Special Initiative on Constructively Engaging the Conflict and the Pursuit of Peace in Palestine/Israel (2024-2027)

The Global Justice Program Committee will dedicate funds ($50,000 per year for three years) to host visiting scholars who can offer courses and enhance programming on the Palestine/Israel conflict. The ongoing war informs this allocation, which we make cognizant of the fact that campus and global attention on the Middle East has flared and faded in the past and will likely do so again. However, our educational commitment to raising awareness of and understanding the role of international relations and organizations in promoting peace and justice remains durable. To that end, we encourage proposals that focus on the particulars of the Palestinian/Israel conflict; explore its historical, regional, social, cultural, economic, ecological, and other roots; situate the conflict in a comparative perspective; develop ideas and approaches that promote peace and an end to intergenerational violence in the region; and can be submitted as suggestions to international organizations that seek to promote peace (such as the United Nations). 

As conditions warrant over the three years of this commitment, the GJP Committee will carefully consider, on an annual basis, how best to balance support for proposals that directly engage the Palestinian/Israeli conflict with proposals that place that conflict in comparative perspective, especially as other humanitarian crises emerge over time. The Committee encourages that these proposals be co-created by faculty and students who integrate expertise and a hunger for knowledge about the topics. Successful proposals will bring together scholars and practitioners to educate the UO community about the issues and to contribute actionable ideas for peace, social justice, collaboration, and dialogue. We may also ask organizers to combine their events to achieve a more significant impact. 

Given the educational focus of Global Justice Program funding and recognizing that education can be uncomfortable but should not produce fear for personal safety or group eradication, proposals should specifically describe how they will adhere to and creatively apply the shared principles on educational events on Israel/Palestine, developed by a faculty and staff group in Fall 2023. We are especially interested in visiting faculty scholars who go beyond academic analysis and deliberation to:

1. Identify pathways for action, especially for students, to replace a sense of powerlessness in the face of major global crises with concrete steps that individuals on the UO campus can take to make a difference.
2. Include UO fundraisers and potential donors (when possible), who will participate in the conference and contribute ideas to raise funds to support pathways for action (UO Advancement will partner with conference organizers to bring in fundraisers and potential donors when possible).

Complete applications for this unique program must be submitted by the stated deadlines.

The application deadline for academic year 2025–2026 is to be determined (TBD). The total funding available for all special initiative conferences is $50,000 per academic year for three years. We aim to support 2–5 programs each academic year (2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27), consistent with the parameters and potential developments noted above. The GJP committee will use the scoring rubric as a guide in evaluating all submitted proposals. Applicants are encouraged to review the rubric to better understand the criteria that will inform funding decisions.

Regular Program

We plan to provide funding for our regular Global Justice Program (GJP) to bring outstanding national and international experts to the University of Oregon campus, whose service on campus will enhance the educational offerings of the university in the fields of humanities and social sciences, focusing primarily on international relations, peace, and the United Nations (as specified in the gift agreement governing these funds). For our regular programs, all UO faculty (tenure-line and career) are eligible to apply, with approval of the proposal from their department/unit head or dean. We encourage joint proposals involving multiple faculty members, including junior and senior faculty members from diverse units, and student collaboration. Applicants are encouraged to consider inviting speakers through the University of Oregon Scholars at Risk Network membership. 

Complete applications for this unique program must be submitted by the stated deadlines.

The application deadline for academic year 2025–2026 is TBD. The total funding available for all regular programs will be $50,000. The GJP committee will use the scoring rubric as a guide in evaluating all submitted proposals. Applicants are encouraged to review the rubric to better understand the criteria that will inform funding decisions.

Off-Cycle Applications

If funds remain, off-cycle applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis to support activities consistent with the GJP mission. Such awards typically do not exceed $2,500.

Eligible Use of Funds:

GJP grant funds may cover visitor travel costs (airfare, lodging, per diem, etc.), lecturing, instructional programs, research, professional development, or other scholarly activities. Visitors may come for a short-term experience (e.g., for a public lecture), a major public event (e.g., a conference), or a longer-term engagement (1-3 months). GJP Grant funds may also support academic programs or activities around such visits in a manner consistent with the support of visitors, so long as these programs and activities help ensure that the visitors’ presence on campus enhances the educational offerings of the university in the field of international relations, peace, and the United Nations.

Eligible Applicants:

All UO tenure-track and career faculty are eligible to serve as Principal Investigators on GJP proposals (support letters are required from PI department/unit heads). We encourage joint proposals involving multiple faculty members, including junior and senior faculty members from diverse units, and student collaboration.

Application Deadline:

For full consideration, complete applications for both the regular and special programs should be received by the program deadline listed above.

Application Requirements:

Proposals must be written in language accessible to readers from diverse disciplines. The complete application should include the following parts, which will be entered into the website form linked below:

1. Name and contact information of the applicant(s). Include UO faculty and student co-organizers.
2. Department head or dean's name and contact information.
3. Proposal Abstract (250 words maximum): Provide an abstract or summary of the proposal. Describe how the proposed visitors or activities will enhance the university’s educational offerings in international relations, peace, or the United Nations, and meet the specific requirements outlined in the program's Request for Proposals.
4. Proposed Project Itinerary: What is the proposed project itinerary (e.g., a 3-day conference, inviting 10 speakers, etc.)? How will the visitors engage with a broad cross-section of the campus community? How will programming expand student learning opportunities? For guidance on planning events, please consult the GSI Event Management Handbook.
5. The proposed budget: This includes a narrative and a budget. A sample Excel budget template is available. Budgets will consist of expenses for outreach and publicity. A competitive application will include at least 10% to support staffing and advertising efforts. Including project dates, project components, and any administrative support needed. Global Justice Program Sample Budget Template (downloadable Excel file).
6. Description of the proposal (800 words maximum): Describe the nature of the proposed visitor(s) and activities. Include plans for publicity, volunteers, and/or staff who will complete the project, and other relevant information. Please indicate the timelines for planning and executing the project. Proposals should address how the visitor(s) and activities will enhance the university’s educational offerings in the fields of international relations, peace, or the United Nations and meet the specifics of the program Request for Proposals.
7. Events and Financial Management: Organizers should clearly indicate the staff responsible for the project’s event and financial management, including components such as Global Justice Program grant administration and the authority to make travel arrangements for visitors.
8. Co-sponsors: Please indicate other sources of support (and anticipated financial support) and any cosponsors.
9. Statement of Qualifications and Résumé (résumés limited to two pages per person): Please describe your qualifications to carry out the proposed project, as well as those of the visitor(s). Include any relevant experience administering similar activities, your capacity to complete the proposed work, and how you will balance this project with your other UO responsibilities.

 While reviewing applications, the following criteria will be considered:

• The capacity of the individual or organization to complete the project
• Enhancement of the educational offerings of the university in the fields of international relations, peace, or the United Nations
• Impact on the lives and scholarship of UO students, faculty, and community
• The overall quality of the proposal, including whether the applicant followed the directions listed below
• Experiential Learning component

Duties and Conditions:

1. Proposed activities should facilitate the visit of a domestic or international expert in a relevant field to the UO campus, to enrich the university’s educational programs in international relations, peace, and the United Nations.
2. Activities should commence sometime within the academic year (or the following one) after the application.
3. Projects must be managed independently by the grantee or the grantee’s academic unit, without dependence on members or staff of the GJP Committee, unless such support has been pre-arranged during the application process.
4. Details of project events (dates, times, locations, speakers, etc.) will be provided to the GJP Committee and the UO’s Division of Global Engagement as early as possible, preferably three months prior to the event.
5. Within one month of completion of all work associated with the grant, we request that you submit a report to the GJP Committee, including a description of how the GJP Grant funds were used, an explanation of the activities, a description of the number of UO community members impacted by the activities, and a summary of the goals achieved through the grant.

Application Submission:

To complete an application, submit materials for the Global Justice Program through the application link below. Questions about the Global Justice Program should be sent to Elly Vandegrift and Dennis Galvan.
 

Apply for Global Justice Program funding