From novels to Turkish research, College funds diverse faculty projects

Jen Dixon Contributing Editor

In addition to their work in the classroom, Vassar faculty contribute to the intellectual life of the College by pursuing independent research and projects. In order to provide funding for these projects, the Vassar College Committee on Research awards grants twice a year. The most recent application date was Nov 1.

Working with the College Grants Office, the Committee consists of five faculty members: Professor of Art Molly Nesbit, Professor of Astronomy Frederick Chromey, Associate Professor of Religion Judith Weisenfeld, Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Lisa Brawley, , and Committee Chair Peter Antelyes, Associate Professor of English.

Applicants submit a project abstract, a detailed project description explaining the questions to be addressed and the scholarly significance of the project, as well as a detailed project budget and budget justification.

The abstract must explain where the project currently stands. Some projects are in the earliest stages of research, while others are on the verge of completion and require financial assistance in order to publish.

The Committee typically receives about 35 applications for each deadline, and those projects with reasonable proposals receive grants.

There is no cap on the number of grants that the Committee approves.
“There’s a cap on the amount of money we can give just to be equitable,” said Antelyes. “The nice thing about being on the Committee is that we give away a lot of money.”

The final page of the application asks for explanations of previous funding from the Committee for other projects and of previous funding from the Committee or other sources for the project in question. Should the Committee lack sufficient funds for all appropriate applications, preference will be given to projects that have not previously received financial support.

While the Committee funds the majority of research requests, rising costs for typical expenses, such as publication, mean that the Committee will eventually need more money in order to adequately respond to faculty need. The money used for faculty research is drawn from endowed funds that are replenished each year. Over the years, money has been donated to this fund and directed towards certain types of projects or departments.

Faculty from diverse departments apply and receive funding from the Committee, with projects ranging from writing novels, to learning Turkish, to travelling to research libraries throughout the United States or abroad. One of the best parts of being on the Committee, according to Antelyes, “is getting to see what our colleagues are doing.”