Humanities Engage calls for proposals from Humanities Ph.D. students who will partner with a faculty sponsor to develop new collections-based modules to be integrated in existing undergraduate courses. Mentored by their faculty collaborator, and working closely as needed with librarians, archivists, or curators, this funded opportunity will afford doctoral students valuable opportunities to gain leadership experience in curricular development, pedagogy strategies, and collaborative skills.

The focus of this Humanities Engage strand is to develop new modules to be integrated in courses that previously did not involve engagement with collections. 

Eligibility

DSAS Humanities Ph.D. students who expect to be enrolled in the term(s) for which they seek funding.

• International students with full appointments are not eligible. Eligible international Ph.D. students will need to consult with OIS and obtain their Immigration Specialist’s endorsement prior to accepting a Fellowship.
• Preference will be given to students in the earlier years of their graduate studies and those who have not previously received funding through Humanities Engage. 
• Note: Students who hold DSAS or external fellowships should check their fellowship’s restrictions on additional employment before applying.
• We encourage you to contact the Humanities Engage project team with any questions about your eligibility.

Stipend

$1,000 for ca. 50 hours of effort.

As of Spring 2023, faculty will also be compensated $500.

Timeline & Expectations

• Timeline: As applications for this funding line are rolling, timelines will depend upon the date of award. 
• Humanities Engage expectations: Contribute at least one blog post to the project website, no later than two weeks after the module development begins; submit a reflective essay (or equivalent, e.g. video) on the instructional development experience and the resulting module no later than two weeks after the module is taught. Participate in ca. 2-3 hours of cohort activities. Help co-mentor subsequent cohort.

Application

Applications will be reviewed, and grants awarded, on a rolling basis and as long as resources last.

Please provide the following materials in this order and in a single .pdf to HEngage@pitt.edu:

A. Proposal (max. 2 pages). Please address:

• prior pedagogical experience, especially collections-based and/or in pedagogical strategies, and motivation to be considered for this opportunity
• course title and number, instructor of record (the faculty collaborator), when next scheduled to be taught
• overview of the course as previously taught and rationale for developing a new collections-based module as part of the revised course; explanation of how integration of the new module will enhance student-engagement and learning outcomes
• proposed module: overview, learning objectives, assessment
• description of pedagogical strategy, including possible digital technologies, asynchronous and synchronous components, student engagement, student support, and accessibility
• logistics of accessing collections, discussions with the holders of the collection(s), plans to curate collections-based resources

B. Current CV (must include all teaching experience, including remote/online instruction; pedagogical training

C. Brief letter of support from the faculty collaborator: this should speak to the curricular development plan agreed with the student applicant; student’s prior pedagogical experience; mentoring plan

Please note the following:

Curricular development will need to be conducted within University guidance on COVID-19 standards and guidelines.

Projects involving work outside the United States require additional approval. Contact the Humanities Engage project team for more details.

Students are responsible for reporting taxable stipend payments and for remitting any tax due to their local taxing authority.

Students may not accept more than one Humanities Engage fellowship or grant of any type during the fall or spring semester.

For examples of the types of collections students have worked with and modules they have developed, please see the Humanities Engage Funding Awardees page.