Research in the College of Arts & Letters involves interdisciplinary collaborations between faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students. The faculty continue to find ever more interesting and effective ways to bring research into the classroom. Graduate students are welcomed into a supportive community of scholars that provides a congenial environment in which to complete research for theses and dissertations. Undergraduate students perform research and undertake creative work that includes original investigation, experimentation, and publication/presentation across many fields of study.

CAL Faculty Research Expectations

It is expected that Arts and Letters faculty will engage in research and/or creative activities, producing outputs that will be disseminated in professional venues adhering to national/international standards of excellence. All faculty are expected to:

  • Publish quality research or produce quality creative materials on a regular basis in their fields.
  • Contribute professionally to their respective fields of research in various ways, such as presenting at national and international conferences and/or exhibitions, delivering plenaries/keynote addresses, participating in peer review panels, editing major scholarly journals, and reviewing applications for external funding.
  • Engage in the research/creative activities of the unit and assist in sustaining a strong research/creative culture in the College.
  • Be proactive in applying for sponsored research and successfully compete for funding.
  • Develop skills managing research projects.
  • Participate in the training and mentoring of early career faculty in research and creative activities.