The Digital Humanities Lab Faculty Advisory Committee is working to distribute funds to Missouri State University faculty. Comprised of 9 faculty members and co-chaired by Dr. Jason Jolley, associate dean of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities and Rachel Besara, interim dean of the Missouri State University Libraries, the interdisciplinary committee is seeking ways to support scholarship by encouraging scholarship related to the Digital Humanities Lab. 

The committee, which convenes monthly, is currently writing the guidelines for faculty to submit applications for funding of scholarship in their areas of interest. The committee will also be a part of choosing who is awarded funding. Grant winners will be expected to provide Open Access to their research when possible and to give a presentation of their research in a Digital Humanities Lab event. 

Although the internal grant guidelines have not yet been finalized, “Grants may cover equipment and supplies to complete the research, whether that’s a camera or a virtual reality headset,” said Joshua Lambert, a librarian who serves on the team. 

According to Lambert, whatever is purchased will remain in or near the Digital Humanities Lab after the project is completed, where it will be usable for researchers as either an openly available device, like a computer, or something that will be placed on reserve to be checked out, such as cameras. 

The committee’s next meeting will take place on Friday, January 31, 2025.