The Medieval Studies Fund
Why we need and ask for your help!
Funding for Medieval Studies' basic academic program—salaries, courses, seminars, research and teaching resources—is mostly provided by the College of Arts & Sciences through the departments of our 40 faculty members. Funding for other program activities must be found independently.
Public programs in Medieval Studies benefit from private support, and make an exciting contribution to campus life not only for students and faculty, but also for the larger public community that the university serves. Examples include:
- Fall 2001 "Get Medieval" Beowulf Festival
- Fall 2003 lecture by Professor Thomas Burman (Tennessee) on Latin translations of the Qur'an
- Spring 2004 lecture by Professor Stephen Murray (Columbia) on The Story of Gothic Architecture
- Spring 2004 Joan of Arc Film Festival
- Spring 2005 lecture by Professor Jonathan Alexander on Renaissance Manuscript Illuminations: Books, Artists and Patrons
North Carolina also has an extremely active community of students through the Carolina Association of Medieval Students (CAMS). CAMS sponsors the "Bring It Home" lecture series given each semester by our own faculty members on current research and shares in the organization of the Duke-UNC Medieval Studies Symposium. CAMS also provides services to the Medieval Studies community, including assitance with the Medieval Studies Events Calendar and several listservs dedicated to disseminating information for medievalists. CAMS relies on the Medieval Studies Program for some financial support.
To support these important activities the Medieval Studies Advisory Committee and its chair rely on voluntary donations. The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences has contributed a small operating fund in past years, though recurring University and College budget cuts have reduced this allocation.
In 2003 a private donor established the Medieval Studies Fund administered by the Classics Department. This unrestricted fund provides support for receptions after guest lectures and the operating costs of public programs.
On a larger scale the Medieval Studies Advisory Committee has developed a case for broader private support. To start, we have established a $25,000 general endowment fund goal as part of the University-wide Carolina First Campaign. This appeal started quietly with faculty contributions and now totals over $10,000 as of August 2004. Now we wish to ask all faculty, graduates of UNC in all medieval fields, and all friends of Medieval Studies in the community to help us. To make our goal of $25,000, we ask you to make a contribution. With this endowment in place we can count on a small but reliable operating budget of $1000 per year for basic expenses.
Once our endowment is in place, we can think of more ambitious plans for the future. These include expanded undergraduate and graduate academic and research opportunities, as well as conferences and other public programs. But our Medieval Studies Endowment Fund is the place to start, and we ask you to please contribute what you can to help the cause!
Please help us now. To make a gift for our endowment, simply go to the "Medieval Studies Make a Gift Now" page on this website to find instructions for donating through the Arts and Sciences Foundation secure website. Thank you!
For information contact Professor Jaroslav Folda: jfolda@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-3036, FAX (919) 962-0722.