Scholars' Convocation Proposals

Academic Year Planning

The Convocation Committee solicits proposals for convocation speakers for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Scholars' Convocations are presentations of outstanding intellectual or cultural interest that appeal and are accessible to a wide spectrum of the Grinnell community. Approximately six all-campus Convocations take place each semester.

Preliminary Convocation Proposals are DUE NOVEMBER 15, 2008.

Divisions, departments, faculty or staff groups, individual faculty or staff members, or student groups may submit preliminary proposals. In general, the Convocation Committee offers speakers a stipend of $1,500.00, but in some cases where the public or campus impact of the speaker is likely to be great (and the speaker's fee is commensurably great) we are able to offer considerably higher. Such speakers and their agents are often willing to negotiate. The budget should include airfare, ground transportation, an estimate of meals, and the stipend.

Because it can be awkward to make a conditional invitation to a visitor, especially if a proposal is declined, the Committee asks that you make a preliminary proposal by November 15, although we are willing to review proposals that are submitted later. The Committee will begin reviewing preliminary proposals in early December, and rank or reject them.

The Committee will request the proposers of ranked proposals to extend formal invitations to speakers. Proposers should try to obtain a commitment from the speaker and an agreed budget by the first Friday of the first week of spring semester classes.

The Committee will then put together a schedule of commitments and a draft of budget obligations to determine whether any further offers can be made. The Committee will continue to allow further invitations until the schedule for 2009-10 is complete.

We encourage faculty members to make preliminary proposals for speakers who they would like to bring to campus in 09-10 or 10-11. By allowing for a two-year horizon, we may be able to invite speakers whose schedules of engagement are very full.

Respect for a diversity of people and perspectives is a core value of Grinnell College. This respect should be exemplified in the range of guests we invite to give Convocation talks. In making its decision, the Committee will consider the proposed visitor's achievements and reputation as a public speaker, the appeal of the topic to a broad campus audience, the possible connections of the topic to courses and other planned programs, and the overall Convocation program for that year. Budget and schedule will also be considered.

Preliminary Proposal For Convocation Speakers

Your Name:

Your e-mail address: (Full e-mail address required)

Faculty host (if other than you):

Co-sponsors (sources of additional funding):

Speaker's Name or Multi-Day Event Title:

Preferred date: (month or specific date)

If proposing a specific speaker, provide a brief biography (especially the person's achievements and reputation as a public speaker):

General topic the speaker will be asked to address:

Briefly address the impact the speaker will have on Grinnell, especially on courses and a wide spectrum of the Grinnell community, and the interactions the speaker will have while on campus:

FUNDING REQUEST:

Travel (airfare):
Travel (ground): (Reimbursed at the rate of $.585 per mile.)
Honorarium:**
**Enter $0 if funding is coming from another source; enter $1,500 if applying for the standard Convocation Committee honorarium. A more substantial honorarium may be available for unusually high-profile, high-impact, high-cost speakers. If requesting such a special honorarium from the Convocation Committee, enter the amount and provide additional rationale in the biographical or impact fields above.
Dining:
     Lunch: # of guests: cost: (average $10 per plate)
     Dinner: # of guests: cost: (average $30 per plate)
     Other: # of guests: cost:
Lodging: ($40/night for Grinnell House)
Other:

TOTAL REQUEST:

If you would like a copy of this form sent to you please check the box below:

The Convocations scheduled for 2008-09 are listed below, for your information. Thursday Forum events may occur on any Thursday at 11 a.m. when there is no Convocation scheduled.

Dean's Office page

Convocations

Scheduling and Calendar

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