Thursday, March 16, 2017

Judith S. Kaye Fellowship in Humanities and the Law

[We have the following announcement.]

The Bard High School Early Colleges (BHSEC) seek to improve public education by offering a diverse group of public school students access to an enriched, challenging liberal arts and sciences college academic environment, thereby closing the gap between high school and college and giving underserved students the opportunity for an excellent college. Students graduate from BHSEC prepared to take upper level college courses, earn a baccalaureate degree, launch successful careers, and contribute to society.  BHSEC provides younger scholars with a tuition-free, credit bearing college course of study in the liberal arts and sciences following the 9th and 10th grades. Students are taught by college faculty in seminar classes; they receive up to 60 college credits and an associate in arts (A.A.) degree from Bard College, concurrently with a high school diploma. Bard Early Colleges begin preparing students for college work as early as the 9th grade and offer ongoing guidance and academic supports.  BHSEC operates as a partnership between Bard College and the New York City Department of Education and is accredited as a branch campus of Bard College.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Historical Society of the New York Courts (HSNYC), Bard High School Early College Manhattan seeks applications for the fall 2017 Judith S. Kaye Fellowship in Humanities and the Law. This fellowship was established to fund the hiring of a visiting scholar or a faculty member each year to develop and teach a semester long college elective on the subjects of Justice and the Courts, Legal History in NYS, New York State Constitutional Law or topics more broadly related to the role of the courts in establishing and maintaining democracy in the United States and in New York State, more particularly. Course proposals that focus on a more narrow aspect of the law, such as Search & Seizure, the Right to Privacy, or the concept of Equality, are also encouraged and considered. 

The Judith S. Kaye Fellowship is intended to create a wealth of curricula developed for young people that could be made widely available to teachers around the state and country through HSNYC's web-site and other resources, to open a new discipline of study and inquiry for BHSECs' diverse students, leading not only to more educated citizens but to possible careers in law or criminal justice, and to sponsor scholarship in the field and contribute to the knowledge of the role of the New York Courts in shaping U.S. history and current events.  Between 20 and 25 students would be able to register for the Kaye Fellow's course each semester it is offered.

The Kaye Fellowship will bring a distinguished scholar to the BHSEC Campus at 525 East Houston Street to teach one three-credit college course in a one-semester appointment.  The class will meet three times a week for 50 minutes over a semester running from early September to mid-January.  This position is open to scholars in legal history, American constitutional law or legal studies. The Fellowship offers a modest stipend of $6500, and gives scholars the opportunity to develop innovative early college curriculum around the themes of Justice and the Role of the Courts, as well as to advise students and to present to the BHSEC community and the Historic Society of the Courts of New York.

To apply, send a brief letter of interest describing the proposed course, and a curriculum vitae, to Associate Dean of Studies William H. Hinrichs, whinrichs@bhsec.bard.edu.  Include your name and "HSNYC Fellow" in the subject line. All materials must be submitted electronically. 

Applications must be submitted no later than March 30, 2017.  Review of applications to begin immediately. Bard High School Early College is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals who contribute to its diversity. AA/EOE