Loyola University Chicago’s Joan and Bill Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage (CCIH) supports research by full-time Loyola University faculty on topics concerned with or connected to the Catholic intellectual heritage. The primary purpose of this support is to facilitate advanced scholarly study of Catholic thought as it touches upon the arts, humanities, and sciences. 

Research projects can be proposed as either a semester or year-long research commitment, and by either individuals or groups or researchers. Grants are typically awarded  to projects with specific concerns connected to Catholic thought and practice, Ignatian intellectual and pedagogical heritage, and social justice in the Catholic tradition. 

All research projects are expected to culminate in the publication of a journal article or book or other relevant output.  Proposals can request support for a wide variety of scholarly activities, including archival research, book manuscript support, data collection, the planning of a conference, or supported field work. Applicants should keep in mind, however, that all research funds will be paid out in the form of supplemental salary, as the Hank Center does not process reimbursements for this award. This means that funds cannot be used to pay personnel, whether they be staff, students, or research subjects. 

Awardees are expected to report on the progress of their research and participate in any activities the CCIH develops to communicate this research—both inside and outside of Loyola University. Successful applicants are expected to submit a mid-year research progress report and a final report that describes the outcomes of the funded research. 

Research project funding includes taxable awards of up to $6000 for individual projects, with larger amounts available for group proposals. Funds are disbursed directly to awardees in two installments in the form of supplemental salary, and may be used to offset travel expenses, book purchases, etc. Funds may not be used to pay personnel, including staff, other faculty, students, or other research collaborators or participants. 

Loyola University Chicago’s Joan and Bill Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage (CCIH) encourages the development of undergraduate and graduate courses connected to the broad range of Catholic thought. It does this by offering full-time Loyola faculty a stipend of up to $4,000 (pre-tax) for the development of these courses. 

Applications are reviewed and evaluated by the Hank Center Advisory Board, and are judged on the merit of the proposed course in relation to its pedagogical aims and its attention to topics of Catholic intellectual concern.

Faculty members in all disciplines--and both tenure track and non-tenure track--are encouraged to apply for course development funding through the Hank Center. In awarding course development funding, attention is given to distributing these funds equitably to faculty across all departments. Applications for undergraduate courses are additionally considered in relation to the proposed course’s curricular contribution to the university’s interdisciplinary minor in Catholic Studies. Applicants apply with the understanding that their proposed course must be taught within three (3) semesters after it has been funded and developed.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to consult with CCIH’s Associate Director, Dr. Joseph Vukov (jvukov@luc.edu), in order to cultivate a constructive and pragmatic approach to course design.

Awarded faculty will have a full academic year to develop their courses. Upon completion of their courses, they will be required to submit the following materials to the Hank Center:

• A completed course syllabus
• Drafts of all assignments for the course
• A Sakai site for the course, or similar digital course asset
• A 1-page statement, and several small social media blurbs, describing how the course supports and furthers the Catholic Intellectual Tradition at Loyola.

Awarded faculty will also be required to meet several times as a cohort throughout the fellowship year for professional development and course planning.