December 4, 2023
UW System Fellowship
Call for Applications for 2024-2025
Deadline: Thursday, February 22, 2024
Access application information and link to digital application on the IRH fellowships
webpage: https://irh.wisc.edu/irh-fellowships/ (scroll down to “external fellowships”).
The Institute for Research in the Humanities (IRH) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
is pleased to offer up to four fellowships each year to humanities faculty at University of
Wisconsin System campuses, with release time from all teaching and service for 1
semester. UW–Madison will provide up to $5,000 to the home institutions of UW System
fellows visiting the IRH and the University of Wisconsin System will supplement each
fellowship awarded with an additional $7,500 to the fellow’s home institution. These funds
($12,500) are provided to the fellow’s home institution and are to be used exclusively for
defraying the cost of full teaching release and release from any non-compensated service
for one semester. Fellows are provided an IRH office space, some support services, and
access to university facilities (libraries, databases) at UW–Madison. One-semester fellows
with additional funding from their home institutions are invited to remain in residence at
the IRH for the full academic year and may extend their non-stipendiary appointments at
UW–Madison through the summer. However, fellowships may not be deferred.
UW System fellows are expected to participate in the intellectual life of the IRH by
attending the weekly Monday seminar (3:30 - 5:00 pm), utilizing their campus office, and
giving a seminar presentation at the IRH (schedule permitting). Fellows are also
encouraged to join the weekly afternoon teas, and other IRH events as time and interest
permit. Please consult the IRH’s website (irh.wisc.edu) for more information about other
fellowships and activities.
The IRH accepts applications from former UW System fellows after seven years from the
end date of their prior IRH fellowship. Those who were UW System fellows in the 2016-2017
season or before are eligible to apply this fall for 2024-2025 fellowships.
Required Application Materials
• UW System digital application. The application can be accessed at the following the
URL: https://forms.gle/D3kBrJkWftETvYzQ7
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• Project Proposal. Up to 1,500 words (about 5 double-spaced pages of 12-point font).
The proposal should address the significance of the project. Clearly state the
intended product of your research, whether it is a book or an article (or series of
articles). For book projects, an outline of chapters is highly recommended. For
revisions of dissertations, substantive change is expected; explain how the book
will differ from the dissertation. The proposal should also state how the project will
be accomplished, and the specific work plan for the period of the grant. The UW
System Fellowship does not typically support editions, anthologies or translations.
• Project Bibliography. Publications (not your own) relevant to the project, up to 2
pages.
• Curriculum Vitae. Including work forthcoming and in progress.
• Letter from Home Institution. (E.g., department chair and/or dean) attesting to full
release from teaching and service for the semester of the fellowship.
• Two Letters of Recommendation. Each must address the significance and
feasibility of the proposed research, quality of the proposal, qualifications for the
project, and past work. Letters must be emailed directly to IRH from the letter
writer: inf[email protected] by 11:59PM CT, Thursday, February 22, 2024.
• Additionally, before beginning the online application, please have the following
information ready:
o Your UW System HRS Employee ID #.
o A shortened 100-word abstract for your project/book (this is different than
the full project proposal document above).
o The name, title, and email address of 2 individuals who will be submitting
recommendation letters for you.
Online Application and Attachment Specifications
• The UW System Application form is available here:
https://forms.gle/D3kBrJkWftETvYzQ7.
o We highly recommend that you prepare your application materials ahead of
time and complete this application in one sitting. The application will take
about 30-40 minutes to complete.
o We cannot guarantee that your answers will be saved if you close this
application before finishing section 6 and clicking the final "Submit" button.
While working on the application, you will be able to navigate backwards to
previous sections to change an answer, but you will not be able to proceed to
the next section until you have answered all required questions. Once you
submit the form, you will not be able to change your answers.
o Have all of the application materials listed below ready to upload (saved as
pdf documents with the appropriate naming conventions) before beginning
the application.
• You will upload the required application attachments (proposal, bibliography, CV,
release letter) into the online application form. Make sure all required attachments
are separate PDF files. Convert your files to pdfs before beginning the application.
• Attached files must be named using the following naming format. This helps us
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track your application among all the simultaneous IRH fellowship competitions and
archive your materials:
UWSystem_2024-2025_LastName.FirstName_Proposal.pdf
UWSystem_2024-2025_LastName.FirstName_Bibliography.pdf
UWSystem_2024-2025_LastName.FirstName_CV.pdf
UWSystem_2024-2025_LastName.FirstName_ReleaseGuarantee.pdf
• Once the form is submitted, changes cannot be made.
• If you have trouble uploading files when submitting the application form, email
[email protected] for assistance. In your email subject line, please mention that you
are applying for the UW System Fellowship.
Letters of Recommendation
• The two letters of recommendation required should address the significance and
feasibility of the proposed research, quality of the proposal, qualifications for the
project, and past work.
• Letters should be sent in pdf format directly to IRH (info@irh.wisc.edu) from the
recommender. Letters must be received by 11:59 pm CT on February 22, 2024. IRH
does not send a prompt to letter writers requesting the letters, so please share the
instructions below when requesting your letters.
• IRH receives a large volume of applications and letters for multiple fellowships. To
assure your application is received and processed quickly, please copy-paste the
instructions below and send them to your letter writers:
o Convert letter files to pdf format. Do not send Word documents.
o Create the letter on official letterhead whenever possible. Do not send
unsigned letters.
o Make sure that the file name includes at least 1) "UW System
Recommendation," 2) the application year (2024-2025), 3) the
recommender's last name, and 4) the applicant's last name. Example:
"UWSystem_2024-2025_ Jane.Doe_Recommendation_John.Doe.pdf"
o Email the letter as a pdf attachment directly to the Institute
2024.
o Include both "UW System Fellowship" and the applicant's name in the email
subject line when sending the pdf. Please do not send blank emails from
copy/scanning devices.
Deadline
• Application materials and application form submitted online (by applicant): 11:59 pm
CT Thursday, February 22, 2024.
• Letters of recommendation emailed to IRH (by recommenders): 11:59 pm CT Thursday,
February 22, 2024
• Notification: Late March or Early April 2024.
Inquiries
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• For substantive questions about projects and proposals, contact Steven Nadler,
IRH Director ([email protected]; 608-262-8151).
• For all other questions about this fellowship and the application process, including
funding, seminars, and offices, contact Katie Apsey, IRH Administrator/Associate
Director (apsey@wisc.edu; 608-262-3855).
• If you have trouble uploading files or submitting the application, contact the IRH
Project Assistant, for assistance ([email protected]du). In your email subject line,
please mention that you are applying for the UW System Fellowship.
