Faculty Grants in Support of Undergraduate Research at the Cuban Heritage Collection

As part of a larger project to enhance and expand the reach of the University of Miami’s Cuban Heritage Collection (CHC), The Goizueta Foundation has provided funding to support undergraduate research based in the Collection to increase access to and use of the Cuban Heritage Collection by UM undergraduates.  The Cuban Heritage Collection is a rich research collection of primary and secondary sources located at the Otto G. Richter Library and dedicated to documenting Cuba and its Diaspora from colonial times to the present.  For detailed information about the CHC’s holdings, please visit the collection’s website.  You may also contact CHC Deputy Chair Maria Estorino (mestorino@miami.edu) to set up a tour or interview.

The Undergraduate Scholars Program is administered by the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS).  For the 2012-2013 academic year, CLAS will award two types of grants to faculty.

Course revision grant: This grant will be to revise an existing, already scheduled Fall 2012 or Spring 2013 undergraduate course so that makes meaningful use of the Cuban Heritage Collection in its assignments and activities.  In addition to its group learning outcomes, the revised course will prepare CLAS-CHC Undergraduate Scholars selected from the course to continue their research projects during the semester after the course is taught.  Faculty members teaching the revised course in Fall 2012 will mentor Scholars in Spring 2013, and those teaching in Spring 2013 will mentor Scholars in Summer 2013. This grant offers a faculty stipend, course enhancement money, and undergraduate student scholar stipends.

Course development grant: The course development grant is to create a new, stand-alone undergraduate research course for the Fall 2012 or Spring 2013 semesters that makes meaningful use of the Cuban Heritage Collection in its assignments and activities.  In addition to its group learning outcomes, the revised course will prepare CLAS-CHC Undergraduate Scholars selected from the course to continue their research projects during the semester after the course is taught.  Faculty members teaching the new course in Fall 2012 will mentor Scholars in Spring 2013, and those teaching in Spring 2013 will mentor Scholars in Summer 2013. This grant offers a faculty stipend, course enhancement money, and undergraduate student scholar stipends.

Faculty members from all colleges, schools, departments, and programs are eligible to apply for both grants.  Faculty members must have their chair’s permission to teach the revised or new course the first time and at least once more by Fall 2014. No money for course buyout is available.

Grants funding includes:

1. Faculty stipend of $2500 to cover course creation and teaching …
   • Conduct summer research in the Cuban Heritage Collection to determine relevant materials, assignments, and activities to support the course revision or new course development
   • Revise or create course, and teach course
   • Form and chair a small committee to select student scholars for the next semester consisting of the grantee, a CHC representative, and one more professor
2. Faculty stipend of $2500 to cover the following…
   • o Act as mentor to undergraduate students selected from the course to be CLAS-CHC Undergraduate Scholars in the following semester. Faculty members teaching the revised or new course in Fall 2012 will mentor Scholars in Spring 2013, and those teaching in Spring 2013 will mentor Scholars in Summer 2013.
   • Meet with the Scholars as a group at least five times during the mentoring semester, including a public research symposium
   • Organize and oversee a public symposium presenting the Scholars’ research near the end of the fellowship semester

   (This stipend will be in addition to the faculty member's regular salary.)

3. Course facilitation fund ($1750)
   • Funds to support the purchase of course-related materials, equipment, and/or activities (e.g., field trips)
4. Research stipends for each student selected as CHC-CLAS scholars ($3,000, each).
5. Fund to support a student research symposium ($2500)
   • Funds to organize a Scholars research symposium as part of the fellowship semester, including the possibility of an outside speaker or evaluator, or funds for dissemination of their work

 Proposals must include the following:

1. A course description of up to five pages, double-spaced.  The description should include a brief overview of the topic or question being addressed in the course, learning outcomes and evaluation mechanisms, a list of key readings, recordings or other materials, and an explanation of how the course will benefit from access to and use of the primary and secondary sources in the Cuban Heritage Collection.
2. A brief statement, of no more than 500 words, as to the contribution the course will make to the use of the Cuban Heritage Collection to enhance teaching and learning at UM, in particular the undergraduate research experience.
3. A signed brief letter from your departmental chair, acknowledging the merits of the course and supporting your application and participation in the program as explained in this Call.
4. A short biographical statement, of no more than 500 words.

Applicants will be asked to meet with a representative from CLAS and CHC during the application review process.

Note: Under special circumstances, we will consider applications for courses to be taught in Spring 2012. Please contact CLAS Associate Director, Israel Alonso (i.alonsochavez@miami.edu), with any questions.

Applications and questions should be sent via e-mail to i.alonsochavez@miami.edu with the subject heading “CLAS-CHC Faculty Grant Application.”

The deadline to submit an application is Friday, October 28, 2011, by 5 p.m.