Who May Apply? Faculty and graduate students in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages, and undergraduates who will have completed a language course with 12 hours of study in the target languages by May, 2008 are invited to apply for grants. Part-time faculty may not apply for travel funding, but may make other requests. Faculty with temporary appointments should see the chair regarding travel funding. Department majors and minors are especially encouraged to apply.

The Awards: Two-thirds of the awards are reserved for French, and one-third for other languages. Half of the awards are given to faculty. Travel awards will be given to students, with a typical award of $1000. Applications should be given to Ms. Lucy O’Farrill in Humanities 326 by 3:30 p.m. Friday, October 19, 2007. We hope to announce decisions sometime in January. PLEASE NOTE: Funds will not become available until July 2008.

For students who are studying abroad, you must contact the International Center before your trip in order to be enrolled in a U of L course created specifically for study abroad. You will not receive funding unless you are enrolled.

The Proposal: All requests for funds must be made on the application form. Attached is a list of suggested projects. If you are requesting travel funds, indicate where you will go, when, why, for how long, and with what institutional program (especially important for students). Faculty requesting funds for materials or equipment should indicate why it is needed and who will use it. Be sure to mention how your project will benefit you or the department. Faculty should verify airfare with Expedia and equipment estimates with an appropriate vendor. Students requesting travel funds should follow the directions on the application form when estimating costs. Be sure to retain a copy of your proposal for your records.

Note: Awardees must carry out their projects by June 30, 2008 and must file reports within 60 days of completing the projects.

Awardees who do not fulfill the terms of the grant must return the funds immediately to the department.

2007-2008 Advisory Committee: Professors Augustus Mastri, Tomas Dumstorf, Robert D. Luginbill, Rhonda Buchanan, and two student representatives to be selected.

General Statement: Since the specific needs of faculty and students of foreign languages and cultures are often quite diverse, guidelines for the use of income from the Modern Languages Fund must be as flexible as possible. This list of suggested projects and activities is not all-inclusive; it is designed to indicate the kinds of projects and activities which seem most obvious at this time. Categories (e.g., faculty projects and activities) are ranked in order of importance, but items within each category are not ranked. The committee which supervises the handling of these funds should feel free to consider other kinds of projects or activities and should judge each proposal on its own merits.

• --- faculty travel for language and cultural enhancement (foreign or domestic); this will allow faculty to maintain competence in their principal teaching area or to develop or enhance such competence in another teaching area.
• --- faculty study abroad or in appropriate domestic programs.
• --- funds to supplement the university’s allocation for travel to professional conferences. Applicants must document the direct impact which attendance will have on teaching or learning within the department. Applicants must also document active participation or demonstrate the importance of observer status.
• --- faculty development other than travel: funds to pursue an additional teaching area (e.g., linguistics for teachers of literature) which an individual faculty member expects to become involved in, as part of the university’s instructional programs.


STUDENT PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

• --- funds to subvene student travel or study abroad; this normally will be restricted to those with at least twelve (12) hours of study of the target language. Preference is given to Classical and Modern Languages majors and minors. In their applications, students should be sure to provide a summary of what they are going to do and which program they will participate in (sponsored by U of L or by another organization). Be sure to include a flyer or other documentation on the program chosen (a flyer from the last two years is acceptable). Students should also specify the expected benefits from participation; how does this travel relate to future plans or employment?
• --- funds for student prizes, such as

a) prize for the outstanding student--undergraduate, graduate--in each program.
b) prize for an outstanding student essay or project by an undergraduate or graduate student.

• --- funds to subvene student participation or attendance at approved professional conferences or cultural events.
• --- funds to provide seminars for language students in which guest speakers and others provide information on language-related careers.
• --- funds to help support foreign exchange students who assist the department in various ways.


OTHER PROJECTS OR ACTIVITIES INVOLVING PERSONNEL

• --- funds for visiting lecturers or aides who can serve as “native informants” and interact with students and faculty as a major part of their assignment; such individuals will be chosen on the basis of contributions to teaching and service, not scholarship.
• --- funds to bring visiting artists (individuals or groups) to perform in Louisville.
• --- funds to subvene cultural projects which may seem of value to students and faculty in the department.
• --- funds to provide guest speakers who will offer insight into new or different aspects of languages, literatures, or cultures.

OTHER NEEDS

• --- funds for special curriculum or for consultants to lead the faculty to explore new areas, approaches, directions, etc. in the teaching and learning of foreign languages, literatures, or cultures.
• --- funds for expenditures on equipment or activities that are beyond the means of the department’s normal supplies and equipment budget.