Second Book Institute

July 7-12, 2024

The University of Tulsa’s Henneke Center for Academic Fulfillment invites applications to the 2024 Second Book Institute (SBI) for scholars in the humanities and other book-centered fields. This initiative is designed to help mid-career academics in need of time, structured writing strategies, and a network of mutual support to complete their second book.

Stalling at the associate professor stage is a widely recognized problem in higher education, as mid-career faculty contend with ever-growing demands for service and mentoring while managing a range of caretaking obligations. These obstacles are especially high for fields in which books constitute the primary measure of scholarly accomplishment and stand as the main requirement for professorial promotion.

In recognition of this widespread need, The University of Tulsa’s Henneke Center for Academic Fulfilment launched the Second Book Institute with funding provided by TU President Brad R. Carson. The institute is led by Laura Stevens, Chapman Professor of English, and Danielle Macdonald, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Henneke Center director.

The SBI Fellowship

We seek to gather eight scholars from a variety of fields and institutional settings. The Institute will admit seven fellows from outside The University of Tulsa and one from inside. The external fellowships include six nights at a local boutique hotel, opening and closing dinners, daily continental breakfasts and lunches, guest memberships at the University of Tulsa’s Collins Fitness Center, and stipends of $1,000 to fund travel to the workshop, assist with family care, or provide whatever the fellows determine will facilitate their ability to devote a week entirely to their own writing and community-building with the other fellows. The internal fellowship includes the meals and a $500 stipend. All fellowships include an optional follow-up online conference with Howard and online group meetings at regular intervals to provide continued mutual support in meeting writing goals.

The University of Tulsa promotes inclusion in all activities and programs and will assist all individuals to enable participation.

Application Guidelines

Applications are due January 8, 2024. Applicants should send a single PDF document with the following sections, in this order, to SBI@utulsa.edu:

1. A cover statement of no more than 1 page, single-spaced. This statement should tell us who you are, where you are in your career, what factors you see as the primary obstacles to completing your book, and how you see the Institute helping you;
2. A service CV of no more than one page;
3. A scholarly CV of no more than two pages, with education, employment history, major publications, and previous fellowships/grants that allowed writing time;
4. A book description and table of contents of no more than one page;
5. An outline of the chapter the applicant plans to work on during the Institute, with up to 10 pages of draft writing;
6. A statement, of no more than one page, explaining why the applicant has chosen this sample to focus on during the Institute;
7. The name and email address of one recommender. This recommender should send a letter of reference directly to SBI@utulsa.edu. The letter should attest to the applicant’s service contributions as well as to their scholarship.

All submitted text should be in 12-point font with one-inch margins, single-spaced, with page numerals in the lower right-hand corner. Applications that do not fit the guidelines or do not meet the deadline will not be considered.

A panel of external experts will review the applications and select the fellows. Application materials will be held in strict confidence, with only the SBI’s directors, support staff, and external evaluators having access. Applicants will not receive comments on their applications. Applicants will be notified by March 15, 2024, and will have two weeks to accept or decline the fellowship. If an applicant declines the offer, the next highest-ranked applicant will be contacted until all positions are filled.