Dean of the Faculty

Lectureship Funds

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Lectureship Funds

Each spring, the Dean's office puts out a call for applications for Lectureship Funds, which can be used to bring speakers to Brown for lectures and events in the following academic year.

Our office will call for Lectureship Funds proposals each spring.  Proposals are typically due by April 15th, and the funds may be used for lectures and events in the following academic year.  Award notifications are typically made by mid-May, and the funds will be made available for use after July 1st.

In a change from previous years, lectureship funds may be requested by department chairs, center directors, and managers on behalf of their programs. Individual faculty members should bring their own proposals to their chair or director for his/her consideration. We will consider applications for funding for departmental lecture and colloquia series in addition to special events.

Purpose

The Lectureships funds are intended to support lectures by outstanding individuals from outside the Brown community. The proposals can include a single special event and/or a series of lectures that supports the department’s or center’s intellectual and educational mission. We encourage departments to hold some of its events remotely, via Zoom.

Budget

Please note that honoraria generally do not exceed $1,000 in these budgets. For online events, the honoraria should be kept below $500. Please keep in mind that in-house speakers cannot receive honoria. Generally, room and board should not exceed $600. Please limit hospitality expenses where possible. All requests for reimbursement for entertainment expenses must be in compliance with Brown University policies. Lectureships funds may be supplemented by other university or outside sources.

Proposal Preparation

Each department is invited to submit a single proposal that can include requests for support for multiple events or series. For each event or series, please include the following information:

  • Description of the lecture topics and reasons that the event or series will interest the department and/or the Brown community.
  • Names of speakers (if known at this time.)
  • The anticipated size and nature of the audience for the lecture(s). Will the lectures attract graduate students, undergraduate students, faculty, and staff?
  • The way in which the lectures or events contribute to the department’s or university’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.
  • The budget for each event or series. Please consider carefully and enumerate the expenses you anticipate (travel, publicity, e.g.). Where possible, indicate cost sharing with other departmental funding, such as gifts or endowments.

Criteria for Proposal Evaluation

The proposals received will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Importance to the department’s and university’s intellectual and DIAP missions
  • Cost effectiveness

Application

Please send your requests (one per department) to Dean_of_faculty@brown.edu no later than April 30.

Foreign Visitors

When inviting speakers from abroad, you should inquire about current procedures for independent contractor payments to foreign visitors by contacting the Controller's Office.

Approvals

The approval of the department chair or center director is required.