The Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts at the University of Chicago is an interdisciplinary organization of both senior and junior fellows, dedicated to promoting liberal arts teaching and scholarship.
Harper-Schmidt Fellows at the University of Chicago teach in the College's core courses in Humanities, Social Sciences, and Western Civilization. These Junior Fellows receive four year appointments as Collegiate Assistant Professors. The Society also includes a number of regular faculty who have received three year appointments as Senior Fellows.
The purpose of the Society is to promote the intellectual well-being of its members, to encourage professional and intellectual discourse, to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, both within the society and across the University as a whole, and to help maintain the high standard of teaching in the College. The Society meets regularly for discussion of work by its members and by distinguished visitors. It also sponsors regular conferences and events focused on cross-disciplinary subjects.
Every year the Society welcomes new members that were selected in a highly competitive process. Successful candidates demonstrate excellence not only in their original scholarship but also in their teaching.
Applicants must submit applications to be considered in one of the two program areas: