Sam Taylor Fellowship Fund

Creating Opportunity For Professional Development

The late Sam Taylor set aside income from his estate to fund continuing education and development of faculty members at United Methodist-related colleges and universities in Texas. Grants may be used for graduate study or postgraduate research. The institutions in Texas are Huston-Tillotson University, McMurry University, Southern Methodist University, Southwestern University, Texas Wesleyan University and Wiley College. Full-time faculty at these colleges and universities are encouraged to apply. Funds are limited, and the fellowships are competitive. The Division of Higher Education at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry is responsible for administering the endowment.

GUIDELINES

Any full-time faculty member of a United Methodist-related institution of higher education in Texas is eligible. Administrators who hold faculty rank also are eligible, although full-time teaching faculty will be given priority. Visiting professors are not eligible. If you have received an award during the 2023 – 2024 academic year, a final report must be turned in before you can apply for the 2024 – 2025 academic year.

A fellowship may be granted for: tuition, fees, housing and expenses incurred in academic work leading to a graduate degree or significant postgraduate study;
OR
expenses incurred in researching or writing a thesis (or equivalent project) for a terminal degree;
OR
expenses incurred in a research project which advances the intellectual, social, or religious life of Texas and the nation. Awards are not made for the following:
  1. travel not associated with graduate study or a specific research project
  2. instructional materials
  3. instructional equipment
  4. travel to make presentations or attend conferences
  5. salary for the research

Each proposal must be submitted electronically as one PDF file and should include the following in this specific order:
A. Faculty member’s curriculum vitae (no more than 4 pages) · name and address of applicant · institution and instructional or administrative area · years employed at the institution · tenure status · degrees earned (citing institution and dates) · major publications, if any
B. An executive summary of the project (1 – 2 pages) which includes: · details of the educational or research plan · outcomes expected, including degree earned, publication, or presentation, if planned · timeline for the project · the role of the project in the applicant’s professional goals
C. A detailed budget with narrative projecting the total cost of the project and indicating any other sources of funding expected to assist with the project (1 page)
D. Letters of recommendation from both the applicant’s president and academic dean. Note: Each proposal/PDF file must be named in the following order: Institution’s initials, faculty member’s first initial and last name, Sam Taylor, 2024 – 2025. (Example: SMU VSmith Sam Taylor, 2024 – 2025.)
  • Huston-Tillotson University – HTU
  • McMurry University – MU
  • Southern Methodist University – SMU
  • Southwestern University – SU
  • Texas Wesleyan University – TWU
  • Wiley College- WC
Failure to comply with the above process will disqualify the proposal. All proposals must be emailed from the VPAA’s office in a single email.

The deadline for applications is November 15, 2024. Notifications from the awards committee will be emailed to the institution’s president by December 6, 2024. Funding will be disbursed by December 20, 2024. Projects should not be scheduled to begin before December 31, 2024.

Proposals will be evaluated by an awards committee of the Division of Higher Education following priorities established by the division. Primary criteria for judgment include:

  • the significance of the project and the quality and clarity of the proposal
  • the professional and intellectual development of the applicant
  • the value of the project to the institution, community, state or nation
  • the project’s sensitivity to value questions confronting higher education and society

The awards are up to $2000.

Recipients of Sam Taylor Fellowships shall submit a final report to the awards committee at the conclusion of the study or research funded by the grant. Applications for future funding will not be considered unless a final report is on file. If publications result from the project, copies should be filed with the committee at the time of publication.
Send PDF copy of the proposal via email to cbanks@gbhem.org
Sam Taylor Fellowship Award Committee
Division of Higher Education
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
The United Methodist Church
The deadline for applications is November 15, 2024.

Email: cbanks@gbhem.org