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May Seminars Program
May Seminars are intended to support innovative curricular experimentation and the development of collaborative teaching initiatives; proposals that bridge disciplinary boundaries are especially welcome.
Designed by faculty, for faculty, May Seminars convene fellow scholars in informal workshop settings to brainstorm and/or pilot new approaches to teaching and learning.
It has been the convention for these seminars to meet immediately after commencement, which is how the program acquired the name "May Seminars." In fact, the meetings take place at a variety of times over the summer, depending on the schedules of participants.
Outcomes of previous May Seminars include, for example, proposals for new interdisciplinary academic programs, new or redesigned course descriptions, curriculum evaluations or assessments, teaching material development, and studies of potential uses of innovative instructional technologies.
Principles & Guidelines
The intrinsic merit of the proposal is the primary consideration.
Proposals are considered by the Charles Center and A&S Dean's Office leadership, which applies the following principles:
- All members of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences as defined by the by-laws of the Faculty who are not emeriti, who are actively teaching, and who hold a contract for full or part-time employment from the College with a commitment for renewal beyond the summer for which a grant is sought are eligible to apply.
- Eligible applicants may submit one proposal per year.
- An applicant who has received a May Seminar is expected to have shown a tangible result when applying for subsequent seminars.
- An applicant for a May Seminar who has not received a seminar in any of the previous three years will, other things being equal, be given priority.
- A May Seminar grant recipient who has secured outside support for a project, but in an amount less than he or she would normally receive from the May Seminar, will be granted the difference.
For questions regarding May Seminars, please contact Ben Boone at [[biboon]].
To apply for a May Seminar, please use this .