Join the AAHC community
Joining the AAHC community gives faculty the opportunity to think with faculty and students about the future of arts- and humanities-based learning at UCSB. We sponsor opportunities for students and faculty to meet one another and engage in interdisciplinary discussion about what the arts and humanities offer students today, both at UCSB and in their lives beyond the classroom.
Promote your event
The AAHC aims to highlight exciting campus events, opportunities, and resources that invite faculty, students, and the broader community to explore what the arts and humanities bring to teaching and learning at the university today.
Apply for an event or project co-sponsorship
The AAHC provides funds and visibility for UCSB initiatives that promote arts- and/or humanities-based learning for undergraduate students. We particularly welcome co-sponsorship requests for projects and events that promote humanities- and arts-based learning across disciplines and majors.
Supported activities include:
- Invited speakers that connect undergraduate students to humanities- and arts-based learning or promote innovative humanities- and arts-based teaching methodologies for faculty, staff, and graduate students.
- Student-produced events or ongoing student-run initiatives that engage other undergraduates or the broader community in arts- and humanities-based learning.
- Events that promote and feature undergraduate student work (from courses, clubs, creative activities, etc.).
Volunteer to host a 'Pizza and Ponder' lunch with a Professor
Students can propose a 'Pizza and Ponder' session with a faculty member in the Humanities and Fine Arts. Faculty-student teams lead an informal, hour-long table talk on a topic of their choice—ranging from niche research interests to cross-disciplinary conversations to the intersections of academia and trending topics in society and culture. We welcome topics that engage undergraduate students from across campus.
Submission form for Pizza and Ponder Link
Funding Opportunities
Experiential Excursion Mini-Grants
The AAHC provides support for one-time experiences that engage students in humanities- and arts-based learning beyond the classroom. Grants of up to $500 will be provided to proposals that promote experience-based learning as part of a course or program. Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with approved Experiential Excursion experiences taking place within 6 months of grant award.
Arnhold Innovative Teaching and Learning Initiative (AITLI) Summer Courses
AITLI courses are an opportunity to develop innovative, project-based, team-taught interdisciplinary courses during Summer Session B. Faculty receive summer sessions salary and a stipend for course development. Limited funding is also available for course activities. Course proposals are due in November of each year.
Arnhold Faculty Fellowship Program
The Arnhold Faculty Fellowship is intended for two associate or full professors (ladder or teaching) in the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts who will provide intellectual leadership for the Arnhold Arts and Humanities Commons (AAHC). Faculty may apply for the fellowship individually or as an interdisciplinary team. Both Arnhold Faculty Fellows will serve two year terms beginning July 1 and ending June 30 of the terms.
Arts and Humanities EDGE Initiative (Experiential Design for Galvanizing Career Engagement)
The Arts and Humanities EDGE Initiative provides support for HFA departments to (re)design courses in order to show how their majors equip students with skills, knowledge, and competencies valued in 21st century careers through hands-on practice and experience-driven learning. For more information, contact Dr. Nicole Strobel (nstrobel@ucsb.edu).