Consequently, nomination is contingent upon the quality of the scholar's proposal and availability of funds. The ASRP Program is divided into two different types of grants. Both grants will follow the same timetable and formal application proces. The African Senior Research Scholar Grant provides an opportunity for senior academicians and scholars who already have their Ph.Ds or equivalents to conduct postdoctoral research and lecturing beginning August of each year. Awards vary in duration from three to nine months and enable scholars to conduct research at a U.S. academic or research institution.
Most grants are for six months.
Grants of up to nine months are made only when a research proposal justifies the need for extended time. Awards are given on the basis of academic excellence, the quality of the research project proposal, and recommendation letters. Preference is given to those applicants who provide strong justification for undertaking their research in the United States, i.e., the need for access to research facilities or materials not readily available elsewhere, or the desire for collaborative research with an American scholar. The Professional Development Grant enables college faculty members to undertake a planned program of reading and research. The rationale behind this program recognizes that many senior scholars, because of heavy teaching loads, extensive administrative and advising responsibilities unrelated to their field of academic specialization, and lack of access to all of the latest literature in their fields need a period of time to bring themselves up to date in their professional fields.