College receives $400,000 grant for arts and humanities research
A $400,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will help students strengthen their research in the arts and humanities and connect it to careers in those fields – with the help of alumni professionals.
“This new program opens new doors of opportunity for our students to apply their education in real-world situations and truly understand the impact they can have on the world,” said President Leo I. Higdon Jr.
The four-year grant will support curricular development, sophomore research seminars and summer research internships – all in arts and humanities. Through the advanced research, students will build connections between their education and arts- and humanities-focused careers.
This spring a program director will lead six faculty members and six alumni professionals in creating syllabi for the sophomore research seminars. They will also develop ideas for research partnerships for summer internships.
The seminars will teach students the fundamentals of research and will help them see the reach of interdisciplinary arts and humanities research. The experience will prepare them for the program's summer research internships, and for research and internship opportunities available through the College's honors program, interdisciplinary academic centers and career office.
Students who pursue a summer of funded research through the new program will work with two mentors: a Connecticut College professor and an alumna/us professional who will help guide the student and keep the research grounded in practical applications.
“This program strengthens the teaching of research at Connecticut College, adds intellectual force to our internship program and teaches students to connect their academic knowledge to real-world issues,” said Dean of the Faculty Roger Brooks.
Sophomore research seminars are scheduled for the fall semesters of 2012, 2013 and 2014. The first summer research internships through this program will be in 2013.
January 15, 2012