Forms and Funding

Did you or another current Syracuse University faculty/staff member or student write or edit a book this year (copyright 2025) that contributes to the humanities, broadly conceived? Tell us about it in this brief survey ... any time before December 12, 2025. Eligible books are showcased at an annual spring celebration.

To broadly support humanities research and public engagement, we foster connections across the University and with wider community through co-sponsorships and other collaborations.

The Humanities Center has modest co-sponsorship funding available to support free, inclusive activities (i.e., no tickets or registration fees required) that align with our mission and take place within the academic year. We generally cannot support events that overlap with others on our schedule, therefore, please refer to our calendar listings as you plan.

Co-sponsorship proposals are considered on a rolling basis through the year, but it is to your advantage to apply as far in advance of your event date as possible -- a minimum of 2 weeks lead time is required.

Submit your co-sponsorship request here.

Questions before you submit? Email humcenter@syr.edu.

Apply by January 31, 2025

The Office of Research and Syracuse University Humanities Center invite all full-time scholars with book projects in the pipeline from any discipline/field to submit a request for support to enroll in the Book Proposal Shortcut led by Laura Portwood-Stacer of Manuscript Works, author of The Book Proposal Book.

About The Book Proposal Shortcut

If you’re hoping to pitch your book to a scholarly publisher, support for this program enables you to gain access to Laura Portwood-Stacer's structured curriculum to help you stay on track as you identify target presses, draft your book proposal, and make a submission plan. This is a self-paced, online course designed so that you work independently and at your own pace.

Shortcut enrollees will be invited to periodic live Q&As that Dr. Portwood-Stacer holds via Zoom a few times per year (tentatively scheduled to begin in September 2025). These sessions provide a further opportunity to interact with Dr. Portwood-Stacer, meet fellow participants, and ask any specific questions you may have about book proposals, scholarly publishing, and your own publication journey.

Syracuse Symposium events range from scholarly lectures and book talks to exhibits, film screenings, theater, music, and dance performances, workshops and more, relating to the annual theme.

Proposals for our 2025-26 series focused on the theme "CREATIVITY" are due March 7, 2025.

• View or download the Call for Proposals with FAQs.
• Ready to submit? Apply here!

Download a sample HC Faculty Fellowship (Arts and Sciences) Call for Proposals / application form.

This deadline has passed. [Friday, October 11, 2024] The next opportunity will open in Fall 2025 for Spring 2027 Fellowships.

Download a sample HC Faculty Fellowship (Arts and Sciences - SYMPOSIUM) Call for Proposals / application form.

This deadline has passed. [Friday, October 11, 2024] The next opportunity will open in Fall 2025 for Spring 2027 Fellowships.

Download a sample HC Faculty Fellowship (Maxwell) Call for Proposals / application form.

This deadline has passed. [Friday, October 11, 2024] The next opportunity will open in Fall 2025 for Spring 2027 Fellowships.

Two (2) fellowships will be awarded to students who have reached candidacy and are entering their final year of completing dissertations in an eligible Ph.D. program in the College of Arts and Sciences (English, Philosophy, Religion, or Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition). The dissertation or project must show evidence of strong humanities content and methods and contribute to advancing one of the eligible areas of study within the Humanities.

Eligibility & Requirements:

• Applicants must already have passed qualifying exams and/or the prospectus defense (or equivalent) and demonstrate clear promise of completing their dissertation or project during the fellowship year.
• Applicants must already be advanced to doctoral candidacy in one of the following departments in Arts and Sciences: English, Philosophy, Religion, or Writing Studies Rhetoric and Composition.
• Fellows must be on campus and in residence at the Center throughout the academic year, meet regularly about their research, and participate in Humanities Center activities and events.
• Fellows are expected to give a public presentation about their dissertation research to engage graduate students and faculty across the Humanities.

Download the AY26 HC Dissertation Student Fellowship application form.

Apply by Noon, Friday, February 7, 2025.

Humanities New York and its nine partner universities comprising the Humanities Centers Initiative invite project proposals* from advanced graduate students focused on public humanities work.

Projects already in development are highly encouraged, with preference given to applicants who have not previously earned Humanities New York support.

Up to two fellows will be selected from Syracuse University applicants, each receiving $4,000 in funding. Those awardees will have the opportunity to apply for up to $1,000 in additional support from the SU Humanities Center.

Graduate students from any discipline are welcome to apply, provided that one's proposed project engages some segment of the public as collaborator and audience and utilizes the tools and methods of the humanities in its content and execution. Projects that engage with issues of social justice and equity are particularly welcome. This fellowship is not designed for work solely conducted or contained within the walls of the university (e.g., curriculum development or dissertation research).

• View or download HNY's application FAQs.
• View or download HNY's Call for Proposals.

HNY's application portal is now open. Apply by March 31, 2025.

*This initiative has been offered as a fellowship (pre-2020 and post-2025) and as a project grant (2021-2024).

In this brand new biennial offering, two (2) post-doc fellows will be selected for two-year terms (July 1, 2024 - June 2026) -- an ideal opportunity for scholars interested in combining publicly-engaged research, teaching, and programming as preparation for academic or professional careers.

Next call for applications: Fall 2025 (please check back!)

Watson Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Humanities

Now awarded biennially, the Humanities Center invites proposals for potential candidates -- prominent humanities scholars, writers, and artists -- to serve an on-campus mini-residency as "Jeannette K. Watson Professor" during a flexible time-frame equivalent to 2 business weeks. Proposals are reviewed by members of the Advisory Board.

Preview a sample Call for Proposals.

This deadline has passed. [Friday, Nov. 1, 2024] The next opportunity will open in Fall 2026 for a Spring 2028 residency.

Learn more about funding and research supports available for collaborative groups and activities across the 11 institutions of the CNY Humanities Corridor:

• Working Group Call for Proposals
• Director-led Annual Writing Retreat opportunity

PAUSING RESERVATIONS: Due to anticipated Facilities / ITS work to take place in Tolley 304 this spring, we are currently not accepting any bookings for March or April. We will update this page once we know more. Thank you for your patience!

The Humanities Center has two reservable spaces (maximum capacity = 30) prioritized for humanities scholarship and research activities, especially those supported by the Humanities Center and CNY Humanities Corridor. Please read through the online Room Request form for other room details and policy notes.

NOTE: Due to the sheer volume of such requests, HC spaces are not available for students' film / video projects.

The Humanities Center and CNY Humanities Center lockups are available for use under appropriate circumstances. Contact humcenter@syr.edu or cnyhumanities@syr.edu with questions.

To apply a logo to your HC- or CNY Humanities Corridor- supported publicity, select an image below for "SAVE AS..." options.