Through its endowment and one-time gifts, Trinity University supports tenured and tenure-track faculty in their pursuit of excellence related to teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. Current faculty members are encouraged to discuss their goals and needs with their department chair.
In May 2015, the Trinity University Faculty Senate reiterated the importance of scholarship in faculty life, in contributing to the mission of the University, and the broader contributions of faculty scholarship to society in the Statement on the Value of Faculty Scholarship.
The University’s internal funding sources are generous. The extraordinary success of Trinity faculty members in attracting funding from external sources is a strong statement that speaks to the high caliber of research, scholarship, and creative activities.
Academic Leaves
In accordance with Trinity policy, the President of the University, upon the recommendation of the Faculty Development Committee (FDC) and the Vice President for Academic Affairs, will award academic leaves to eligible faculty.
Academic leaves will be granted for either one semester, for a full academic year, or for a summer.
The application process is competitive. The online applications for the coming year will open in May.
Summer Stipends
In accordance with University policy, the President of the University, upon the recommendation of the Faculty Development Committee (FDC) and the Vice President for Academic Affairs, will award competitive summer stipends on an annual basis in the amount of $9,000.
The purpose of a summer stipend is to encourage faculty to develop research projects, intensive scholarly activities, and activities in the creative and performing arts.
The application process is competitive. The online applications for the coming year will open in May.
Early Career Faculty Fellowships
Early Career Faculty Fellowships will be used to attract and retain outstanding pre-tenure faculty. The summer stipend will enable the faculty member to pursue his or her own research and professional development activities.
While some of the fellowships are restricted by the donor to a specific academic department, those which are unrestricted will be designated by the Vice President of Academic Affairs with the approval of the President per the Faculty Handbook.
Travel and Special Project Grants
Special Project Grants are awarded to: (1) to support projects associated with a faculty member’s academic leave or summer stipend or (2) to provide, within budgetary limits, the funding of separate projects which cannot be funded within the guidelines of other institutional grant offerings. Faculty members who seek a Special Project Grant must first consult with their Department Chair to initiate a request with the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs: Budget and Research.
Start-Up Funding
Getting a good start in a new career is mutually beneficial to both the new hire and the institution. At Trinity, teaching and scholarship are tightly interlinked, so while start-up is most focused on scholarly and creative pursuits, those pursuits impact teaching directly.
Scholarship and creative work inform what faculty bring to the classroom, keeping learning fresh, vibrant, and at the cutting edge of the discipline. Incoming faculty members should discuss their start-up needs with their chair at the time of hire.
Undergraduate Student Research
Trinity is at its best when undergraduate students and faculty members partner to conduct innovative and original research, scholarship, and creative activities. With their faculty mentors, Trinity students regularly co-author papers and present at national conferences.
Trinity’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program is administered by the Center for Experiential Learning and Career Success.