Research Intensive Semester

The Provost and the Dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts support the Research Intensive Semester (RIS) program developed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Society of Professors.

The program gives HFA departments the ability to offer tenure-track junior faculty members who meet the eligibility requirements a “research-intensive semester” during which they can focus on those projects critical to their upcoming tenure review. In this context, we use the word “research” to include a broad range of creative and scholarly work. 

This award:

  • Provides a one-semester release from teaching duties for the purpose of performing research in support of tenure.
  • Is available to any faculty with the rank of Assistant Professor may apply to take RIS in their 3rd year of service.

Since it is neither a leave nor a sabbatical, participants continue to be available for advising, service, and other departmental responsibilities. 

How to Apply

Faculty wishing to take RIS in the next academic year should notify their department chair before the end of September.  Department chairs will be asked in mid fall to submit to the dean’s office a list of faculty intending to take RIS in the next academic year.   

After the department’s annual budget meeting, faculty will be notified of college approval. Recipients will be asked to submit a brief description of the research, scholarly, or creative work on which they will focus during their release semester. 

Who to Contact

For more information, please contact:

  • Amy Fleig, afleig [at] umass [dot] edu (afleig[at]umass[dot]edu) 

  • Tony Tuck, atuck [at] classics [dot] umass [dot] edu (atuck[at]classics[dot]umass[dot]edu)