Internal Funding Sources
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences and George Mason University offer several competitive programs in support of faculty research and scholarship.
Faculty Research and Development Awards (FRDA) funded by CHSS, are short-term awards that are designed to help CHSS tenured and tenure-track faculty initiate new programs of research and scholarship or enhance existing ones.
Study Leave for Tenured Instructional Faculty, funded by the Provost, are intended to provide paid temporary leave for the support of advancing scholarly research, teaching, and/or creative activity, including the development of innovative teaching approaches and methods. The college encourages its full-time, tenured faculty with six or more years of completed service at George Mason University at the time of application to pursue this opportunity.
Study Leave for Term Instructional Faculty was established by Faculty Handbook revisions approved by the Board of Visitors in July 2021 (see Faculty Handbook section 3.6.2 Leave Programs for Instructional Faculty). For Term Faculty in CHSS, study leave activities may include, but are not limited to:
- Creation and/or revision of pedagogical materials and methods.
- Scholarly and/or creative activities that draw or reflect on the faculty member’s teaching.
- Scholarly and/or creative activities that maintain and/or develop knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant to the faculty member’s teaching.
- Other activities which support the ongoing missions and/or current initiatives of the department or program, College, University, or other professional communities to which the faculty member belongs.
Further information, including eligibility criteria, application procedures, and conditions of the award are available on the Study Leave for Term Instructional Faculty link above.
International Conference Travel Supplements provide funds to help defray a portion of travel costs for international overseas conference participation. The College recognizes the value of faculty participation at prestigious international conferences. All CHSS tenured and tenure-track faculty may apply for a travel supplement if they are scheduled to present at an international conference. The maximum travel supplement is $500.