Are you interested in participating as a scholar facilitator in the RELIC programs of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities? RELIC (Readings in Literature and Culture) is the LEH’s chief public humanities reading program serving adults throughout Louisiana.

Basic Facts about Scholars in RELIC:

Our programs are intended for the public library patrons and general adult reading public as a means of discussing issues and themes as supported by the texts in the humanities provided on loan to the program. Scholars are primarily facilitators, but they are expected to provide sufficient structure so as to maintain a framework of critical thinking about the subjects discussed. Scholars are encouraged to maintain flexibility in the sessions so as to allow new directions or initiatives suggested by the audience. Programs are conducted in many libraries in Louisiana. Scholars find that the experience of leading RELIC programs is overwhelmingly positive, due to the fact that the audiences are adults with a personal interest in participating, and often contribute personal insights from their life experiences.

The honorarium for programs with single scholars is $1,000, plus travel stipend if applicable. At sites in which two scholars are participating, the honorarium is $800 per team member (plus travel stipend). Payment is compensation for developing the specific syllabus for a program site, leading the six discussion sessions, and submitting a final narrative report on the program's outcome.

Scholars draw from a Program Master Syllabus in any creative manner with which they choose to do so; even the session titles are only suggestions that can be modified or replaced. There are eight sessions in each of the Master Syllabi (some have only six), but a final copy ready syllabus consists of six titled sessions, in which is to be included a series of questions or an over arching issue to address through the readings for each session. It is this version that guides the audience participants from session to session, much as in the manner of a class syllabus.

Interested scholars should submit a current vita and cover letter describing program subject areas of interest and how one’s teaching style would related to the audiences served by RELIC.