Annual Conference CSA 2012 Travel Grants Call for Applications

For the 2012 Annual Conference in Le Grosier, Guadalupe, from May 28 to June 1st, the CSA is able to offer a limited number of travel grants, aimed at assisting the following applicants: a. Young graduate Ph.D. students (35 or under). Priority is given to those residing and working in the Greater (insular and continental) Caribbean, but applications are also welcome from candidates from the rest of the world. b. Full-time scholars with institutional affiliation from under-resourced Caribbean nations (specifically Haiti, Cuba, and Guyana). This category is also open to applications from artists and writers, from the same nations, with a relevant proposal to the conference program. c. Retired and independent outstanding applicants with no institutional affiliation and from under-resourced Grater Caribbean nations, mainly Haiti, Cuba and Guyana. The aim of this grant is to assist current and potential members who do not have access to any funding from their institutions or countries, and who will not be able to attend the conference without assistance. We ask applicants to consider carefully the requirements, selection criteria and restrictions below. Candidates can apply for either of the two types of grants: partial (an amount to help cover the participation in the conference) and full (an exceptional grant including only airfare, accommodation and per diem). In all cases, the number of awarded grants will depend on the limited budget available and mainly on the donations made by the members and institutions during the (pre-) registration process. The grant application is personal, and must include the following documents: 1. Title and abstract of the paper or other proposal sent to the Program Committee. If the applicant is part of a pre-organized panel, the general details on the panel (title, names of other presenters and titles of their papers) should also be indicated. 2. Acknowledgement of receipt by Program Committee. 3. Summarized Curriculum Vitae (not more than 2 pages) with emphasis on the current teaching, research, or artistic activities, as well as publications or exhibitions. 4. An applicants personal statement of why they should be awarded the grant. This is a summary of what they will bring to the conference; what CSA means for them professionally; where the applicants particular presentation fits into their research/teaching/artistic experience, and future projects. In this statement, candidates must specify whether they seek partial or full funding. If applying for full funding, the applicant should also meet the following additional requirement: The candidates should submit an additional personal statement about the nonavailability of funding from an institution, association, or foundation for

conference travel. For applicants in category B (above), this statement should also be signed by an institutional authority (e.g., a faculty Dean). Applications should be sent by email and simultaneously by January 20, 2012 to: Samuel Fur Davis sfuredavis@flex.uh.cu, (Grant Sub-committee Chair) y a Nadia Celis ncelis@bowdoin.edu (Executive Council member). Selection Criteria A selection committee integrated by one or more Executive Council members and other CSA members in full standing, will assign the funds according to the following: 1. Preference will be given to candidates whose abstracts or proposals demonstrate at least one of these qualities: a. Relevance to Conference theme (See 2012 conference call at www.caribbeanstudies.org) b. Relevance of topic in terms of forming policy and social practices in the region c. Relevance in terms of promoting multi-national, multi-lingual, multi-institutional and transdisciplinary panels. d. Importance and originality of topic in terms of advancing scholarship on the region 2. Economic need to be reviewed case by case by the Executive Council and the selection committee. Travel Grant, Funding Policies, Disbursement of Bursaries, and Fee Structure Committee