Faculty Funding
Porter College provides a range of grants and endowed funds to support faculty in advancing creative projects, research, and teaching. From visiting artists and poetry to productions and festivals, these opportunities enrich the academic and cultural life of UC Santa Cruz.
Porter Distinguished Visiting Artists & Lecturers
Eligibility
All Senate and Faculty Fellows of Porter College are eligible to apply for Distinguished Visiting Artist and Lecturer Funding to support projects that will take place in the year following the year of application. Grants take the form of matching funds, not to exceed $5,000 per proposal.
Evaluation of Applications
The College Provost, in consultation with the College’s Executive Committee, shall determine the final status of all applications for funding.
Priority will be given to proposals that enhance the intellectual life of Porter College and are likely to appeal to a broad spectrum of its affiliates. Proposals to bring artists and lecturers to campus in conjunction with a course must include a provision either for the presentation to be open to students and faculty who are not associated with the course or for the visitor to give a second presentation for a general audience.
Proposals that enhance the Porter College curriculum—for example, by bringing a visitor to participate in a Porter course—are especially encouraged.
How to Apply
The annual application deadline is the second Friday in April. Applications should be emailed to Shraddha Waghela, College Academic Manager, at swaghela@ucsc.edu. Results will be announced by the end of the spring quarter. **Please note that funds will be distributed after fiscal close for the AY of application (typically in August).
In order to receive full consideration, applications must have four clearly labeled parts:
- Cover Sheet
- Proposal
- Budget
- Endorsement (in the case of applications from Associate Fellows) from the applicant’s faculty advisor
The cover sheet must include the applicant’s name, department or program affiliation, quarter of graduation (if applicable), email address, phone number, and the amount requested. The cover sheet should also indicate when the visit is scheduled to take place, its duration, and the required venues.
The proposal, which should be no longer than 750 words, must describe how the grant would be utilized and which campus constituencies would benefit from the proposal.
The budget must itemize all costs associated with the completion and presentation of the project, including those for which Porter funding is not sought. These costs may include honoraria, travel, lodging, technical support, publicity, and other aspects of the proposed visit. The budget should also clearly identify any other sources of funding that have been sought, along with the amounts requested, and whether those applications have been successful.
In the case of applications from undergraduates and graduate students, the faculty advisor’s endorsement must clearly state that the application is, to the best of their knowledge, an accurate representation of the costs associated with the proposal.
Finally, a submitted application constitutes an acknowledgement that the applicant is aware that Porter College will not provide any administrative support for the proposal and makes himself or herself responsible for all necessary arrangements associated with the visit, including but not limited to: the payment of honoraria; arrangements for travel, lodging, and parking; and the creation and distribution of publicity.
Porter College Mini-Grants
Eligibility
All Senate and Faculty Fellows of of Porter College are eligible to apply for mini-grants to support projects that will take place in the year of application.
Evaluation of Applications
The College Provost, in consultation with the College’s Executive Committee, shall determine the final status of all applications for funding.
Priority will be given to proposals that enhance the intellectual life of Porter College and are likely to appeal to a broad spectrum of its affiliates. Proposals to bring artists and lecturers to campus in conjunction with a course must include a provision either for the presentation to be open to students and faculty who are not associated with the course or for the visitor to give a second presentation for a general audience.
Proposals that enhance the Porter College curriculum—for example, by bringing a visitor to participate in a Porter course—are especially encouraged.
How to Apply
Applications, which will be reviewed on a regular basis, should be sent electronically to Shraddha Waghela, College Academic Manager, at swaghela@ucsc.edu. Results will be announced within one month of the application.
In order to receive full consideration, applications must have four clearly labeled parts:
- Coversheet
- Proposal
- Budget
- And (in the case of applications from Associate Fellows) the endorsement of the applicant’s faculty advisor
The coversheet must include the applicant’s name, department or program affiliation, quarter of graduation (if the applicant is a student), email address, phone number, and amount requested. The coversheet should also indicate when the visit is intended to take place, how long it will last, and what venues will be needed.
The proposal, which should be no more than 750 words, must describe how a grant would be used and what campus constituencies would benefit from the proposal.
The budget must itemize all of the costs associated with the completion and presentation of the project, including those costs for which Porter funding is notsought. These costs might pertain to honoraria, travel, lodging, technical support, and publicity, as well as to other aspects of the proposed visit. The budget should also clearly identify what other sources of funding have been sought, in what amounts, and whether those other applications have been successful.
In the case of applications from undergraduates and graduate students, the faculty advisor’s endorsement must clearly state that the application is, to the best of his or her knowledge, an accurate representation of the costs associated with the proposal.
Finally, a submitted application constitutes an acknowledgement that the applicant is aware that Porter College will not provide any administrative support for the proposal and makes himself or herself responsible for all necessary arrangements associated with the visit, including but not limited to: the payment of honoraria; arrangements for travel, lodging, and parking; and the creation and distribution of publicity.
Porter College Production Funding
Eligibility
All Fellows and Associate Fellows of Porter College are eligible to apply for Porter College Production Funding for projects that will take place in the year following the year of application. Grants will take the form of matching funds, not to exceed $5,000 per proposal.
Evaluation of Applications
The College Provost, in consultation with the College’s Executive Committee, shall determine the final status of all applications for funding.
Priority will be given to proposals that enhance the intellectual life of Porter College and are likely to appeal to a broad spectrum of its affiliates. Proposals made in conjunction with a course must include a provision for the production to be open to students and faculty who are not associated with the course.
Priority will also be given to productions that take place at Porter College, are offered in conjunction with Porter College courses, and/ or require the participation of Porter College students and faculty.
How to Apply
The annual application deadline is the second Friday in April. Applications should be sent electronically to Shraddha Waghela, College Academic Manager, at swaghela@ucsc.edu. Results will be announced by the end of the spring quarter.
Please note that funds will be distributed after fiscal close for the AY of application (typically in August).
In order to receive full consideration, applications must have four clearly labeled parts: a cover sheet, a proposal, a budget, and (in the case of applications from Associate Fellows) the endorsement of the applicant’s faculty advisor.
The cover sheet must include the applicant’s name, department or program affiliation, quarter of graduation (if applicable), email address, phone number, and the amount requested. The cover sheet should also indicate when the production is scheduled to take place, its duration, and the required venues.
The 750-word proposal must describe how the grant would be utilized and which campus constituencies would benefit from it.
The budget must itemize all costs associated with the completion and presentation of the production, including those for which Porter funding is not sought. These costs may include honoraria, travel, lodging, technical support, publicity, and other aspects of the proposal. The budget should also clearly identify any other sources of funding that have been sought, along with the amounts requested, and whether those applications have been successful.
In the case of applications from undergraduates and graduate students, the faculty advisor’s endorsement must clearly state that the application is, to the best of their knowledge, an accurate representation of the costs associated with the proposal.
Finally, a submitted application constitutes an acknowledgement that the applicant is aware that Porter College will not provide any administrative support for the proposal and accepts responsibility for all necessary arrangements associated with its production.
Hitchcock Modern Poetry Fund
The Hitchcock Modern Poetry Fund provides enduring support for poetry at Porter College and UC Santa Cruz, thanks to a generous gift in 2002 from George Hitchcock, a renowned publisher, poet, painter, and Lecturer Emeritus at the University. Following Hitchcock’s death in August 2012, the poet Marjorie Simon honored Hitchcock’s life and work, and his hopes for poetry at Porter College, by donating an additional $500,000 to the Fund. Today, the Fund generates approximately $20,000 each year, to be distributed in grants for projects that will be completed in the year following the year in which funding is sought.
Eligibility
All UCSC faculty, including lecturers and emeriti, are eligible to apply to the Fund. Applications for funding initiated by undergraduates and graduate students must be submitted by a UCSC faculty member who agrees to be an advisor to the project. Proposals from students and faculty who are affiliated with Porter College are especially welcome.
Evaluation of Applications
The College Provost, in consultation with Porter’s Executive Committee and the Poetry Advisory Committee, shall determine the final status of all applications to the Fund. All successful applications will propose projects of high quality that are likely to involve, affect, or be of interest to the UCSC community and the Porter College community in particular. All proposals must describe the benefit of the project for students or faculty who are affiliated with Porter College. This criterion will be an important factor in the selection process.
Funds may be requested in any amount. However, applicants should be advised that requests ordinarily exceed the amount of available funding, and therefore many requests will likely be denied.
How to Apply
The annual application deadline is the second Friday in April. Applications should be sent electronically to Shraddha Waghela, College Academic Manager, at swaghela@ucsc.edu. Results will be announced by the end of the spring quarter.
Please note that funds will be distributed after fiscal close for the AY of application (typically in August).
In order to receive full consideration, applications must have four clearly labeled parts:
- Cover Sheet
- Proposal
- Budget
- In the case of student applications, the endorsement of the applicant’s faculty advisor
The cover sheet must include the applicant’s name, department or program affiliation, quarter of graduation (if the applicant is a student), email address, phone number, and the amount requested from the Fund.
The proposal, which should be no more than 750 words, must describe how a grant from the Fund will be used.
The budget must itemize all costs associated with the completion and presentation of the project, including those for which Porter funding is not sought. The budget should also clearly identify any other sources of funding that have been sought, along with the amounts requested, and whether those applications have been successful.
In the case of applications from undergraduates and graduate students, the faculty advisor’s endorsement must clearly state that the application is, to the best of his or her knowledge, an accurate representation of the costs associated with the proposal. The endorsement must also clearly and explicitly state the faculty advisor’s commitment to guiding the project to completion.
Finally, a submitted application constitutes an acknowledgement that the applicant is aware that Porter College will not provide any administrative support for the proposal and makes himself or herself responsible for all necessary arrangements associated with the visit, including but not limited to: the payment of honoraria; arrangements for travel, lodging, and parking; and the creation and distribution of publicity.
The Pavel Machotka Chair in Creative Studies
Named in honor of Pavel Machotka, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Provost Emeritus of College V, and founder of the Aesthetic Studies Major, these college chairs are intended to enhance the participation of Porter fellows in the intellectual and social life of the College and, in doing so, to increase the opportunities that Porter students have to form relationships of lasting consequence with the people who teach them. They are also intended to encourage innovative teaching, research, and creative work by College fellows, enrich and diversify the Porter College curriculum, and support the activities of Arts Division faculty and faculty from other divisions who make significant contributions to the College and its mission.
Every other Spring quarter, Porter College will appoint one Machotka Chair for a term of two years. Each recipient of a Machotka Chair will receive a total of $30,000 in activity funds, and the use of the title “Pavel Machotka Chair in Creative Studies at Porter College.” The recipient must include a significant pedagogical component to their project, such as independent studies, ensemble, or two-credit course to be taught as an overload. Details of the pedagogical component will be agreed upon between Porter Provost, recipient, and home department/unit. No later than the fall quarter following the end of year two, Machotka Chairs will share their work with the Porter College community in the form of a lecture or other appropriate presentation.
In the first year of the appointment, a recipient of a Machotka Chair will receive $15,000 in activity funds, to be used for research or other pedagogical/course or professional activities related to the project. During the second year, another infusion of $15,000 will be distributed for the same purposes.
The term of the Machotka Chair shall begin on 1 July and continue for two years. Recipients must spend all of their awarded funds within twelve calendar months of the conclusion of the second year of the fellowship, and they must submit a budget to the College Provost, documenting that they have done so, by the end of the twelve-month grace period (July 1, year three).
Please note that funds will be distributed after fiscal close for the AY of application (typically in August).
Eligibility
Porter College fellows who are members of the Academic Senate shall be eligible to apply for the Pavel Machotka Chairs in Creative Studies at Porter College. For information on how to become a Porter fellow, please contact the College Provost.
Applicants must secure the approval of their department or program chair in order to receive the Machotka Chair. This approval must be accompanied by a statement that the department or college and dean would approve the applicant’s request for a voluntary and temporary willingness to accept the Porter College appointment to teach a two-credit course or its equivalent (ensemble, independent studies, or the like) as an overload. This will allow for participating students to receive credit, increasing their investment in the faculty project, while also providing an organized structure for the faculty member to meaningfully involve undergraduate students and expose them to the inner workings of their project through mentorship. While this would be taught as an overload, this would be a course undertaken purely in service of the approved project, toward its successful completion.
The Machotka Chair may not be held more than once in a five-year period. Applying to and participating in this program is a completely voluntary activity. In no event shall the terms of the Machotka Chair supersede applicable University policy and/or collective bargaining agreements.
Evaluation of Applications
In evaluating applications, the College Provost, in consultation with a selection committee appointed by him or her, shall take a number of factors into account: the value of the course that the applicant proposes to teach and the contribution that the course would make to the Porter College curriculum; the relationship between the proposed course and the creative or scholarly project from which it arises; the coherence of the candidate’s creative or scholarly project and the likelihood that it would benefit from developing in the context of the proposed five-unit seminar; the likelihood that the project would reflect well on Porter College and the University; and, especially, evidence of the candidate’s past engagement with Porter College and its students.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted every other year, during odd-numbered years. For example:
Submit Spring 2025 to begin July 1, 2025 (Term July 1 2025 – June 30 2027)
Submit Spring 2027 to begin July 1, 2027 (Term July 1, 2027- June 30, 2029)
Submit Spring 2029 to begin July 1, 2029 (Term July 1, 2029- June 30, 2031)
Applications consist of five parts:
- A cover sheet that includes the applicant’s name, title, department or program, project title, email address, phone number, and a list of significant contributions that the applicant has made to the Porter College community (apart from teaching in a divisional major or program);
- The approval of the department or program chair;
- A statement of no more than 1250 words that explains the importance of the applicant’s work, why it would benefit from development in conjunction with undergraduate teaching, and how it would enrich the educational experience and/or professionalization of Porter students;
- A pedagogical plan that clearly describes the goals of the course or pedagogical component to be taught in conjunction with the Chair and gives detailed information about readings, assignments, and activities; and
- A line-item budget that estimates all costs associated with the applicant’s course and research or creative project.
To receive full consideration, complete applications must be submitted to Shraddha Waghela, College Academic Manager, at swaghela@ucsc.edu by the second Friday of April. Results will be announced by the end of the spring quarter.
Please note that funds will be distributed after fiscal close for the AY of application (typically in August).
Finally, a submitted application constitutes an acknowledgement that the applicant is aware that Porter College will not provide any administrative support for the proposal and makes himself or herself responsible for all necessary arrangements associated with pedagogical component, public presentation, etc., including but not limited to: the payment of honoraria; administrative support; arrangements for travel, lodging, and parking; and the creation and distribution of publicity.
Please see our page with past and current Machotka Chairs for previously awarded projects.
Porter College Festival Funding
In support of festivals and conferences related to the arts, Porter College awards matching funds in an amount not to exceed $10,000 per application. These substantial grants are meant to encourage unusual events that will achieve all of the following goals:
- Contribute to the education of Porter undergraduates, and to undergraduate and graduate students across the University, in ways that explicitly enhance the resources that the campus already offers
- Provide public venues in which UC Santa Cruz faculty may present and discuss their work
- Bring distinguished artists and scholars to the campus in order to share their work and interact with UC Santa Cruz students and faculty
- Call attention to UC Santa Cruz as a national and international center of activity in the arts
Although Porter Festival Funds may be used to pay administrative costs associated with events, the greater part of the funding must be spent on the honoraria, publicity, programming, and technical support related to the proposed festival. Note: It would be inappropriate to use Porter Festival Funds to defray ordinary operating costs and salaries associated with ongoing departmental or divisional facilities and personnel at UC Santa Cruz.
In evaluating applications, the Porter Provost and Executive Committee will consider a number of different factors in addition to the cost and viability of the proposal and the applicant’s prior contributions to the intellectual and social life of the College: the degree to which the application makes provisions for the education and involvement of Porter undergraduates in the proposed festival; the relationship between the goals of the application and the priorities and needs of Porter College and the Arts Division at the time of application; and evidence of insightful and discerning collaborative planning by all faculty sponsors of the proposed festival.
How to Apply
The annual deadline for applications is the second Friday in April. Applications should be sent electronically to Shraddha Waghela, College Academic Manager, at swaghela@ucsc.edu. Results will be announced at the end of the spring quarter.
Please note that funds will be distributed after fiscal close for the AY of application (typically in August).
To receive full consideration, applications must have three, clearly labeled parts: a cover sheet, a proposal, and addenda. Excluding the addenda (described below), applications must not exceed 10 double-spaced pages in length.
The cover sheet must include:
- The names, departments, ranks, and contact information of all faculty organizers, clearly identifying those applicants with primary responsibility for managing the festival and those applicants playing a supporting role
- The title of the festival
- The dates proposed for the festival
- The venues proposed for the festival
- The estimated total cost of the festival
- The exact amount of Festival Funding sought from Porter College
- One concise paragraph describing the purpose of the festival (250 words)
The proposal must include:
- A 500-word executive summary of the application that makes a compelling argument for the festival
- An event-by-event description of the festival, including dates, times, and venues of each event, along with the names of UCSC faculty and other participants
- Specific plans for the involvement of Porter undergraduates and other students as participants (not merely spectators) in the festival
- A timeline leading up to the festival that establishes when participants will be chosen and expected to commit to the event; when reservations for venues, travel, and accommodations will be made; when the employment period for necessary administrative staff will begin and end; when publicity for the festival will begin and end; what forms publicity will take
- A line-item budget that clearly estimates all costs associated with the festival, including costs for which Porter Festival Funding is not sought
- A statement of all funding already in hand and still to be sought from other sources
- Note: If you are proposing a Porter course in conjunction with the festival, the proposal must include a course description and draft syllabus, and the line-item budget must include a salary for the instructor, along with the costs for any required course support.
The addenda must include:
- Letters of interest from funded and unfunded UC Santa Cruz faculty and external participants, making explicit reference to the roles that they will play
- Letters from the Chairs of participating departments and programs, assessing the relationship between the proposed festival and the priorities of the departments or programs in question
- Any correspondence concerning the availability of the proposed venues during the festival’s time frame
Finally, a submitted application constitutes an acknowledgement that the applicant is aware that Porter College will not provide any administrative support for the proposal and makes himself or herself responsible for all necessary arrangements associated with the visit, including but not limited to: the payment of honoraria; arrangements for travel, lodging, and parking; and the creation and distribution of publicity.