Open to all tenured and tenure-track faculty, regardless of rank, in the College of Arts & Sciences or the Department of Economics, and that are members of a Taft-eligible unit. 

Applications must be submitted in a timely fashion, allowing reviewers to submit support letters prior to the close of the deadline at 5 PM on the posted day. Support letters that arrive after the close of the posted deadline may not be considered by the committee.

Applications are limited to 10,000 characters (~1,500 words) and must include the following:

• An abstract of no more than 150 words; and 
• A narrative outlining the project, including the following:
• Context for understanding the project resulting in publishable work that will result in significant contributions to the applicant's field; and an explanation of how the proposed project fits within the applicant’s established record of research; and
• A detailed project timeline of any major landmarks for the project during the project period, as well as completion and publication schedule; and 
• An account of the proposed final publication, performance or grant/ fellowship sought.

• A report on Taft fellowship awards received in the last five years; and
• An abbreviated curriculum vitae covering activity of the last five years; and
• Two letters of support (each referee will be sent a link by the application system, though email, following submission by the applicant):
  • A letter from the applicant's department head assessing the merits of the proposed project and the prospects for completion within the year of leave. The letter must commit the Department to a full-year research assignment, which releases the faculty member from teaching and administrative duties. Department Heads may support multiple applications.
  • A letter from an outside expert in the applicant's field, evaluating the merits of the proposal, the project’s significance and contributions to the field, and prospects for publication/performance upon completion.

Applicants may not bypass any component of the system, asking the committee to instead view an uploaded document. The only acceptable uploaded document is a single PDF, containing the applicant's abbreviated CV, and a list of recent Taft Fellowship awards. 

Awardees are ineligible to re-apply in the following two fiscal years.

 

• The quality or promise of quality of the applicant's work as a scholar or creative writer and as a teacher.
• The significance of the contribution that the proposed project will make to thought and knowledge in the field.
• The conceptualization, definition, organization, and description of the proposed project.
• The current state of the research, the research schedule, and the timeliness of the grant in ensuring the completion of the project.
• The likelihood that the applicant will complete the project.
• Evidence of productivity from previous Taft grants.
• Without preference to faculty rank, awardees must have demonstrated the ability to undertake and complete significant research/creative projects beyond a thesis or dissertation before the time of their application. Projects may not be mere editing, expansion, or readying for publication of a dissertation; project may include the development of external grant or fellowship applications.

• Subject to approval of the Director, other support may be accepted concurrent with the Fellowship. Full disclosure of non-Taft funds received for the proposed project, both inside and outside the University, is required.
• The Fellowships is to be awarded as an extension of either sabbatical leave or department head-granted release and requires release from regular faculty duties during the Taft-funded semester. An award requires release from regular faculty duties, especially instruction and service responsibilities, during the Taft-funded semester.
• In compensation for release of the applicant, and grantee’s department receives $9,000, to be used toward sustaining the current curriculum, absent the released faculty member, and secondarily, up to 50% of the total award may be used to forward the research mission of the department, in whatever ways maximize the use of Taft funds for departments to best enable them to release the faculty member.
• All award funds must be expended exclusively in furtherance of the grant and all expenditures of grant funds must comply with university policies relating to financial transactions, including the Code of Conduct and, as discussed in the Code of Conduct, the ethics laws of the state of Ohio which prohibit certain private financial interests in university matters. University Rule 3361:10-17-03 (D).
• Fellows agree to acknowledge support received from the Taft Fellowship in any publication/ performance resulting from the fellowship project.
• Awardees are ineligible to re-apply in the following two fiscal years.

Applications must be submitted in a timely fashion, allowing the reviewer to submit a support letter prior to the close of the deadline at 5 PM on the posted day. If not submitted by the close of the deadline, a support letter may not be considered by the committee.

A complete applicant must include the following:

• An abstract of no more than 150 words; and 
• A narrative / project statement, including context for understanding the projects contributions to the applicant's field and the applicant's professional development; and a project schedule; and an account of the proposed final publication, performance or grant/ fellowship sought; and
• If research supplement is requested, a brief budget outline with explanation of costs; and
• Abbreviated (two-page) curriculum vitae; and
• A letter of support from the applicant's supervisor (typically department head), assessing the merits of the proposed project and the prospects for completion within the applicant’s proposed research schedule, submitted independently of the applicant. Letters of support will be treated confidentially.

• The quality of the specific research project and proposal is given the highest priority; and
• Evidence that the applicant will successfully complete the project in the time frame proposed along with the applicant's scholarly promise and achievements to date; and
• Evidence of the applicant's willingness to seek non-Taft research and/or travel funding for this research project.

• No more than one summer research fellowship may be awarded in any 24-month period.
• A supplement award may not be used for travel to academic meetings.
• A faculty member may not teach during the period of award.
• All grant funds must be expended exclusively in furtherance of the grant and all expenditures of grant funds must comply with university policies relating to financial transactions, including the Code of Conduct and, as discussed in the Code of Conduct, the ethics laws of the state of Ohio which prohibit certain private financial interests in university matters. University Rule 3361:10-17-03 (D).
• Full disclosure of non-Taft funds received for the proposed project, both inside and outside the university, is required. The grant must not duplicate other funds granted for the same purpose, except when a deficit in the project budget is anticipated even with such non-Taft funds.
• Where deviations from the approved application occur, the grantee must notify the Taft Faculty Chair in writing and receive written approval for the changes. Failure to comply with this rule will nullify the grant and require return of the award.
• A final report should be submitted to the Taft Faculty Chair within 30 days of the end of the grant period.
• Publications and creative work generated with the help of Taft grants should acknowledge the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center.
• Payment is processed through payroll and subject to standard withholdings (taxes and fringe benefits).

Open to all tenured and tenure-track faculty, regardless of rank, in the College of Arts & Sciences or the Department of Economics, and that are members of a Taft-eligible unit. 

Proposals may include a variety of scholarly activities, including producing articles or books for publication, as well as external grant seeking activities for major projects. Applications need not be interdisciplinary in nature, though applicants must be committed to intellectual exchange beyond their discipline, and they must contribute to the intellectual community of the Taft Center, including attending center-sponsored events and interacting regularly with a cohort of fellows through the Taft Colloquia.

Successful applicants will have a record of completing significant research/creative projects, and will have significantly advanced their current project(s) before the time of their application, exclusive of degree dissertations. The fellowship is not appropriate for early-stage research or projects that demand significant periods of time spent away from the Taft Center, as regular meetings are required. Through their submission, applicants agree to maintain an active presence at Taft activities and participate in Taft Colloquia.

A complete application must include the following (see also Selection Criteria below):

• A proposal (10,000 characters - approximately 1,500 words - maximum) outlining the research project, including the following:
  • An abstract of no more than 150 words; and 
  • A brief project narrative and schedule detailing the major landmarks of project advancement and timeline to completion and publication; and
  • Context for understanding the project resulting in publishable work that will result in significant contributions to the applicant's field; and an explanation of how the proposed project fits within the applicant’s established record of research; and
  • Explanation of how the project may be moved forward through the specific experience of serving as a Taft Center Fellow and how the applicant might contribute to a multi-disciplinary intellectual environment; and
  • Reasonably expected outcomes, including publications, fellowships, performances, and/ or grant sought; and
  • Evidence of the work in progress, substantiating the appropriateness of award at the time of review.

• Additionally, applicants are required to report Taft fellowship awards received in the last five years; and provide an abbreviated curriculum vitae covering activity of the same period; and three letters of support (each referee will be sent a link by the application system, though email, following submission by the applicant):
  • A letter of support from the applicant's department head assessing the merits of the proposed project and the prospects for completion within the Center Fellowship year. The letter must commit the Department to a full-year research assignment, which releases the faculty member from teaching and administrative/ service duties. Department Heads may support multiple applications.
  • A letter from two outside experts in the applicant's field, evaluating the merits of the proposal, the project’s significance and contributions to the field, and prospects for publication/performance upon completion. Support letters that arrive after the close of the posted deadline may not be considered by the committee

Applications must be submitted in a timely fashion, allowing reviewers to submit support letters prior to the close of the deadline at 5 PM. Support letters that arrive after the close of the posted deadline may not be considered by the committee.

Applicants may not bypass any component of the system or ask the committee to instead view an uploaded document. The only acceptable uploaded document is a single PDF, containing the applicant's abbreviated CV and list of recent Taft fellowship awards.

• The Fellowship requires the grantee’s release from regular faculty duties during the year, including department, college, and university administrative service. Department heads must commit to making a good faith effort to sustain their current curriculum in the absence of the Center Fellow.
• Grantees are expected to be active Center members and interact regularly with other Taft Fellows to advance their own work and the work of others, which includes a regular presence at the center, by attending center-sponsored events and Taft Colloquia.
• Other than attending professional meetings and/or brief research trips, significant time away from the Center, given the residential requirement and regular meeting schedule of Taft Colloquia. 
• Grantees agree to acknowledge support received from Charles Phelps Taft Research Center Taft in any publication/ performance resulting from the fellowship project. Copies of such publications should be sent to the Taft Faculty Chair.
• Subject to approval of the Director, other support may be accepted concurrent with the Fellowship. Full disclosure of non-Taft funds received for the proposed project, both inside and outside the University, is required.
• Grantees agree to subsequently serve on the Center Fellowship Committee by request of the Taft Faculty Chair, as their schedule permits.
• In compensation for release, the grantee’s department receives $25,000 in support, to be used toward sustaining the current curriculum, absent the released faculty member, including teaching (adjunct, GA / TA) salaries. Secondarily, up to 50% of the total award may be used to forward the research mission of the department, in whatever ways maximize the use of Taft funds for departments to best enable them to release the faculty member. At the end of the award period, unexpended funds will revert to Taft.
• All grant funds must be expended exclusively in furtherance of the grant and all expenditures of grant funds must comply with university policies relating to financial transactions, including the Code of Conduct and, as discussed in the Code of Conduct, the ethics laws of the state of Ohio which prohibit certain private financial interests in university matters. University Rule 3361:10-17-03 (D).
• Grantees are not eligible to apply again for five academic years.