The American Center of Oriental Research

THE AMERICAN CENTER OF ORIENTAL RESEARCH

AMMAN, JORDAN

ACOR-CAORC FELLOWSHIPS

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANT

2015–2016

(Please read carefully)

I. Eligibility

ACOR-CAORC (Council of American Overseas Research Centers) applicants must be graduate students (MA or pre-doctoral) and United States citizens. Awards cannot be given to non-U.S. nationals or to U.S. resident aliens.

Concurrent non-ACOR awards are permitted, but the ACOR Fellowship Committee must be informed in case adjustments have to be made.

II. International Travel

The fellowship provides travel funds for the awardee. ACOR-CAORC award recipients must adhere to the United States government's Fly America Act. Jordanian visa applications are available to U.S. citizens at Jordanian Consulates, on the web, or from the ACOR Boston office. You are strongly urged to use a passport that does not bear an Israeli stamp for entering Jordan and for travel to other countries in the region.

III. Local Travel

The fellowships are for research in Jordan. Brief visits to other countries in the area are possible and encouraged. Fellows, however, are obliged to spend at least 75% of their fellowship term in Jordan. The remaining 25% may be used in travel to other Middle Eastern countries. ACOR fellows are not permitted to travel to countries under U.S. travel restrictions.

IV. Research and Study Itinerary

Applicants must schedule their research between August 15, 2015 and December 31, 2016 and their period of research must be continuous.

In the event of an emergency that necessitates a change in the study itinerary or travel plans presented in the original proposal, approval should be sought from the ACOR Fellowship Committee. Fellows are expected to conduct full-time research.

V. Fieldwork and Research Permits

If your research or fieldwork will require an official permit issued by the Jordanian Department of Antiquities, you must provide the Fellowship Committee with proof that the permit application process has been initiated.

If your research or fieldwork will involve interviews, questionnaires, or survey of living human subjects, you must provide the Fellowship Committee with proof that all necessary Institutional Review Board (IRB) inputs and approvals from your home institution have been or will be obtained. Applicants are also required to provide the name and contact information of the current director of IRB at the home institution.

VI. ACOR Facilities

The ACOR institute in Amman is a residential research facility housing up to 56 scholars at any given time. The ACOR library contains some 40,000 books and periodicals. While the library collection emphasizes archaeology, art history, anthropology, and ancient Near Eastern studies, it also contains many works on Middle Eastern religions, Biblical studies, political science, economics, history (medieval and modern), and related topics. The ACOR Library catalogue can be checked in advance through the ACOR website (www.acorjordan.org). Requests for new materials may also be submitted through the website. Fellows should note that other libraries are available in Jordan, including the University of Jordan library located a ten-minute walk from ACOR. ACOR also has a lecture room, conservation laboratory, computer facilities and other technical equipment, kitchen facilities, and communal lounge areas.

VII. Statement of Non-political Activity

By accepting an ACOR fellowship, the recipient agrees not to engage in any activities, political or other, that may cause problems for the host country, the United States government, or ACOR.

VIII. Interim and Final Reports

Fellows whose award terms are for four months or more will submit an interim report (of approximately two to four pages) to the ACOR Director when the first half of their fellowship term has been completed. All fellows are required to submit a final report (specific directions will be provided) to ACOR at the end of their award term. Final reports should be submitted to the ACOR Director in Amman, and a copy to the ACOR office in Boston, within 60 days of completing the fellowship term. A sum of $250.00 is withheld from the awardee's stipend and will be remitted when the report is received. Fellows may be asked to give a public lecture or fellow’s talk (to be arranged by ACOR) during the award term.

IX. Allocation of Funds

Transportation funds will be available before departure. In Amman funds are disbursed on a monthly basis by the ACOR Director, in U.S. dollars or Jordanian dinars. An alternate schedule of disbursement is possible (if required for the research project) at the discretion of the ACOR Director.

X. Award Amount

The ACOR-CAORC Fellowships include the cost of an economy class round-trip ticket from your point of departure to your point of return. ACOR will pay the travel agent directly (if you are departing from the U.S. or Canada) for international travel and ensure that the requirements of the Fly America Act are fulfilled. The cost of this ticket will depend on individual circumstances.

The ACOR-CAORC Fellowship is for a maximum of $23,800 for six months. It includes:

(a) $3,000 for travel and travel related expenses. ACOR purchases the ticket according to the requirements of the Fly America Act; the remainder should be sufficient for Jordanian visa and exit fees, shipping and excess baggage expenses, local travel, and international health insurance;

(b) $1,800 per month for housing; this is a fixed fee allocated directly to ACOR (if a spouse accompanies the awardee, there is an additional charge of $800 per month to be paid by the fellow);

(c) $1,500 per month stipend paid to the awardee;

(d) $1,000 in field research funds, if eligible and the appended Field Research Grant Application is approved. The Research Grant Application must be submitted at the time of the CAORC Fellowship application.

All fellowship awardees must inform ACOR if they receive funds from any other source to support work on their project. Your ACOR award may be adjusted accordingly. If the duration of the fellowship term is altered, the amount of the award will also be adjusted.

XI. Expenditure Records

ACOR-CAORC fellows must present receipts for field research expenses (see IXd above). Fellows are not required to account for their monthly stipend or allowance, but they may wish to keep records for tax purposes and future planning.

XII. Selection

Applications will be evaluated by the ACOR Fellowship Committee and a panel of reviewers experienced in the Middle East, and Jordan in particular, and representing a broad range of academic disciplines. Final selection is determined by the ACOR Fellowship Committee.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS

A. DEADLINE

The deadline for all applications and supporting documents (including letters of recommendation and transcripts) is February 1, 2015. Complete applications and all supporting original documents must be received at the ACOR Boston office on or before that date.

B. ALL APPLICATION MUST BE SENT AS EMAIL ATTACHMENTS

Applicants should download this Microsoft Word file and fill in all pertinent sections using Times New Roman 12 point font (or similar). You should set your paper size to US Letter and maintain one-inch margins on all four sides. The required Health Insurance and Waiver Forms will be mailed later to successful applicants. Letters of recommendation and transcripts must come directly from your referees and institute.

Please check your application carefully before submitting it to the ACOR Fellowship Committee. Failure to follow directions or answer all questions may disqualify you from consideration.

C. TRANSCRIPTS: See Item 10c below

Applicants must arrange to have copies of their transcripts sent to the ACOR Fellowship Committee. First year graduate students should submit both graduate and undergraduate transcripts. Only official transcripts sent directly to ACOR from your registrar's office, and bearing the registrar's seal, will be accepted. Transcripts forwarded by the applicant will not be accepted. If your registrar's office is unable to comply with these instructions, call the ACOR office in Boston to discuss the situation.

D. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: See Item 14

Signed letters of recommendation should be sent by post, fax, or by e-mail PDF attachment directly to the ACOR Fellowship Committee by your referees. All letters must be received in the Boston office on or before the deadline. The letters should address your academic qualifications and experience for the proposed project. At least one letter should comment on your ability to live and work in a communal setting.

E. HEALTH INSURANCE AND WAIVER FORMS: See Item 16

The successful applicants will receive two forms with their award letter. Both forms must be completed, signed, and returned with your acceptance letter. Incomplete forms will not be accepted. All ACOR awardees must carry health insurance for the period of their award term.

F. INSTRUCTIONS FOR U.S. APPLICANTS RESIDING OVERSEAS:

(1) Make every attempt to submit your application before the deadline. Contact the ACOR office in Boston (), before the deadline to determine if your supporting documents have arrived.

(2) Before you begin work on the application set your printer attributes to US Letter (8 x 11 inches) and all page margins to one inch.

(3) Applicants are strongly urged to provide the name, address, and contact numbers for a person in the U.S. who is willing to act on your behalf during the application process. This person should be someone who is able to contact you and, if necessary, your registrar's office and the persons who will be writing letters of support on your behalf. You need to notify this individual that you have given their name to ACOR.

G. ACOR AND ASOR

ACOR, the American Center of Oriental Research, and ASOR, the American Schools of Oriental Research are separate organizations, although they share the same address. Direct all ACOR correspondence to ACOR (tel. 617–353–6571).

AMERICAN CENTER OF ORIENTAL RESEARCH (AMMAN, JORDAN)

ACOR-CAORC FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION 2015–2016

Please check here _____ if you are applying for CAORC Field Research Funds

Submit 1 copy of the complete application. Please type (single sided and double space). Your name should appear on each page. Use this page as your cover page (type or print).

Use this page as your cover page (use non-Italic, non-Bold font and single space). The following pages of your application should be double spaced, 12 point font, and 1 inch margins. Your name should appear on each page.

1. Name

Present Address

Phone:/ E-mail

Permanent Address (or write same)

2. Date of Birth (month/day/year)

I am a U.S. citizen (Y/N)

(note: only U.S. citizens are eligible for CAORC Fellowships.)

3. Student status: M.A. program (Y/N) or Ph.D. program (Y/N)

Number of semesters completed towards your degree,

4. I learned of this application from

Date of Application

I have previously received an ACOR or ASOR fellowship or grant (Y/N)

Name of previous award and year awarded

5. Specific dates of the project (dates must conform to the terms stated on the cover sheet)

from (month/day/year) : to (month/day/year) :

Total number of months of proposed research project: (calculate correctly)

Number of dependents, if any, to accompany you if award is granted

6. Name of Graduate Studies Program

Faculty Advisor

University

University Address

Advisor or Department

Phone: Fax:

E-mail:

Continue with Nos. 7–17 in sequential order.

**The second page of your application should begin with No. 7, the title of your research project.

**Do not include this and the following page of instructions in your application packet, but number your responses to correspond to the order of the instructions and number each page of the application.

**Your responses should be typed and double spaced on single sided pages and your name should appear on each page.

7. Summary research information:

(a) Full title of proposed research or study project.

(b) One paragraph summary or abstract of your project.

8. Statement of proposed research (limit this to eight double spaced pages, including bibliography, which may be single spaced):

(a) Give a full description of the intended research and why it is important. Include your research itinerary and intended length of stay at ACOR. Fellows are obliged to spend at least 75% of their fellowship time in Jordan. The remaining 25% may be used in travel to other Middle Eastern countries.

(b) State your qualifications for the proposed program.

(c) If the anticipated project is directly related to other research in progress, describe the relationship.

(d) Describe the final form you expect your research to take. An acknowledgment of ACOR and CAORC support must be included in published reports of the project.

9. Financial Resources:

(a) List all other applications for financial support you have made in connection with the proposed research. ACOR must be informed if you accept other awards; the amount of your ACOR fellowship may be adjusted.

(b) How do you plan to finance any balance of the proposed research?

10. Educational History:

(a) List in chronological order the institutions of higher learning that you have attended. Give dates of attendance and degree awarded.

(b) Give the name of the institution in which you are currently enrolled and the expected date for completion of your M.A. or Ph.D. degree.

(c) Indicate that you have requested the appropriate transcripts. See Item C above.

11. Experience:

(a) Describe any scholarships, fellowships, and honors received, especially in teaching, research, and fieldwork. Describe other experience and expertise related to your project.

(b) In the case of relevant or long-term employment, provide names and addresses of employers, position titles, and dates of employment.

(c) Provide complete bibliographic citations (with page numbers) of your scholarly publications. Do not send reprints or papers.

12. Describe all prior travel to the Middle East; give duration of stay, dates, and the purpose of your visit.

13. State your language competence in the primary language in which research will be conducted.

14. Provide the name, address, and telephone number of the three persons you have asked to write letters of recommendation. Arrange to have the references sent directly to the ACOR Boston office before the application deadline. If you are a pre-doctoral student, one of the letters must be from your dissertation chairperson, principal advisor, or department chair (identify which one). See Item D.

15. State your intention to submit a Final Report to ACOR within two months after the end of the award period. A portion of the grant will be withheld until the Final Report is received.