The Appalachian College Association’s Faculty Fellowship Program is the longest-running program of the ACA. It furnishes substantial support toward the professional development of faculty members at its member institutions and is open to all academic areas of study. The Fellowship Endowment is supported by the generosity of foundations, member schools, and individual contributions. The ACA received its first major grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 1991 for the continued support of the Faculty Fellowship Program. The ACA completed a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2000, which further boosted the endowment for faculty fellowships and development. Awards may be provided to faculty in any discipline. Semester fellowships honoring John B. Stephenson (Arts and Sciences), Wilma Dykeman (Education), and Jean Ritchie (Visual and Performing Arts) may be awarded each year. Over the history of the program, the ACA has distributed nearly 550 awards totaling nearly $9.4 million.
Eligible faculty members may seek support through one of three programs:
- One-Semester Professional Leave Fellowships: Faculty may apply for funding to support professional leave/sabbatical from their institution for a full semester. An application may seek up to a maximum of $20,000.
- Summer Research Fellowships: Faculty may apply for support for their research during a summer term, up to a maximum of $7,500.
- In-Year Research Fellowships: Faculty may apply for support for release from their standard institutional duties during a semester in the academic year, or over a full academic year, up to a maximum of $10,000.
For more information on eligibility and how to apply, go to the website: https://www.acaweb.org/professional-development/faculty-fellowships/
