GLCA-Library of Congress Faculty-Student Research Initiative

A collaborative research program that brings faculty-student teams to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. for intensive archival and primary source research in the humanities and social sciences.

Program Duration: 10 days of intensive research at the Library of Congress

Geographic Scope: Open to faculty and students from GLCA member colleges and extended international institutions of the Global Liberal Arts Alliance (GLAA)

Focus Areas: Humanities and social science disciplines with emphasis on archival research

Eligibility:

• Faculty members from GLCA colleges and GLAA international partner institutions
• Undergraduate students (typically 2-3 per research team)
• Selection based on research proposals submitted by faculty members

What the Program Provides:

• Access to Library of Congress collections and resources
• Research liaison support from Library of Congress staff
• Manuscript and archival research opportunities
• Mentoring from archivists and reference specialists
• Opportunity for students to present research findings to other program participants
• Development of student confidence and research skills

Program Benefits:

• Students work collaboratively with faculty on significant research topics
• Access to primary source materials unavailable elsewhere
• Development of skills in navigating research libraries and archives
• Confidence-building through being taken seriously as researchers
• Exposure to diverse topics and methodologies

Contact Information:

• Gregory Wegner ([email protected])
• GLCA Office: 535 West William, Suite 301, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
• Phone: +1.734.661.2350

Background: The program selects faculty-student research teams based on competitive proposals. Example projects have included studies on Civil War era history, Arab-American immigration, and Indian language modernist poetry. Each team presents their research findings at the conclusion of the 10-day session.

Application Process

Submission Method: Faculty members submit research proposals

Selection Criteria:

• Quality of the proposed research topic
• Potential for meaningful undergraduate student engagement
• Feasibility of using primary source materials at the Library of Congress
• Research questions in humanities or social sciences disciplines

Team Composition: Faculty leader works with 2-3 undergraduate students

Program Components:

1. Intensive 10-day research session at the Library of Congress
2. Research liaison assigned to each team
3. Access to reading room specialists and subject experts
4. Guidance in locating and using archival materials
5. Final presentations by all student and faculty participants

For questions about proposal submission and application details, contact Gregory Wegner at [email protected]