LITERARY PÍCAROS AND PÍCARAS AND THEIR TRAVELS IN EARLY MODERN SPAIN

Eligibility and Application Procedures

We hope that our seminar will attract applicants who teach Spanish art, history, culture, language, or literature, or who are interested in the Renaissance and Baroque period and wish to expand their knowledge of Spain. Since the readings and the lectures will be conducted in Spanish, applicants should have superior or advanced high skills in the language according to the ACTFL proficiency ratings. We will give preference to those applicants who have never been to Spain.

Please note that a passport valid through December 2010 is required for entry into Spain. Applicants who do not currently have a passport should apply for one as soon as possible since the process can be lengthy. Also please note that due to space limitations, this seminar cannot accommodate families.

Since the application requires two letters of recommendation, please request letters from those persons who are familiar with you and your teaching. If you have participated in a previous NEH Seminar or Institute, consider requesting one of your letters from the former director. Referees should send their letters to you in sealed envelopes with their signatures written over the seal. Because these sealed envelopes should be sent in with your applications, please be sure to ask for them in advance of the deadline for submission of your application.

CHECKLIST OF APPLICATION MATERIALS

A completed application consists of three copies of the following collated items:

• the completed application cover sheet,
• a résumé, or brief biography, and
• an application essay as outlined below.

In addition, it must include two letters of recommendation as described below.

The application cover sheet

The application cover sheet must be filled out online at this address:

http://www.neh.gov/online/education/participants/

Please fill it out online as directed by the prompts. When you are finished, be sure to click the “submit” button. Print out the cover sheet and add it to your application package. At this point you will be asked if you want to fill out a cover sheet for another project. If you do, follow the prompts and select another project and then print out the cover sheet for that project as well. Note that filling out a cover sheet is not the same as applying, so there is no penalty for changing your mind and filling out a cover sheet for several projects. A full application consists of the items listed above, as sent to the project director.

Résumé

Please include a résumé or brief biography detailing your educational qualifications, your competency in Spanish, and your professional experience.

Application Essay

Perhaps the most important part of the application is the essay, which should be no more than four doublespaced pages. It should include your reasons for applying; your interests, both academic and personal, in the subject to be studied; qualifications and experiences that equip you to do the work of the seminar or institute and to make a contribution to a learning community; a statement of what you would like to accomplish by participating; and the relation of the seminar to your professional responsibilities.

Reference Letters

The two referees may be from inside or outside your home institution. They should be familiar with your professional accomplishments or promise, teaching and/or research interests, and ability to contribute to and benefit from participation in the seminar or institute. Referees should be provided with our description of the seminar and your application essay. If you are a current graduate student, please request a letter from your professor or advisor. Please ask each of your referees to sign their name across the seal on the back of the envelope containing their letter, and enclose the letters with your application.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS AND NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE

Please mail your completed application to:

Ms. Michelle Prats
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
University of Miami
P.O. Box 248093
Coral Gables, FL  33124-2074

It should be postmarked no later than March 2, 2010.

Successful applicants will be notified of their selection on April 1, 2010, and they will have until April 5 to accept or decline the offer. Applicants who will not be home during the notification period should provide an address and phone number where they can be reached. No information concerning the status of an application will be available prior to the official notification period.