Who is this seminar for? The target audience for this seminar is primarily college faculty members affiliated with departments that do not grant the Ph.D. degree, in four-year colleges and universities and two-year community colleges. Independent scholars are also welcome to apply. Applications are solicited particularly from colleagues with interests in comparative religion, comparative literature, poetry, Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, and related fields. The seminar is designed particularly for those who are called upon to teach courses in comparative religion, Islam, mysticism, comparative literature, or related topics such as translation, who would like to increase their expertise both with theoretical issues in religious studies and with the materials for the study of Sufi literature. Middle Eastern language expertise is not required, since translations are in fact the main subject of the seminar. Those participants who are proficient in any language relating to Sufism will be encouraged to choose a topic and produce appropriate materials to augment the existing syllabus of this seminar.

Who can apply? Applicants must be U.S. citizens, native residents of U.S. jurisdictions, or foreign nationals who have been residing in the United States or its jurisdictions for at least the three years immediately preceding the application deadline; applicants should not be candidates for a degree. Full details are spelled out in an accompanying application brochure. Colleagues who have participated in NEH Summer Seminars for College Teachers in 1996 or 1997 are not eligible, and applicants may apply to only two seminars and institutes in any one year.

How do I get application materials? Please get in touch with the director at the following address. Materials and forms will be mailed to you.

How will applications be evaluated? In your application, indicate the kind of materials you are interested in working on, what issues concern you, and what sort of project you anticipate working on during the seminar. Please note that applications must be postmarked no later than March 1, 1999, and should be addressed to the director at the Department of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3225. A committee consisting of the director  plus two academic colleagues will select fifteen participants with special regard for their potential contributions to the intellectual life of the seminar and to future research publication or curricular development. We will also give special consideration to those who have little or no access to the resources of a major library, and to those who have not recently had any time off for independent study and professional development. Those selected to participate in the seminar will be notified by telephone on March 28, 1999; if you expect away from your usual telephone on that date, please let us know how you can be contacted. Selected participants must confirm their acceptance by April 15, 1999.

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