How the Program Works

For Faculty:

Participating as a faculty fellow in the program is a great way to gain experience in public-facing undergraduate research in a supported environment alongside an interdisciplinary cohort. Here’s how it works:

Faculty can apply individually or in pairs to one of two tracks:

Undergraduate research project: for this track, faculty partner with 2-5 students to develop research projects on a topic or issue related to the local community (or an annual theme). The project must result in a public-facing outcome of some kind, rather than an academic essay or conference presentation. Examples of public-facing research outcomes include (but are not limited to):

• creative, interactive, and/or practical interventions (exhibits, curated spaces, prototypes, organizational plans, etc.)
• community engagements with local institutions or organizations
• podcasts, social media campaigns, online tools, or other digital humanities ventures
• curated interdisciplinary events (speaker series, performances, workshops, etc.).

Curriculum development project: for this track, faculty partner with 2-5 students to develop curricular projects on a topic or issue related to the local community (or an annual theme). Examples of such curricular projects include (but are not limited to):

• the development of new team-taught Core Exploration-level “big ideas” courses
• the creation of course modules and/or assignments that connect with local communities
• other curricular innovations that engage pedagogy with the public, the city of Portland and/or local neighborhoods.

Other details: 

• Faculty fellows participate both semesters and earn a $2500 stipend 
• All faculty from across UP are eligible to apply to be a fellow
• Faculty need not have identified students to work with to apply to the program; once the project is accepted, the program can help with student recruitment.

For Students:

What do Student Fellows do?

• Take a 1-credit reading course, CAS 391: “Introduction to the Publicly Engaged Humanities” in the fall with Dr. Jen McDaneld (see below for a sample syllabus). The course provides background and tools in public humanities methods with the goal of helping engage research teams’ projects with a wider community
• Enroll in one research credit per term with the faculty fellow organizing your project and participate in regular meetings with your project team (at least once every two weeks); help develop the project and conduct research under faculty guidance
• Participate in 3-4 program meetings with all faculty and student fellows in the Spring
• Help plan and participate in program events, including a Spring Showcase

What’s in it for Student Fellows?

• 3 credits total (1 credit for CAS 391 readings course in fall; 1 credit each in fall and spring for Undergraduate Research; together these can add up to an elective course toward your degree)
• Experience in undergraduate research and working closely with faculty
• The chance to collaborate with a close-knit, dedicated group of students from a variety of disciplines
• The opportunity to help shape the program and the conversation around public humanities at UP
• Opportunity to apply for the Laurie McLary PRF scholarship—a $2350 scholarship students with financial need.
  

Other details:

• recruitment for projects usually begins in the late spring or early summer; be on the look out for a call from the program during this window

The PRF Reading Course

The Public Research Fellows program was founded upon the belief that the humanities have a vital role to play in responding to the challenges facing our communities today. How can the humanities engage significant issues of our era and in our communities? And how can we connect humanistic inquiry with other disciplines to develop creative responses to those issues?

The reading course explores these questions by bringing the student fellow cohort together over a variety of texts that introduce key issues, debates, and models in the field of the publicly-engaged humanities. The goal is for students to develop a background in engaged humanities inquiry and tools that they can then bring to bear on their collaboration with their research groups. Across the semester, students will also have opportunities to learn about project management, event planning, and connecting the work they're doing in their groups with their professional development. 

 

Download a sample syllabus