Application Deadlines and Off-cycle Requests

The Boston University Humanities Foundation offers many different programs, and we recognize that it can be difficult to keep up with the deadlines. Beginning in AY 2009–10, there will be two opportunities to apply for Project Awards, as opposed to the one annual opportunity offered in the past. In an effort to make these deadlines as easy to remember as possible, we have established the following yearly deadlines, and we will make every effort to stay on this calendar in future.

The yearly application deadlines are as follows:

Jeffrey Henderson Senior Research Fellowships          October 15
Humanities Enhancement Project Awards                    November 15
Junior Faculty Fellowship Applications                          December 1
Humanities Enhancement Project Awards                    March 1
Library Acquisition Awards                                             March 1
Student Awards                                                                 April 1
Publication Production Awards                                     Rolling deadline

Days of the Week

By setting all our deadlines on the first or fifteenth of the month, we will sometimes have a deadline that falls on a Saturday or Sunday. In that case, we shall expect all applications to reach us—either in hard copy or in electronic form—before 9 a.m. the following Monday morning. Please do not ask us to consider late applications. If you are missing a component, such as the supporting letter from your chair, let us have your materials on time, and urge your chair to send the needed letter as quickly as possible thereafter.

Planning Projects Ahead of Time

The Humanities Foundation has set aside funds to be allocated up to three years in advance for large projects that require extensive advance planning. Early applications may be especially helpful in cases where the organizers are submitting grant proposals to outside funding sources and need to show an institutional commitment. If you are planning a project that will take place sometime after the next academic year, please make every effort to apply to us by the earlier deadline (November 15), especially if your request is a large one. We also welcome applications for events to take place in the next academic year on that earlier schedule, and will allocate significant funds at that time. Faculty planning projects with smaller budgets may use the later deadline (March 1). Regardless of when you apply, please furnish detailed plans and precise budgets. Experience has shown that the Executive Committee tends to respond negatively to vague estimates.

Off-cycle Requests

The Humanities Foundation realizes that on occasion sudden opportunities appear that could not have been planned for ahead of time or within the time frame of our usual deadlines. In these cases, faculty should call or e-mail the office to let us know of a pending Off-cycle application. Using the regular application form and procedure, please send us a complete application as soon as possible, with all supporting materials and a detailed budget. Be sure to include an explanation of why this proposal was not submitted in one of the two regular cycles. The Executive Committee will not consider off-cycle requests that do not include a complete application.