ACLS Launches Fellowship Opportunity and Research Initiative for Community College Faculty in the Humanities

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is pleased to announce a fellowship opportunity designed to advance the research of community college faculty in the humanities and interpretive social sciences. The pilot initiative, which is made possible by the support of the Mellon Foundation, will also explore the diverse contributions of the community college sector to humanistic scholarship.  

The ACLS Community College Faculty Research Fellowships offer scholars in the humanities and interpretive social sciences who teach at two-year degree-granting institutions the opportunity to pursue their research in virtual, hybrid, or on-site residencies at select humanities research centers. In 2025, ACLS will offer up to 13 awards for community college faculty to take up two- to three-month fellowships at one of three participating organizations: 

• The American Antiquarian Society (Worcester, MA) 
• The Folger Institute at the Folger Shakespeare Library (Washington, DC) 
• The Newberry Library (Chicago, IL) 

“Community college faculty are pursuing exciting, innovative research in the humanities, and the academy has much to gain from their perspectives as scholars and teachers deeply engaged with their local communities. “ACLS is grateful to our partners at the American Antiquarian Association, the Folger, and the Newberry for their partnership in this initiative, and for their commitment to enhancing access to the networks and resources their centers offer for community college faculty across the country.” 

Based on feedback from faculty in the community college sector, the awards are designed to be flexible and allow fellows to design a residency that works best for them, from fully on-site to fully remote. The awards offer $3,500 per month in support, plus an additional $1,500 per month to defray costs associated with travel and accommodation at their selected research center.  

In addition to offering direct support for research, the program will bring fellows and other scholars together with funders and the leadership of research centers and scholarly associations to advise on the development of more inclusive infrastructure for scholars in teaching-intensive faculty roles. 

ACLS is now accepting applications for the ACLS Community College Research Fellowships, with all proposals due by December 4, 2024, 9:00 PM EST. Applicants are invited to consult the ACLS program page for more information and to sign up for an informational webinar, which will be recorded, and for office hours sessions where they can receive answers to their questions from ACLS program staff.  

This fellowship opportunity and learning project is part of the ACLS Community College Humanities Initiative, a suite of research, funding, and convening activities designed to advance the humanities in the community college sector.