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Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Program

The University of Houston participates in a program to stimulate scholarly initiatives through the creation of an academic community among the member institutions of the Big 12 Athletic Conference. The Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Program gives faculty a unique opportunity to visit member institutions, exchange ideas, collaborate on research, and help advance the University of Houston's position as a leader in research and innovation. By connecting UH faculty with peers across the Big 12, the program fosters meaningful academic partnerships and strengthens our collective pursuit of research excellence.

Program Guidelines

  • Each academic year, five fellowships will be available to full-time University of Houston tenured and tenure-track faculty members who wish to apply.
  • The faculty member may visit any of the Big 12 universities.
  • The faculty member contacts a host unit (department, research center, etc.) that the individual wishes to visit and determines the unit's receptivity and available dates.
  • The host unit formally invites the faculty fellow by sending a letter of invitation.
  • The University of Houston will continue a faculty member’s salary during the period away from campus only if the faculty member is already on salary at the time of the visit. For 9-month faculty, summer salary eligibility will be determined based on appointment type, funding source, and university policy.
  • The University will provide $2500 for reasonable travel, lodging, and meal expenses. (Reimbursement for travel, lodging, and meal expenses must follow UH travel policies and procedures.)
  • Visits will generally be for up to two weeks, but longer visits are possible.
  • Faculty members are responsible for arranging coverage of their duties during their absence from campus.
  • The Fellowship cannot be combined with faculty development leave, external fellowship, or other leaves of absence.
  • After the visit, the faculty fellow will submit a brief report to the Provost describing the outcomes of the visit and offering suggestions for future planning.

Applications can be submitted anytime to your respective dean, but will be reviewed on September 28th, January 25th and April 26th depending on the date of submission and available funding. Applicants will be notified of the final decision approximately three weeks after the deadline.

Applicants must complete the application electronically and obtain the appropriate signatures from their department chair and dean. Signed application forms and supporting documentation must be submitted before the corresponding application deadline to facrred@uh.edu.

Required Documents and Application Procedures

  1. UH Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Program Application
  2. A current curriculum vitae
  3. A letter from the host institution formally inviting the faculty member.
  4. Brief description including the following information:
    1. Purpose and activities of the visit
    2. Expected outcome
    3. Description of how the visit will complement your current or proposed area of teaching or research
    4. If the visit request is funded, please explain how it will directly contribute to the University of Houston's vision of becoming a top public research university.
    5. A statement of how your duties will be covered in your absence.
    6. A detailed budget (transportation, meals, and lodging). Note: Budgets must follow UH travel processes.

Please submit complete applications by the deadline — late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

When projects are of equal merit, preference will be given to:

  • Faculty members who have not had development or other internally sponsored leaves in the past three years
  • Projects that take advantage of timely opportunities
  • Projects that possess a strong potential for promoting inter-institutional collaborations

Listing of Big 12 Universities

  • University of Arizona
  • Arizona State University
  • Baylor University
  • Brigham Young University
  • University of Central Florida
  • University of Cincinnati
  • University of Colorado
  • University of Houston
  • Iowa State University
  • University of Kansas
  • Kansas State University
  • Oklahoma State University
  • Texas Christian University
  • Texas Tech University
  • University of Utah
  • West Virginia University.

Opportunities for Faculty Visits to UH from Other Big 12 Universities

We encourage you to consider inviting Big 12 colleagues to visit the University of Houston if their visit would enrich the experiences of our faculty and students. This program offers a unique opportunity for collaboration and interaction. Host departments are responsible for advising the visiting Fellow concerning temporary housing and arrangements concerning office space, telephones, clerical help, parking, and use of the library or specialized research facilities. Individuals from other institutions must apply for participation through their home institutions. Expenses are to be covered by the home institution.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Faculty Recruitment, Outreach & Engagement with any questions at fac-rred@uh.edu.