1. I teach full-time at a two-year or community college. What are my chances of receiving a Teaching Development Fellowship?

Your chances are the same as any other applicant’s. All applicants must propose a significant research project as well as present evidence of their qualifications as interpreters of the humanities.

2. I am a graduate student. Am I eligible to apply for a Teaching Development Fellowship?

If you are currently enrolled in a degree-granting program, you are not eligible to apply. Graduate students seeking support for a degree in the humanities should consider the Department of Education’s Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program. Those who have satisfied all the requirements for a degree and are awaiting its conferral may apply for a Teaching Development Fellowship, but such applicants need a letter from the dean of the conferring school, attesting to the applicant’s status as of September 30, 2010. This letter must be received by the Teaching Development Fellowships program by October 20, 2010. The letter may be faxed to the program at 202-606-8204; alternatively, a PDF version of the signed letter may be included as an attachment to an e-mail message sent to TDFellowships@neh.gov.

3. I teach part time. Am I eligible to apply?

The Teaching Development Fellowships program accepts applications from faculty members who carry a full teaching load, or the combined equivalent of a full teaching load, at two-year or four-year colleges and universities. They may be tenured, tenure-track, contractual, or adjunct faculty, and they may teach at more than one institution.

4. I have combined two part-time teaching positions at two different colleges or universities to create a full teaching load for myself. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes. The Teaching Development Fellowships program accepts applications from faculty members who carry a full teaching load, or the combined equivalent of a full teaching load, at two-year or four-year colleges and universities. They may be tenured, tenure-track, contractual, or adjunct faculty, and they may teach at more than one institution. Recipients are expected to work full time on their projects, and may teach no more than half time during the fellowship period.

5. How does NEH define “full time”?

Because academic calendars and expectations for teaching/research differ significantly from institution to institution, NEH has chosen not to define “full time.” Rather, each applicant must conform to the definition of full time at his/her institution.

6. I want to continue to teach while working on the proposed project. Am I eligible to apply?

Applicants may teach up to half time during the award period. Because academic calendars and expectations for teaching and research differ significantly from institution to institution, NEH has chosen not to define “half time.” Rather, each applicant must conform to the definition of half time at his or her institution.

7. I want to apply to create a new course out of one that I have previously taught once. Am I eligible to apply?

No. A Teaching Development Fellowship is designed to improve an existing undergraduate course that you have taught in at least three different terms prior to the application deadline and will continue to teach. However, NEH funds the creation of new courses through the Enduring Questions program.

8. I have taught the same course three times in one term or semester. Am I eligible to apply?

No. Applicants must teach the course in at least three different terms or semesters.

9. I have taught the same course twice in different semesters and I am now teaching it for the third time during the semester in which I would like to apply. Am I eligible to apply?

No. Applicants must have already completed teaching the course for the third time prior to the application deadline.

10. I want to apply but I am unsure that the program chair or dean supports the project or will offer the course, or will allow me to take time off to complete the research. Should I still apply?

Applicants are required to include a letter from the department or program chair or dean to certify that the institution supports the proposed project and will offer the course in question.

11. I have taught the course that I want to teach three times, but each time at a different institution. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes. If the course is substantially the same, you are eligible to apply for a Teaching Development Fellowship. The dean or department chair at the institution at which you plan to teach the course must, however, write one of your reference letters.

12. I want to improve my ability in a foreign language, so that I can teach texts written in that language more effectively. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes. You may develop your language skills as part of the fellowship. However, you must also show specifically how you will apply the newly acquired language skills to the proposed research, and you must describe the expected results in the classroom. Proposed projects that focus primarily on language acquisition or language skills are ineligible for a Teaching Development Fellowship.

13. I want to use my Teaching Development Fellowship to post on a website materials from a course that I teach regularly, so that it will be more interesting to students. Am I eligible to apply?

Teaching Development Fellowships require grantees to spend their time pursuing a plan of research. Proposed projects that focus primarily on digital technology are ineligible for a Teaching Development Fellowship (see Section II, below). Work with technology, however, can be incorporated into the work plan to enhance the research agenda; in that case, applicants must show specifically how the digital technology will be applied to the proposed research and describe the expected results in the classroom.

Those interested in creating digital products should consider Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants or other funding opportunities offered through the NEH Office of Digital Humanities.

14. I want to apply to improve a course that enrolls both undergraduate and graduate students. Am I eligible to apply?

The course must be listed independently as an undergraduate course and must enroll a majority of undergraduate students. Applicants must demonstrate how the proposed project encourages excellence in undergraduate teaching of the humanities. Projects that focus exclusively or primarily on graduate teaching are ineligible for Teaching Development Fellowships.

15. I can devote a few months to my proposed research project and am unsure whether to apply for a Summer Stipend or a Teaching Development Fellowship. How should I decide?

If the proposed research is designed specifically to improve your undergraduate teaching in the humanities and does not aim primarily to result in publication, you should apply for a Teaching Development Fellowship. The NEH Summer Stipends program supports individual scholarly research leading primarily to publication.

16. May I use a Teaching Development Fellowship to conduct research for a team-taught course?

No. Teaching Development Fellowships may not be used for team-taught courses.

17. May I use a Teaching Development Fellowship to pay guest speakers?

No. Teaching Development Fellowships are intended to purchase the time necessary for fellows to conduct scholarly research.

1. I am unsure that my proposed project is best suited for the Teaching Development Fellowships program. What other funding opportunities are available at NEH for research and teaching in the humanities?

Applicants whose projects focus primarily on utilizing or studying the impact of digital technology should consult Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants and other NEH digital humanities grant programs.

Applicants whose projects focus primarily on implementing significant humanities programs or on creating instructional resources should consult NEH education grant programs.

Applicants who seek professional development opportunities should consult Summer Seminars and Institutes and other NEH education grant programs.

Applicants whose focus is primarily on individual scholarly research leading to publication should consult Summer Stipends, Fellowships, and other NEH research grant programs.

Applicants at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, at Institutions with High Hispanic Enrollment, or at Tribal Colleges and Universities may wish to consult Humanities Initiatives (for projects to strengthen humanities education and scholarship) and Awards for Faculty (for individual fellowships to conduct research).

2. I would like to conduct research resulting in a new course. Does NEH have a program for such an undertaking?

Yes. NEH funds new course preparation through its Enduring Questions program.

1. What help is available for preparing the proposal?

Because of the large number of applications, NEH staff members are not able to comment on draft proposals. NEH staff will, however, answer questions about preparing your proposal and about your eligibility. They may be reached at (202) 606-8200 and at TDFellowships@neh.gov.

NEH supports proposals that cross disciplinary boundaries. Even so, when selecting the project field, we ask that you choose one area that best captures the central focus of the proposal.

3. My referee is unable to submit a letter online. Is there an alternative?

NEH strongly encourages referees to submit their letters online. If this is not possible, referees may e-mail letters to TDFellowships@neh.gov or fax them to 202-606-8204.

4. How will my application be reviewed?

All applications will receive peer review. Teachers and scholars in the humanities will read and rate your application, using the evaluation criteria listed in Section V of the application guidelines. The staff will compile a slate of recommended applications based on the panelists’ comments and ratings. The National Council on the Humanities will review the recommendations and provide additional insight. All advice—from the panelists, staff, and National Council—will be sent to the NEH Chairman. By law, only the Chairman is empowered to make an award. Because people with varying backgrounds are involved in the review process, applicants are strongly encouraged to write their applications in jargon-free language.

You are responsible for verifying successful submission of your application. Successful submission includes both acceptance by Grants.gov and by the NEH.

After you sign and submit the application, a confirmation page appears that includes the Grants.gov tracking number and other important information. Note the Grants.gov tracking number and save or print the confirmation page for your records.

You will then receive the following three e-mail messages:

These messages are normally sent within twenty-four hours of the submission, but minor delays could occur in the event of heavy system usage.

If you do not receive these messages, or if the messages indicate that the application has been rejected, contact Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) at 1-800-518-GRANTS (4726) or support@grants.gov. Include the Grants.gov tracking number in correspondence regarding the application.

Acceptance by NEH: After retrieving your application from Grants.gov, NEH will check your application package for basic technical eligibility. If your application is ineligible, NEH’s computer system will automatically send you a message to the e-mail address listed on your SF 424-Individual form. NEH is not responsible if you do not see the message in your inbox, the message is blocked by your e-mail spam filter, or the message cannot be delivered because of an incomplete or incorrect e-mail address on your SF 424-Individual form.

Approximately one week after the application deadline, NEH will send eligible applicants their NEH application numbers and instructions for tracking the progress of their applications. If you do not receive such an e-mail, you should contact the program at TDFellowships@neh.gov.

2. I have downloaded the NEH Supplementary Information for Individuals form, but I can’t save it, or the information that I enter disappears. What should I do?

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