Tenure-Track Faculty Writing Award

The Center for RIDGS (Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender, and Sexuality) Studies is offering a limited number of awards, in the form of one-semester course buyouts, to junior faculty members working in RIDGS areas who are near completion of a book or other manuscript. We prioritize faculty in RIDGS departments/units. 

This award is intended to provide the crucial time required to focus on and complete a major writing project. We encourage applications from junior faculty members in their third, fourth or fifth year of the tenure track. The Tenure-Track Faculty Writing Award is made possible through the generous support of the Ruby Pernell Fund.

Guidelines and Review Process

  • The course buyout will need to be used in fall 2025 or spring 2026.
  • A committee of faculty from RIDGS departments and programs will review applications and determine awards based on eligibility, merit, and demonstrated need. Selected applicants will be informed by March 21.
  • Factors involved in determining award recipients include:
    • Relevance and proximity of the work to RIDGS fields
    • Demonstrated need of the award and quality of work plan
    • Importance of the project to receiving tenure or other retention-related considerations

Application Requirements

  1. Download and fill out the RIDGS Ruby Pernell Tenure-Track Faculty Writing Award Application Form (PDF), including an endorsement from your department chair.
  2. Prepare a 1–2 page description of your project.
  3. Prepare a 1–2 page work plan describing how you would use the awarded time to complete your project.
  4. Please combine all of these documents into one PDF document. Email that PDF to [email protected] by noon on Monday, March 3.

Deadline

The RIDGS Ruby Pernell Tenure-Track Faculty Writing Award submission deadline is March 3 at noon (Central Standard Time).

Applicants will need to download and submit the RIDGS Tenure-Track Faculty Writing Award Application Form for consideration.

For questions, please email [email protected].