Eddings Opportunity Grants for English Majors
Eddings Opportunity Grants are funded as part of a generous bequest from David Eddings, class of 1954, and are dedicated to the support of English majors’ research, scholarship, and writing.
Among the kinds of things that will be supported are:
- Student attendance at professional meetings (which would include travel and per diem expenses).
- Unusual research expenses for theses (and perhaps even for junior seminar projects).
- Summer projects, a few of which might involve collaboration with a member of the faculty, but most of which would either have to do with bringing an already written essay (such as part of a completed thesis, or a particularly excellent course paper) into shape for submission to a journal, or for engaging in new research and writing that is especially promising.
Upon completion of the project, recipients will file a report, together with a copy of whatever scholarly or creative work resulted from the project. Recipients are required to give a presentation on the supported work to the English department the following fall semester.
By the terms of the bequest, eligibility is restricted to majors in English; awards will normally go to juniors or seniors, and will normally not exceed $3,000.00. Seniors graduating in the spring are eligible for summer support.
Students interested in applying for an Eddings Opportunity Grant must consult with and obtain support from a member of the English department. The formal application process starts with the application (Application Form) and involves a description of the project, together with a budget, and a confidential letter of recommendation from a member of the department. Students should also consider other opportunities for fellowships and grants such as the Initiative Grants, Locher Creative Scholarships, Ruby/Lankford/Mellon, McGill Lawrence Internship, Davis Projects, etc., when appropriate.
There are two opportunities to apply each year, once in the fall, again in the spring. Applications must be typed and submitted to Adam Aristo, aadam@reed.edu. Electronic submissions are preferred.
Fall 2024 deadline: Wednesday, October 15, 2024 at 11:59 P.M.
Spring 2025 deadline: Wednesday, April 15, 2025 at 11:59 P.M..
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are Eddings Grants available for projects taking place during the academic year?
Eddings funds will not be awarded for activities that conflict with classes, except in extraordinary circumstances: attending or participating in a conference on a writer who is the topic of a student's thesis, for example.
Will group proposals be considered?
Group proposals will be considered by the committee, but need to rise to a high level since they have the potential to exhaust the resources available for a given funding cycle.
What is the typical amount of an Eddings grant?
The maximum grant will be typically be $2000, and the committee also welcomes applications for smaller grants. In truly exceptional circumstances a grant of up to $3000 may be made.
Will proposals submitted after deadline be considered?
No, except in truly extraordinary circumstances, such as when a deadline is announced with an exceptionally short turnaround time, or when a student gets accepted belatedly to a program. Any such exceptions would be limited by the funds remaining. Late submissions without compelling reason will not be considered by the committee.
What does a strong grant proposal look like?
See this page for examples of strong Eddings proposals that received funding.
Can creative projects be funded?
Yes, creative projects are eligible for Eddings funds.