University Research Committee (URC) Faculty Fellow Awards

Application Part A
Application Part B

Instructions to Applicants

The Faculty Fellow Awards are available to tenure track faculty in all disciplines to provide a semester of release time on full salary for scholarly pursuits of research or creative projects. Release time can be taken no earlier than fall semester of the next academic year and must be taken within 2 years from the date of the award. Faculty members who have held a regular University of Utah faculty appointment for one year or more are eligible to apply.

The criteria for proposals will be similar to those used for Faculty Research and Creative Grants. Likewise, the exclusion will be similar: commercial projects, curriculum development, and faculty or career development (e.g. taking courses, attending professional meetings, etc.) may not be the primary feature of the proposal.

The URC awards the sum of $7,500 to the department to defer the cost of the awardee’s release time. Applicants may also apply for a Faculty Research or Creative Grant to carry out their research/creative agenda during their release time.

Major considerations in evaluating proposals are:

  1. Soundness and significance of the proposal.
  2. The proposal’s potential benefit to the individual, the University, and the community.
  3. The chair’s and dean’s evaluation and priorities in regards to released time.

An application consists of ten copies of the following:

  1. Part A completed by applicant.
  2. Part B completed by department chair and college dean.
  3. List of all academic leaves with a description/function of leaves.
  4. Curriculum vita or biographical sketch, whichever is shorter.
  5. Precise statement of what you intend to accomplish during the award period. The statement must be limited to no more than a one-page, single-spaced abstract, and three, single-spaced, typed pages.

Applications are due in the applicant’s departmental office by October 2. Department chairs must forward the applications to their dean by October 9. Deans must forward the applications to the Vice President for Research Office at 210 Park Building by 5:00 p.m., October 16. Notification of the award will be made in January .