A: No. Your application will be judged as it is at the time of submission.
Q: My proposal document looked fine in MS Word™, but after I uploaded it all the formatting has changed and
made it difficult to read. Why did this happen and how can I fix it? Will this affect the review of my
application?
A: Our system converts your uploaded document to Adobe™ Portable Document Format (PDF). Slight variations in
formatting are a by-product of the conversion process. Our reviewers are aware of this, and slight irregularities will
not affect the review of your application. To avoid problems in the conversion process, you should use simple formatting insofar as possible. You can check your original document as follows:
•Using the "show formatting" function on your word processor, look for formatting that might have created problems,
such as hard returns at the end of each line, text included in tables, diacritical marks, footnotes or endnotes,
unnecessary page or section breaks, etc.
•Delete unnecessary formatting and try uploading your document again.
If you continue to have problems and feel that your document is difficult to read, contact ofahelp@acls.org for assistance.
Q: My proposal includes non-English language characters. Will the system support these?
A: The PDF conversion software used by ACLS does not support all non-English language characters. If your
proposal includes such characters, please view the PDF after uploading to be sure the characters appear properly. You
can convert your document to PDF and upload again if you have access to Adobe Acrobat™ (the PDF-creation software, not
Adobe Acrobat Reader™) or any other conversion software which better supports non-English language characters.
Q: There is some formatting that I feel is essential to my proposal (for example, diacritical marks or footnotes)
but that seems to cause problems in the converted document. What can I do?
A: If you are unable to resolve the formatting problems, try converting your document to PDF and uploading it
again. (See above.)
Q: Are the page-limit requirements for uploaded documents strictly enforced? Will my application be considered if I exceed the page limits?
A: We are strict about the page limits for all uploaded documents. Documents must adhere to the page limits and formatting requirements to be reviewed. You should therefore be sure to check that your uploaded document(s) does not exceed the limits and edit as necessary.
Q: I added page numbers to my proposal document in MS Word™, but when I view the uploaded document the formatting
has changed.
A: We recommend that you use the "header/footer" function for page numbering. If you have tried this and the
formatting still does not work, you may omit page numbering.
Q: I uploaded my narrative statement, bibliography, and publications list onto the application form, but when I
went to print out my application, only my bibliography showed up on the PDF document. Did the other documents ever get
uploaded, or do I need to try again?
A: For most applications the components of your upload (proposal, bibliography, publications list, etc.) should be collated to upload as one continuous document. If you try to upload separate documents, each will replace the one previously uploaded. Please combine the separate documents into one document, and then upload again. Note that the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship, the American Research in the Humanities in China Fellowship, the New Faculty Fellows program, and the Public Fellows program require two, separate uploaded documents.
Q: I uploaded the file of my project proposal yesterday but the website is not showing (in red) that it has been
successfully uploaded. I received the following message on the webpage: FILE UPLOAD STATUS: BEING CONVERTED TO PDF.
Should I try to upload it again?
A: First try refreshing the page. If your document has been uploaded, the file name should appear under
"FILE UPLOAD STATUS" as a link in red. You can confirm that the file has uploaded successfully by clicking on the link
in red and viewing your file. If the link in red does not appear, try uploading your document again. If it fails to
upload the second time, then there may be a problem with the document. Contact ofahelp@acls.org and attach a copy of your document; if necessary, we will manually convert it for you.
Q: I cannot print my application. When I click the View/Print Application button, the PDF document comes up on
the screen, but when I try to print it I get a message saying it cannot print.
A: There may be an issue with the computer you are using. Please try another computer or make sure that you have
the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader™ installed. (This software is required for viewing PDF files and is available
free of charge at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.)
Q: Whom should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?
A: Your main priority should be to secure letters from referees who can write strong, specific letters on your behalf, preferably those who can comment on the proposed project. For ACLS postdoctoral programs reviewers sometimes have concerns about letters from colleagues in your department or from dissertation advisors, and often prefer "arm's length" letters from scholars who can attest to the significance of your work in the field and have less personal interest vested in your success. It's good to be able to show that you have placed yourself in the field, not merely in the department or institution where you are employed or did your graduate work. Think carefully about who can write the best letters and weigh that against personal connections. Applicants at early career stages will rely more on dissertation advisors as advocates. In any case, you will want your referees to be tenured scholars.
Q: What should I do if one of my referees does not send in the letter s/he agreed to?
A: You can check online to see if your references have been submitted. If one or more of your letters has not been submitted by the deadline, you may wish to contact the letter writers. (Note that our system will continue to accept letters after the deadline.) If one of your designated referees cannot write the letter, you can ask someone else to write for you and submit the appropriate information on your reference form. However, please note that once the required number of letters has been submitted for your application (regardless of which of your referees submits them), no more will be accepted. Think carefully, then, before requesting replacement letters. You would not want to put a referee in the position of writing a letter for you and then not being able to submit it.
Q: My referee cannot (or refuses to) use an online system to submit the recommendation letter. What should I do?
A: Please follow the instructions on the reference letter page to enter information about your referee; ACLS needs this information. Your referee will receive an email from us with an address the referee should use to contact us to say that he or she cannot use the online system. We will then work with your referee to get the letter in some other way. (This should be used as a method of last resort.)
Q: My referee does not use email or have an email address. What should I do?
A: Contact us at ofahelp@acls.org for further instructions.
Q: Do all my reference letters have to be in the system before I submit my application?
A: No, the deadline for reference letters is later than the application deadline. In addition, the system will continue to accept letters after the deadline and will add them to your application at the earliest possible time, though we cannot guarantee that they will accompany your application in the first stage of review.
Q: Who is reading my proposal?
A: Proposals to the central ACLS Fellowship Program, the Burkhardt Fellowship Program, The Ryskamp Fellowship
Program, the Digital Innovation Fellowship Program, the ACLS Collaborative Research Awards, and the Mellon/ACLS Early
Career Fellowship Program are read by both experts in the discipline of the proposal and by scholars from a variety of
disciplines, in fields other than your own.
Q: Since my application will be read by both experts in my area and in a range of humanistic fields, how
should I pitch my proposal?
A: To address experts in your field, explain why this project offers insight into the issues of your discipline,
and make clear what question or problem is being addressed. In addition, though, be sure to explain any terms that
might not be familiar to those outside your field or subfield, and discuss the significance of your project within
your field. In a section of the application separate from the body of the proposal, you are also asked to address the
significance of your proposed project for the humanities.
Q: Will I get comments back from the reviewers?
A: Reviewer comments may be requested for the following programs: ACLS Fellowship, Burkhardt Fellowship, Ryskamp Fellowship, Digital Innovation Fellowship, ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowship, Mellon/ACLS Early Career Fellowship, and Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art. Comments are released at the discretion of the reviewers. Hence, comments may be available from some, though not necessarily all, of the reviewers who assessed an application. Requests should be submitted in writing to fellowships@acls.org by August 31st of the competition year.
Q: What kinds of projects are usually successful in ACLS fellowship competitions?
A: The proposals that are ultimately selected vary widely. We post
a list of the awardees and brief project descriptions at www.acls.org/fellows/new/
each summer.
Q: I applied for an ACLS Fellowship but did not receive one. I've had several talented, credentialed academics
look at my proposal, and they all say it is good. Why was I not awarded a fellowship?
A: Unfortunately, we receive far more excellent proposals than we have money to fund. Our selection panels must
make very difficult decisions from among exceptional applications. Not receiving a fellowship should not be interpreted
to mean that your work is not good.
Q: Do you have examples of winning proposals?
A: We do not provide examples of winning proposals, and there is no one model to follow for a successful
application. However, you may view abstracts of winning proposals at www.acls.org/fellows/new/.
(These are updated each summer.) You may also benefit from asking an ACLS Fellow that you know to show you her or his proposal. You should also review Writing Proposals for ACLS Fellowship Competitions by Christina M. Gillis.
Q: If I have unsuccessfully applied to an earlier ACLS competition,
is it a good idea to apply again this year with the same proposal?
A: It is fine to apply again with the same proposal, and since reviewers
change from year to year, your project may get a different reception this time
around. However, because reviewers often serve ACLS for up to three years, your
application may be reviewed again by one or more of the same people who saw it last
year. For this reason, it is often better to have made demonstrable progress on your
project in the meantime, so that the proposal would reflect that progress.
Q: How much of my proposal should be devoted to explaining my methodology?
The project's significance? Theoretical framework? Work plan? etc.
A: The portion of the proposal that should be devoted to its constituent parts varies according to the proposed
project. An important part of the application process is gauging the most central elements of your project and
presenting those elements to your best advantage within the specified word/page limit.
Q: If I win a fellowship from ACLS, can the fellowship monies be paid through my institution instead of my receiving the funds directly?
A: You may receive the funds through your institution if you need to in order to retain benefits, etc. However, the stipend itself must go to an individual scholar. Institutions may not deduct funds for overhead or indirect costs from the individual's fellowship. See Information for Institutional Administrators.
Additional FAQ for ACLS Fellowships (the central fellowship program)
Q: I have not finished my PhD. Am I eligible for an ACLS Fellowship (the central fellowship program)? What if I will have finished my PhD by
the time I would start the fellowship period?
A: Sorry, your PhD degree must have been officially conferred at least two years before the application deadline.
Q: Do I have to be a US citizen to be eligible for an ACLS Fellowship (the central fellowship program)?
A: You must be either a US citizen or a US permanent resident. You need not, however, be employed at an academic
institution located in the United States.
Q: In the ACLS Fellowship (the central fellowship program) description, what is meant by a "supported research leave"? Am I eligible for an ACLS Fellowship if I have had a supported research leave in recent years? What if it was a postdoctoral appointment?
A: "Supported research leave" is defined as the equivalent of one semester or more of time free from teaching or other employment to pursue scholarly research or writing, supported by sabbatical pay or other institutional funding, major fellowships and grants, or a combination of these.
•To be eligible for an ACLS Fellowship in the 2011-2012 competition, an applicant must not have held a "supported research leave"
during the two years ending September 1, 2012. This means that your most recent leave before starting an ACLS Fellowship must have concluded prior to September 1, 2010. Do not take or initiate a leave in the 2011-12 academic year if you wish to remain eligible for an ACLS Fellowship in the current competition.
• If your institution uses quarters rather than semesters, a "supported research leave" is defined as two consecutive quarters free from teaching.
• A postdoctoral appointment counts as a supported research leave if you are fully released from teaching
responsibilities.
•The requirement that you have not had a supported research leave during the two years ending September 1, 2012 pertains only to the central ACLS Fellowship program and its subfellowships, not to other ACLS fellowship competitions.
Q: I had a fellowship for a semester/year less than two years ago, but I did not have a job at the time, so does that count as supported leave?
A: Yes, the ACLS Fellowship (the central fellowship program) policy regarding "supported research leave" applies equally to individuals regardless of whether or not they were employed at the time.
Q: Am I eligible for an ACLS Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary.
Q: I'm not sure right now whether I should apply for a six-month or a 9-12 month ACLS Fellowship. What should I do?
A: We are flexible on this issue. We suggest you indicate the longer period. Should a fellowship be awarded, the tenure period can be adjusted at that time.
Q: Who will review my application?
A: Your application will be reviewed in two stages. At the first stage, two established scholars in your discipline (and/or regional area of study) will judge your proposal. These reviewers may or may not be specialized in the particular sub-field(s) covered in your proposal. The first stage of review determines which applications will go on to the final stage. At that point, applications are reviewed by a panel of scholars whose collective expertise covers a range of disciplines in the humanities and humanities-related social sciences.
Q: What other proposals will my application be judged against?
A: At the first stage, your application will be reviewed in the context of others at your rank in the profession (assistant, associate, or full professor or equivalents) in your discipline. In the second stage, your application will be judged against others at your rank, but in various disciplines.
Q: How many fellowships are given each year? How many applications are received?
A: More than 1,000 eligible applications for the central ACLS Fellowship program are received each year, covering the ranks of assistant, associate, and full professor or equivalents. Up to 65 fellowships will be awarded this year: up to 25 at the assistant professor rank, up to 20 at the associate professor rank, and up to 20 at the full professor rank.
Q: How soon will I find out if I have won a fellowship?
A: When all stages of the competition are complete, you will be sent a letter notifying you of whether or not you have won a fellowship. You can expect that letter by late February.
Q: Can an ACLS Fellowship (the central fellowship program) be deferred to the following year? Can an ACLS Fellowship be postponed if I find out I have to teach in the fall semester? What if I find out I have to teach in the spring semester?
A: An ACLS Fellowship cannot be deferred to the following academic year. However, a Fellow may postpone
initiation of the fellowship to the spring semester beginning January 1 or February 1. If a Fellow must teach in the
spring semester of the fellowship year, s/he may take a six-month fellowship prior to the spring semester. The
fellowship may not be postponed to begin later than February 1 except in the case of unforeseen medical emergency.
Additional FAQ for Ryskamp Fellowships
Q: I will be reviewed for tenure during the current ACLS competition year, so I may know if I am successful by spring, and I may be tenured as early as the start of the summer. May I still apply?
A: Yes, you may apply—as long as your tenure review will not be complete before March 1, 2012.
Q: I am an untenured associate professor. Am I eligible?
A: Yes. You are eligible so long as your tenure review will not be complete before March 1, 2012.
Q: Do I have to be a US citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for a Ryskamp Fellowship?
A: No, but you must be employed at a degree-granting academic institution in the US for the duration of the fellowship.
Q: Am I eligible for a Ryskamp Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary or the Ryskamp award, whichever is higher.
Q: I have had a supported research leave in the last two years. Does this affect my eligibility for the Ryskamp Fellowship?
A: No. Previous supported research leaves do not affect eligibility for the Ryskamp Fellowship.
Q: If the $64,000 Ryskamp award exceeds my normal academic-year salary, will the stipend amount be reduced?
A: No, if the Ryskamp stipend exceeds your normal academic-year salary and you have no other sources of support, the excess will be available for research and travel expenses.
Q: How many Ryskamp fellowships are given each year? How many applications are received?
A: The number of applications for the Ryskamp Fellowship has ranged from 152 to 196 per year during the ten years of the program. Up to 12 fellowships will be awarded this year.
Additional FAQ for Burkhardt Fellowships
Q: I received tenure in the spring of 2006. Am I eligible to apply for a Burkhardt Fellowship?
A: No, to be eligible for a Burkhardt Fellowship this year, you must have started your first tenured contract no earlier than the fall 2007 semester or quarter.
Q: Do I have to be a US citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for a Burkhardt Fellowship?
A: No, but you must be employed in tenured position at a degree-granting academic institution in the US for the duration of the fellowship.
Q: I have had a supported research leave in the last two years. Does this affect my eligibility for the Burkardt Fellowship?
A: No. Previous supported research leaves do not affect eligibility for the Burkhardt Fellowship.
Q: Am I eligible for a Burkhardt Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary or the Burkhardt award, whichever is higher.
Q: If the $75,000 Burkhardt award exceeds my normal academic-year salary, will the stipend amount be reduced?
A: No, if the Burkhardt stipend exceeds your normal academic-year salary and you have no other sources of support, the excess will be available for research and relocation expenses.
Q: How many Burkhardt fellowships are given each year? How many applications are received?
A: The number of applications for the Burkhardt Fellowship has ranged from 95 to 124 per year during the 12 years of the program. Up to nine fellowships will be awarded this year.
Q: I expect to receive tenure during the current ACLS competition year. May I apply for a Burkhardt Fellowship?
A: No. You must have tenure by the beginning of the fall semester or quarter, 2011.
Q: I received tenure within the time-frame specified, but am a full professor rather than an associate professor. Am I eligible?
A: Yes. The salient point is time from tenure, not academic rank.
Q: Which residential center should I select?
A: It is up to you, as part of the application process, to determine which of the centers would be the best fit for you and your research.
Q: If I am awarded a Burkhardt Fellowship to support a year of residence at a national residential research
center, is it possible to spend only part of the year in residency, or to remain at my home institution?
A: No. You must be in residence at your chosen national residential research center for the full academic year.
Part-time and temporary residencies are not possible.
Additional FAQ for Digital Innovation Fellowships
Q: Do I have to be a US citizen to be eligible for an ACLS Digital Innovation Fellowship?
A: You must be either a US citizen or a US permanent resident. You need not, however, be employed at an academic institution located in the United States.
Q: Am I eligible for a Digital Innovation Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary.
Q: How many fellowships are given each year? How many applications are received?
A: The number of applications for the ACLS Digital Innovation Fellowships has ranged from 28 to 113 during the first six years of the program. Up to six fellowships will be awarded in this competition year.
Additional FAQ for ACLS Collaborative Research Awards
Q: What counts as a collaboration for this fellowship? A: While we are open to various forms of collaboration, in order to be eligible for the Collaborative Research Fellowships program, at least two scholars have to seek salary-replacement stipends for six to twelve continuous months of supported research leave to pursue full-time collaborative research during the fellowship tenure.
Q: What kind of collaborative projects does the fellowship seek to support?
A: To view view abstracts of winning proposals, click ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowships.
Q: Must all participants in an ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowship be on leave at the same time?
A: There is no requirement that all participants take the research leave at the same time. Scheduling of leaves should be determined based on the needs of the project and the schedules of the individual participants.
Q: Am I eligible for an ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary.
Q: How does ACLS define "appointment at an institution of higher education?"
A: For the Collaborative Research Fellowships program, eligible appointments are all professorial ranks, including research professorships and adjunct professorships; lectureships, and instructorships. "Visiting" ranks are eligible only if the institution being visited will agree to administer project funds.
Q: Do I have to be a US citizen to be eligible for an ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowship?
A: You do not have to be a US citizen or a US permanent resident. However, an academic institution located in the United States must be willing to administer costs of collaboration on behalf of the project coordinator.
Q: Does the site of the collaborative work need to be the institution administering costs of collaboration?
A: No. The site of the collaborative work can be wherever the project participants feel is appropriate.
Q: I'm not sure right now whether I should apply for a six-month or a 9-12 month salary-replacement stipend. What should I do?
A: We are flexible on this issue. We suggest you indicate the longer period. Should a fellowship be awarded, the tenure period can be adjusted at that time. However, no awards are made if the supported research leave period is less than six continuous months.
Q: Can the budgets for the stipend and costs of collaboration include benefits, indirect costs or overhead?
A: No. Please also refer to Information for Institutional Administrators.
Q: What is the purpose of the collaboration funds?
A: The majority of the fellowship award will cover salary-replacement stipends for the collaborations. Additionally, up to $20,000 is available in collaboration funds to facilitate the successful completion of the collaborative research project. Collaboration funds may be used for such purposes as travel, acquisition of materials, or research assistance. The budget should provide detailed information and justification for the requested collaboration funds. See sample budget.
Q: Who will review the applications?
A: Your application will be reviewed by humanities scholars from a number of different fields who have had experience with collaborative research.
Q: How soon will we find out if our project was selected?
A: When all stages of the competition are complete, you will be sent a letter notifying you of whether or not you have won a fellowship. Notification will be sent by late January, 2012.
Q: Can an ACLS Collaborative Research Fellowship be deferred?
A: No. The total Fellowship is for a period of up to 24 months, to be initiated during the two academic years following the date of the award and no earlier than July 1. The Fellowship includes stipends to allow up to an academic year's leave from teaching for participants. This leave may be for six to 12 consecutive months during the two-year period of the Fellowship.
Additional FAQ for Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
Q: Are only US citizens eligible for the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship?
A: All doctoral students who are completing PhDs at universities in the United States are eligible to apply for the Mellon/ACLS Fellowships.
Q: I have a Dissertation CompletionFellowship this year, but I do not think I will finish my dissertation by the end of this year. May I apply to the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship, since I hope to finish next year?
A: Unfortunately, as a recipient of a dissertation completion fellowship, you cannot subsequently apply for a Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship. These fellowships are intended for the final year of dissertation work, with the expectation that recipients will finish the dissertation during tenure of the fellowship. ACLS will not consider applications from doctoral students already holding a dissertation completion award.
Q: I have been offered another fellowship in addition to the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship.
May I accept both?
A: ACLS policy prohibits Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellows from holding concurrent fellowships that
provide a stipend of any amount. ACLS allows concurrent awards covering specific costs not covered by the Mellon/ACLS
Dissertation Completion Fellowship. Thus, ACLS allows a university to provide support for tuition and fees, health
insurance, and other university fees (beyond the up-to-$5,000 provided by the fellowship). ACLS also allows the
university to provide a housing subsidy/award, if appropriate. Additional stipends are not allowed. Fellows may not
accept an award that requires work of any kind, for example a teaching or research assistantship.
Q: Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am now in the seventh year of my PhD program. May I still apply?
A: Applicants may petition to be considered for an eight-year fellowship. To do so, they must provide a compelling reason for special consideration. This petition should be submitted in the space designated in the application (directly after the question asking for the number of years in the doctoral program). In addition, in his or her letter of recommendation, the applicant's dissertation advisor must also explain any extenuating circumstances that would merit consideration for an eighth-year fellowship.
Q: Are fellows required to be in residence at their home institution or are they able to select a different host institution?
A: Residence at your home institution is not required for this fellowship. Fellowship tenure may be carried out in residence at the Fellow's home institution or at another appropriate site either in the United States or abroad.
Q: Are fellowship stipends paid directly to the Fellow or are they paid through the payroll system of their
home or host institution?
A: Regarding payment of stipend funds, ACLS is flexible and offers the options of payment directly to the Fellow
or payment through the Fellow's home institution. Note that the fellowships include funds for university fees
(up to $5,000), which must be paid directly to the institution.
Q: How many Dissertation Completion Fellowships are given each year? How many applications are received?
A: In the first five years of Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship Program, 900-1,148
eligible applications were received each year and 65 fellowships were awarded.
Additional FAQ for Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowships in East European Studies
Q: I have not finished my PhD. Am I eligible for a Postdoctoral Fellowship? What if I will have finished my
PhD by the time I would start the fellowship period?
A: Sorry, your PhD must have been officially conferred by the application deadline.
Q: Do I have to be a US citizen to be eligible for an Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowships in East European Studies?
A: Yes. You must be a US citizen. US permanent residents are not eligible.
Q: I am a tenured professor. Am I eligible for an Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowship in East European Studies?
A: No. To be eligible for this fellowship, you must be at an early career stage. Tenured faculty are not eligible.
Q: I'm not sure right now whether I should apply for a six-month or a 9-12 month fellowship. What should I do?
A: We are flexible on this issue. We suggest you indicate the longer period. Should a fellowship be awarded, the tenure period can be adjusted at that time.
Q: Am I eligible for a fellowship if I will be on sabbatical and earning sabbatical salary during the fellowship period?
A: Yes. The fellowship may be taken in conjunction with your sabbatical salary, up to the amount of your full regular salary.
Q: Can an Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowship in East European Studies be deferred to the following year?
Can a Fellowship be postponed if I find out I have to teach in the fall semester? What if I find out I have to teach in
the spring semester?
A: An Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowship in East European Studies cannot be deferred to the following academic
year. A Fellow with teaching or other commitments in either the fall or spring semester may choose to take the fellowship
for only one semester (minimum 6 months).
