The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Full-time K-12 teachers, as well as National Park Service (NPS) interpreters and museum educators are eligible. Community College faculty are eligible to attend high-school-level seminars.

Recent graduates of education and history programs at the undergraduate and graduate level who plan to pursue careers in history education K-12 are eligible to apply for seminars as New Teacher Fellows upon completion of an education degree in either Fall 2011 or Spring 2012.

Priority application consideration will be given to teachers from Gilder Lehrman Affiliate Schools. Up to half of all participant spots in each seminar are reserved for Affiliate School teachers. In order to receive priority consideration your school must be an Affiliate School by December 31, 2011.

Although GLI is a 501(c)(3) focused on public school education, we have recently opened the seminars to independent school teachers on a shared-funding basis. We invite applications from independent schools at any level K-12. For details click here.

We are unable to include part-time educators, home-school teachers, substitute teachers, graduate students, or historical reenactors.

Some seminars are for specific grade levels. Please make sure you are eligible for the seminars you select.

Yes, multiple teachers from the same school may attend Gilder Lehrman seminars as long as they attend different seminars. One of the goals of our seminars is to encourage the widespread dissemination of information through teachers attending different seminars. We encourage you and your colleagues to apply to different programs and share information and experience upon your return home.

Alumni are not eligible to attend a program two summers in a row. While recent participants are eligible to apply, our selection committee is directed to give first consideration to applicants who have not previously attended a Gilder Lehrman seminar.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute provides books, room and board for the week, and a travel allowance up to $400 to reimburse actual travel expenses. The allowance is provided after the completion of the seminar. Seminar participants must submit a reimbursement form accompanied by receipts for expenses to receive the allowance. For participants traveling internationally, the stipend is $500 in lieu of reimbursement. Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from the seminar. Participants should be prepared to pay for all personal expenses.

Applicants to seminars should note that we are unable to provide supplemental funding in cases where the allowance is insufficient to cover all travel expenses.

A selection committee consisting of educators and administrators reads and evaluates all applications.

The selection committee looks for applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in American history, a commitment to growth and progress in the profession, and an ability to translate new knowledge and new materials into effective classroom teaching.

Emails are sent to applicants on March 15. Apart from confirmation that an application is complete, no information concerning the status of an application will be available prior to the official notification date. Please wait to receive your email before calling the Institute.

Seminar participants are required to attend the full schedule of events. Participants are also required to complete readings sent to them prior to attending the seminar. Seminar participants are required to engage fully in projects. Participants who do not complete the full seminar will not receive the travel allowance. At the end of the seminar, participants are required to submit evaluations in which they review their work during the seminar and assess the seminar’s value to their personal and professional development.

Participants are housed on-campus in dormitories. Please make sure to read the summaries of each individual seminar for information on housing.

Participants housed in dormitories will have their own bedrooms but may share common living spaces and/or bathrooms. Please note, you may want to bring shower shoes, an extra towel, and a fan.

Housing is only provided for the duration of the seminar. We realize some participants will have to arrive a day early or stay a day late. If this is the case, participants are responsible for arranging and paying for housing on those days.

We are sorry, but we are unable to accommodate family and friends.

Yes, residence is not required. The Institute understands that circumstances may make commuting preferable and applicants applying on a day basis are at no disadvantage during the selection process.

If you are accepted and cannot attend, we encourage you to apply next year. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee your acceptance or defer your position.

If you have a question that is not answered in this list of FAQs, please contact the Seminar Department at seminars@gilderlehrman.org.