Taft Nicholson Summer Faculty Fellowships

The Taft Nicholson Summer Faculty Fellowships are available to faculty in all disciplines for 1-3 weeks of dedicated writing time for scholarly pursuits of research or creative projects. Fellowships are available July 1 thru July 31. Faculty who have held a U of U faculty appointment for 1 year or more are eligible to apply. These fellowships are designed to provide intensive, dedicated, writing time for faculty to work on their research/creative agendas.

The Taft-Nicholson Environmental Humanities Education Center (TNEHEC) and the Vice President for Research will award the faculty member $1,000-$2,000 (depending on length of stay) which is intended to cover lodging, travel to and from the Center, food, and supplies. Fellows will be housed in “Thoreauian-like” cabins in University Village. The Village consists of 11 cabins, a bathhouse and a kitchen/dining cabin. Fellows may purchase meals for $65/day when courses are in session at the TNEHEC.

Application Deadline: March 31

Soundness and significance of the proposal
Proposals potential benefit to the individual, the University and the community
The chair’s evaluation of proposal

Application Form (includes department chair’s signature)
Statement of what you intend to accomplish during the fellowship. The statement should be no more than 2 pages, single spaced.
A 150 word abstract
Statement of why the TNEHEC is an appropriate location for the fellow’s residency

Applications are due March 31.

The recipient of the Taft-Nicholson Summer Fellow Residency must submit a 1 page, single-spaced, Final Report within one year after receiving the award. The following information should be included in the final report:

What researchactivities did you do with this fellowship?

The committee will not consider a new application from an investigator until a final report from the previously awarded Taft-Nicholson Summer Fellow Residency is submitted.

Please submit your final report to TNEHEC Summer Faculty Fellow Review Committee Taft-NicholsonCenter@utah.edu.

Application Instructions

The Taft Nicholson Summer Fellow Residencies are available to faculty in all disciplines for 1-3 weeks of dedicated writing time for scholarly pursuits of research or creative projects. Awards for the faculty member will be $1,000-$2,000 (depending on length of stay) which is intended to help defer the cost of travel to and from the Center and cover per diem to purchase food and supplies.

Instructions

Completed application form (including chair’s signature).
Statement of what you intend to accomplish during the fellowship. The statement should be no more than 2 pages, single spaced.
A 150 word abstract.
Statement of why the TNEHEC is an appropriate location for the fellow’s residency.
Application packet is due to the College of Humanities Dean’s Office RM 2100 LNCO or electronically to Taft-NicholsonCenter@utah.edu by March 31^st for the upcoming season.
Final selections of Fellows will be announced by April 30, for the upcoming season.
If successful in your bid for a Taft Nicholson Summer Fellow Residencies, you will be required to:

Submit a report to within one year of the end of the award period.
Submit two copies of the creative work resulting from the award.
Comply with University of Utah policy regarding all potentially patentable research. (See Policy and Procedures Manual 6-4).

Click Here to download and print out the application form (.doc)

Conditions of Residency

Summer Fellowships are designed for 1-3 weeks of dedicated writing time for scholarly pursuits of research or creative projects. As such, family, visitors, and pets are not permitted. If you have research collaborators who wish to attend, they must apply separately.

Fill up your gas tank before entering the Centennial Valley. From the West (I-15) you can purchase gas in Idaho Falls, or farther north in DuBois. From the East, the best locations to stop are either West Yellowstone or Island Park. Regardless of which way you travel, the end of your commute will be roughly 25 miles on South Valley Road. South Valley is a dirt road with some gravel surfaces. It’s well maintained but lacks cell service. We stress: checking the condition of your tires before making the trip and driving slow. We recommend driving even slower than the posted speed limit signs to avoid getting flats and also to respect wildlife. (Bluebird fledglings are often in the road and slow to take flight.) Also, when you fill up your tank, call the office and let us know where you are. That way, we can watch for you. For detailed driving directions, please visit the website. The phone number for the office is: 406-276-3320.

At an elevation of more than 6,600 feet and with plenty of sun, it is easy to get dehydrated. Bring a water bottle. Refill it often. Bring sunscreen and apply it liberally. Hats and layers are a must!

In our efforts to make the Center more sustainable, we ask everyone to bring their own toiletries. Additionally, Fellows staying in the Village are required to bring a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and a towel.

Click Here for Accomodation Information

There are no grocery stores in Centennial Valley, so plan carefully for your stay. Meals are provided ($65/day), but we encourage you to bring snacks and beverages. The Village Dining Hall has a large refrigerator and a functional kitchen.

Cell phone service is not available at the Center. There is a landline phone and wireless internet in the office. Many guests use Wi-Fi calling and Skype. Journals and sketchbooks, cameras, binoculars, and spotting scopes can all help you make the most of your experience. If you like to go fishing, bring your gear and your Montana permit.

The Centennial Valley is a wilderness area with wildlife to both admire and respect. It encompasses expansive wetlands that are a haven for waterfowl, and at certain times of the year mosquitoes. Bring insect repellent. On your first night in the valley, we will discuss bear safety and other Center protocols. For example, it is best to go trekking in groups. If you go off on a solo hike or even a solo car expedition, you must let Center staff know not only where you’re headed, but when you plan to return. We have several cans of bear spray and GPS devices equipped with emergency locators for your use, but we recommend you bring whatever makes you feel more prepared while out and about.

In the unlikely event of an emergency, the Center has an Emergency Response Plan. We coordinate with our immediate neighbors, the Red Rock Lake Wildlife Refuge staff, and the Beaverhead County Emergency Response Team. We are certified in Wilderness First Aid. Again, upon your arrival we will provide an orientation session that further outlines safety guidelines and Refuge regulations.

Please bring your medications, and please be sure to tell the Center staff, in advance, about any allergies or conditions. The following phone numbers can also be used to contact you at the Center in case of a serious emergency: 406-276-3202 or 406-276-3207.

We recycle at the Center. However, the commute to the recycling center, and the dump, takes several hours. Glass recycling is even farther away. We ask that you “pack out” as much of your recycling as possible. Additionally, we make every effort to not supply dispensable single-use bottles so as to limit the amount of trash we generate, and thus limit our trips to the dump. Thank you for your help.

Questions? Contact taft-nicholsoncenter@utah.edu.