In keeping with Lattie Coor's humanistic values, his advocacy of liberal arts education, and his interest in the relationship of the humanities and other disciplines, the Coor Endowment was established to encourage innovation and excellence in humanities teaching and research, with special emphasis on multi-disciplinary initiatives.
The goal of the Coor Collaborative Fellowships is to promote collegiality, collaboration, and multi-disciplinary scholarship, research, and creative activity. Each semester, the Humanities Center will support the formation of one multi-disciplinary cohort of up to five UVM faculty members to examine issues of pressing concern in the humanities and fine arts. Members of the cohort that receive an award agree to meet six times per semester, provide a record of their discussions, and present the results of their collaboration in a public colloquium, symposium, or performance. In addition, cohort members will provide the Humanities Center a follow-up report on the impact of the Coor Collaborative Fellowship on their research and scholarship, an itemized account of their use of fellowship award funds, and agree to serve on future selection committees for Collaborative Fellows.
Past Coor Collaboratives include: Digital Humanities at UVM (2014-15), Environmental Humanities and Arts (2015-16), Race and Racism in Academia (2016-17), Liberal Arts in Prison Program (2017-18) Medieval Manuscripts and the Modern Humanities at UVM (2018-19), and Intermedia + Technology (2019-20). Reimagining African Art at UVM's Fleming Museum (2021-22), and Jazz Among the Arts (2023-2024).
Amount and Structure of Award
Each cohort will have one Organizing Fellow ($2,500), and up to four Collaborative Fellows ($2,000 each). In addition the group as a whole will be provided with funds for collective activities ($2,500).
Collaborative Fellows Awards
$2000 in Professional Development Funds for each participating individual, up to four participating faculty members:
Collaborative Fellows agree to participate in all Fellowship activities including regular meetings and the public forum/colloquium/performance presenting collaboration results. Collaborative Fellows agree to serve on future selection committees, write a two year report on the impact of their award, and spend and account for any funds associated with their award within a period not to exceed four semesters and two summer sessions from the date of their award.
Organizing Fellows Awards
One $2500 award to be used as Professional Development Funds:
Organizing fellows have the same responsibilities as Collaborative Fellows. In addition, Organizing Fellows are responsible for scheduling Fellow meetings, organizing the final symposium, arranging the details for visiting scholars (if applicable), and managing the Coor Collaborative Fellowship Supporting Funds. Organizing Fellows will track uses of Fellowship funds and insure that Fellows spend funds within four semesters and two summer sessions from the date of their award.
Coor Collaborative Fellowship Supporting Funds
Supporting funds $2500:
The cohort will receive a budget for speakers, meals at meetings, site visits, and other expenses to be shared collectively. These supporting funds must be spent during the semester for which the cohort has received the award. Unspent funds will be reverted to the Humanities Center. The Organizing Fellow is responsible for the management of these funds. Supporting Funds may not be used for the benefit of individual cohort members without approval by the Organizing Fellow, the Directors of the Humanities Center, and the CAS Budget Office.
The Application
Applicant cohorts are invited to submit a joint proposal that:
- provides the names and affiliations of the Fellows, designating who will be the Organizing Fellow;
- proposes the theme the cohort plans to pursue for the semester and explains its importance;
- articulates the guiding questions the cohort plans to address;
- provides a rationale for the collaboration; and
- identifies anticipated outcomes of the collaboration. Cohort members from disciplines not traditionally considered part of the humanities and fine arts shall include a brief statement describing how their participation intersects with the mission of the Humanities Center and the Lattie F. Coor Endowment (by explaining, for example, how their research deals with the historical and cultural contexts and/or philosophical foundations of their field of study).
Requirements of Award
- Applicant cohorts must include UVM faculty members from a minimum of two academic disciplines or interdisciplinary fields [minimum of 0.75 FTE and 9 months]. Applications including faculty members from other UVM colleges are encouraged.
- Individual awards may be used for research and conference travel, but expenses for individual meals are NOT reimbursable by award funds.
- Awards may NOT be used for summer salary stipends for faculty or release from teaching time during the academic year.
- Recipients of Coor Collaborative Fellowships must wait three years from the date of their award before joining another cohort’s application.
- Coor Collaborative Fellows agree to serve on the selection committee for future Fellowship competitions within the next 3 semesters.
- Awards may not be used for the purchase of computer hardware.
- Funds allocated to Organizing Fellows and Collaborative Fellows must be spent within four semesters of the date of the award. Supporting Funds allocated to the cohort must be spent by the end of the semester for which the cohort has received the award.
Deadline
Deadline for applications: November 1. Proposals should be sent to uvmhc@uvm.edu.