1. I teach full-time at a two-year or community college. What are my chances of receiving a TDF?

Your chances are the same as any other applicant's. All applicants must propose a significant research project as well as present evidence of their qualifications as interpreters of the humanities.

2. I am a graduate student. Am I eligible to apply for a TDF?

No, if you are currently enrolled in a degree-granting program. If you are teaching full time and have successfully defended your dissertation, however, and are waiting for your degree to be conferred, you are eligible to apply. Include with your application a letter from your dean or department chairman stating that you have successfully completed all requirements for the Ph.D.

3. I teach part time at a two- or four-year college or university. Am I eligible to apply?

No. The TDF program accepts applications from faculty members who carry full teaching loads, or the combined equivalent of full time teaching loads, at two-year or four-year colleges and universities. They may be tenured, tenure-track, contractual, or adjunct faculty.

4. I have combined two part-time teaching positions at two different colleges or universities to create a full-time teaching load for myself. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes. The TDF program accepts applications from faculty members who carry full teaching loads, or the combined equivalent of full-time teaching loads, at two-year or four-year colleges and universities. They may be tenured, tenure-track, contractual, or adjunct faculty. Recipients are expected to work full time on their projects, and may teach no more than ONE course per term during the fellowship period.

5. I want to continue to teach while working on the proposed project. Am I eligible to apply?

Applicants are expected to devote full time to the proposed research project, and may teach no more than ONE course per term during the award period.

6. I want to apply to create a new course out of one that I have previously taught. Am I eligible to apply?

No. Applicants must have taught the proposed course in at least three different terms to be eligible.

7. I have taught three sections of the course in one term or semester. Am I eligible to apply?

No. Applicants must teach the course in at least three different terms or semesters.

8. I want to apply but I am unsure that the program chair or dean supports the project or will offer the course, or will allow me to take time off to complete the research. Should I still apply?

Applicants are required to include a letter from the department or program chair or dean to certify that the institution supports the proposed project and will offer the course in question.

9. I want to learn a new language so I can teach texts written in that language more effectively. Am I eligible to apply?

You may learn a new language as part of the fellowship. But you must also show specifically how you will apply the newly acquired language skills to the proposed research, and you must describe the expected results in the classroom. Proposed projects that focus primarily on language acquisition or language skills are ineligible for a TDF.

10. I want to post materials from a course I teach regularly on a Web site so it will be more interesting to students. Am I eligible to apply?

NEH’s Office of Digital Humanities invites applications that use digital technology or study its impact. And in the case of digital products, NEH strongly encourages projects that will offer free public access to online resources.

You may incorporate digital technology in the proposed project. But applicants must also show specifically how the digital technology will be applied to the proposed research, and you must describe the expected results in the classroom. Proposed projects that focus primarily on digital technology are ineligible for a TDF (see Section II, below).

11. I want to apply to improve a course that enrolls both undergraduate and graduate students. Am I eligible to apply?

If the course is listed independently as an undergraduate course and enrolls a majority of undergraduate students, you may apply. Applicants must demonstrate how the proposed project encourages excellence in undergraduate teaching of the humanities. Projects that focus exclusively or primarily on graduate teaching are ineligible for a TDF.

12. I can devote a few months to my proposed research project and am unsure whether to apply for a Summer Stipend or a TDF. How can I decide?

If the proposed research is designed specifically to improve your undergraduate teaching in the humanities and is not directed primarily toward publishing, you should apply for a TDF. If the proposed project is directed specifically toward individual scholarly research in the humanities and will likely lead to a published product, you should apply for a Summer Stipend. Applicants may not apply for both NEH Summer Stipends and TDF Fellowships in a given calendar or federal fiscal year. If you apply to both programs, you will be disqualified from both competitions that year. (Note that if you have already applied for an NEH Fellowship Award, you may not also compete for a TDF in the same calendar year.)

1. I am unsure that my proposed project is best suited for the TDF program. What other funding opportunities are available at NEH for research and teaching in the humanities?

Applicants whose projects focus primarily on utilizing or studying the impact of digital technology should consult Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants and other NEH digital humanities grant programs.

Applicants whose projects focus primarily on implementing significant humanities programs or on creating instructional resources should consult NEH education grant programs.

Applicants who seek professional development opportunities should consult Summer Seminars and Institutes and other NEH education grant programs.

Applicants whose focus is primarily on individual scholarly research leading to publication should consult Summer Stipends, Fellowships, and other NEH research grant programs.

1. What help is available for preparing the proposal?

Because of the large number of applications, NEH staff members are not able to comment on draft proposals. NEH staff will, however, answer questions about preparing your proposal and about your eligibility. They may be reached at (202) 606-8200 and at TDFellowships@neh.gov.

NEH supports proposals that cross disciplinary boundaries. When selecting the project field, choose one area that best captures the central focus of the proposal.

3. My referee is unable to submit a letter online. Is there an alternative?

NEH strongly encourages referees to submit their letters online. If this is not possible, referees may e-mail letters to TDFellowships@neh.gov or fax them to 202-606-8558.

After you sign and submit the application, a confirmation page appears that includes the Grants.gov tracking number and other important information. Note the Grants.gov tracking number and save or print the confirmation page for your records.

You will then receive the following e-mail messages:

“Grants.gov Submission Receipt”

“Grants.gov Submission Validation Receipt”

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These messages are normally sent within 24 hours of the submission, but minor delays could occur in the event of heavy system usage.

The final e-mail message that will be sent a few days after the application deadline, “Grants.gov Agency Tracking Number Assignment,” contains instructions on how to retrieve the Agency (NEH) Tracking Number. Note the Agency (NEH) Tracking Number and save or print the message for your records. Include the Agency (NEH) Tracking Number in further correspondence regarding the application.

If you do not receive these messages, or if the messages indicate the application has been rejected, contact Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) at 1-800-518-GRANTS (4726) or support@grants.gov. Include the Grants.gov tracking number in correspondence regarding the application.

2. I have downloaded the NEH Supplementary Information for Individuals form, but I can’t save it or the information I enter disappears. What should I do?

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