College Scholar Awards

Updated 8.26.2026

TheCollegeofArtsandSciencesCollegeScholarAward(CSA)programwillprovideone semester ofcourse replacement funds to enable tenured faculty to pursuescholarly/creative work activities.Thefunds will be provided to the recipient’s department tofund costs of course replacement that occur during the semester the award recipient is released from teaching.These awards can be used in conjunction with a sabbatical (although sabbatical isnot required).Fifteen total awards will be available this cycle: 4 for the Natural Sciences, 3 for the Arts & Humanities, and 2 for the Social Sciences, in addition to six awards which will be granted to the strongest proposals, regardless of divisional affiliation.

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The following criteria apply. At the time of application:

  1. Applicantsmusthavebeenfull-time tenured faculty members for at least two years with a tenure home in the College of Arts and Sciences.
  2. Atleastfouryearsmusthavepassedsincetheapplicant’slastUniversityof Colorado at Boulder sabbatical.To be eligible, the faculty member’s last sabbatical would have been in Spring 2022 or earlier.
  3. If the applicant has not previouslytaken a UCB sabbatical, they must have heldafull-timeUCB CollegeofArtsandSciencestenure-streamappointment for at least four consecutive years.

If you have questions about your eligibility, please inquire with your department HR liaison. If questions remain, email as_dean@colorado.edu who may then communicate with A&S faculty affairs if needed.

B. Applicationprocedure

Each applicant should notify their Chair / Director of their intention to apply for a College Scholar Award well before the application deadline. (It is advised that the faculty applicant submit their application to their Chair / Director by 15 October).Unit size and adequacy ofteaching coverage will be considered in determining the number of applications. Specifically, one application per unit will be accepted from units with 15 or fewer tenure-stream (tenure-track/tenured, i.e., TTT) faculty. Two applications can be considered from units with more than 15 but less than or equal to 30 TTT faculty. Three applications can be considered from units with more than 30 TTT faculty. If a unit has more than the requisite number of applicants, the unit Chair/Director/Executive Committee should decide which proposals will be forwarded to the College.

All applications are due by 12 noon on Nov. 2.

All information and inquiries should be sent electronically, in *one* PDF (including the letter of support from the Chair, Director, or Executive Committee), to as_dean@colorado.edu. Applications must include the following, in 12-point font.

  1. A concise (750 words or less) description of the proposed activitiesduring the award period, including the title and goals of the project.The descriptionshouldbegeneralinnatureexplainingthevalue, importanceand timeliness of the project.

    Whenever possible avoid technical details; the description should be understandable to people not experienced in the field. In order to avoid conflict of interest, any member of your department who may serve onthe awardscommitteewillnotbepresent duringtheevaluationofyourproposal. Because your proposal may be evaluated by scholars/artists outsideyour field, it should be written so it can be understood by faculty in otherdisciplines.

    Theproposalshouldexplainwhytheprojectdemandsextratimeanddescribe what is exceptional about the project.

    ǷٳڱǷɲ󾱱ɾԳ󲹲ԳٳԻ徱岹ٱ’sscholarly/creative work and/orteaching capabilities and potentially impact the candidate’s scholarly/artisticcareer.

    Theproposalshouldbeself-contained:onlyinformationintheproposal description can be considered.

    Finally,pleaseincludeastatementexplainingwhetherornottheawardwill be used in conjunction with a sabbatical.

  2. A vitae no longer than 3 pages.If applicable, include the date(s) of previoussabbatical(s).Provide a list of selected publications, performances, exhibitions, screenings and service performedand recognition, honors, awards and/orfellowships. Forthepastfouryears,listcoursestaughtandanyexternalfunding awards (includingsource, dates, amount, and your role as PI, co-PI, etc.).

    پDzԲɳ󾱳泦ٳ貹ɾٳܰԱ.

  3. Applicants must obtain a letter of support from the unit Executive CommitteeorChair/Director (nomorethantwopages)regardingthe applicant’sproject and record of accomplishment including:
    1. ٳԳ’sٲٳܰھ
    2. ٳǰٲԳǴٳ䳧ٴٳԳ’sDZ/پپ
    3. Գ’sԲٳܰԻܲٲǴٱ𲹳󾱲Բ
    4. applicant’scurrentteachingcommitmentanddescriptionof “normal” teaching commitment in this unit
    5. ԴڴǰپDzdzܳԲ𱹾dzܲ𲹲پ,Գܻ徱Բپ,ڱǷɲ󾱱,dzܰܲdzܳٲ,ٳ.

C. GeneralinformationabouttheCSAprocess

  • Previous recipients of the College of Arts and Sciences’ College ScholarAwardwillevaluate proposalsandmakerecommendationsto the Dean.
  • ճDZ𲵱DZɲmust be taken in any one of the four semesters beginning the fall semester after selection.
  • ճٱ𲹲ɾԴdzپڲٳܲԾ󲹾/پ𳦳ٴǰǴٳɲ𳦾辱Գٲ.
  • According to A&S records:
    • The following units currently have more than 15 but less than or equal to 30 TTT faculty: AAH, ANTH, APPM, APS, ATOC, BCHM, CHEM, ECON, ENVS, GEOG, HIST, IPHY, MATH, MCDB, PHIL, PSCI, SOCY.
    • The following units currently have 30 or more TTT faculty: EBIO, ENGL, ERTH, PHYS, PSYC.

D. Additionalinformation

  • TheCSAprogramisintendedtoprovideonesemesterofteachingreleasethatwill allow awardees to pursue scholarly/creative work.
  • Although not required, these awards can be used in conjunction with a sabbatical. When taken in conjunction with a sabbatical these (sabbatical and College Scholar award) should be used in series, not in parallel, and are subject to approval by the supervising Dean in accordance with the course buy-out policy. If the award is used in conjunction with a sabbatical, the CSA can be taken before or after the sabbatical. Faculty should consider the implications of the timing of the sabbatical on the timing of future sabbaticals.
  • The College Scholar Award is only a release from teaching duties and does not imply a release from other duties or leave of absence from the university. Faculty award recipients should expect to remain in residence at the university during the period of the award.
  • CSAfundsareprovidedthroughtheLeaves&Replacement(L&R)processforone semester of replacement costs while the faculty is released from teaching.
  • TheunitwilluseCSAfundstopayforreplacementlecturercostsduringthe semester the awardee is released from teaching.
  • ճɲ𳦾辱ԳɾٱԱٳ𳾱ٱٳɲԳٴܱܰ scholarly/creative work (no teaching).
  • Therecipients’unitchair/directorwillrequestreplacementlecturerfundsthrough the L&R process for the semester the award recipient is released from teaching.
  • Theunitchair/directorshouldcoordinatewiththeirrespectiveDivisionalDeanto identify the CSA replacement funding in their L&R request.
  • ճɲɾDzԳپԳܱٴ貹ܲܲ.