The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) is pleased to announce a call for course proposals in the Mellon Collaborative Studies Seminar Series - Phase III. Funded by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, these seminars bring together faculty and students from multiple disciplines to think deeply about the city and its many representations, sharing and exploring methodologies and pedagogies in the study of the urban condition.
The Phase III grants operate in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences to support rigorous seminars (or studios/workshops) that explore social justice and equity in urban environments in the US at the intersection of urbanism, design, and the humanities. The grant will fund two seminars (or studios/workshops) annually: the fall Design Justice seminar and the spring Urban Justice seminar.
Tenure-track, tenured, and RTE faculty in the Departments of Architecture, Art, and City Planning are eligible to apply. Applicants are encouraged to independently identify and propose a faculty collaborator in the College of Arts and Sciences or request one be introduced.
Departments of participating faculty would receive funding to find replacements for any standing course obligations. Additionally, participating faculty receive $10,000 in research funding to develop the course as well as funding for a graduate student assistant.
Courses are budgeted to facilitate one major trip to a significant urban site and/or regional travel to various collections as well as jury-style reviews and support for guest lecturers as applicable.
Interested faculty should submit: 1) a two to three-page proposal outlining the course and its contribution in the study of the American city; 2) curriculum vitae; 3) budget proposal; and 4) letter of support from department chair. A letter from a potential faculty collaborator in the College of Arts and Sciences of their interest is recommended. Approval from the College of Arts & Sciences and the department chair of the collaborating faculty are conditional to award.
Applications for AAP faculty who wish to teach a course in the 2026–2027 or 2027–2028 academic year open February 9 and are due March 27, 2026.
Applications should be submitted via Slideroom.
For questions and additional information, please contact Sydney Boyd, sydneyboyd@cornell.edu.