Office of the Provost

2009 Bridging Fellowship Memo

November 10, 2008

MEMORANDUM

To: Deans

From: Ralph W. Kuncl, Provost

Subject: Bridging Fellowships

As you know, the Bridging Fellowship Program is a University-wide program that supports members of the University faculties in interdisciplinary study. Specifically, the program releases members from departmental obligations for one semester to allow them to move to another part of the University for the purpose of learning aspects of another discipline.

The process for applying for a Bridging Fellowship is as follows:

• Faculty members may submit proposals for Bridging Fellowships to the respective deans. The deans may fund meritorious proposals locally or they may request central support.

• In order to receive central support, a proposal must be approved by both the dean and by me. In addition, the proposal must meet the standards established for an academic leave as described in Section IV.E of the Faculty Handbook (www.rochester.edu/provost/FacultyHandbook/Faculty_Handbook_07082008.pdf). Specifically, the proposal must include a well-designed plan of research and must ultimately benefit the educational programs of the University.

• A written evaluation from the Bridging Fellow is required at the conclusion of the bridging semester summarizing the goals, activities, and outcomes of the experience.

Typically, the University has no more than four Bridging Fellows in a given academic year. I am unlikely to approve a Bridging Fellowship for a junior faculty member, especially one who has taken a junior leave.

If there are proposals for which the dean requests central support, please submit copies of those proposals to Kathleen Moore in my office no later than January 15, 2009.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.