The University soon may host one of 10 Regional Humanities Centers nationwide if it receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The regional center would serve as an educational and research facility available for all the region's residents, focusing on exploring and preserving local history.
Encyclopedias, films, radio recordings and other historically significant items would be available at the centers.
The NEH is founding the 10 centers based on the idea that by "understanding regionalism, one can really get in touch with the history of the whole nation," NEH spokesman Jim Turner said.
The institution housing each regional center would receive $5 million over a five-year period and would be expected to raise $15 million on its own over seven years.
The University now is in competition with the College of Charleston to host the South Atlantic Regional Center. The two institutions were selected as finalists following the first round of applications.
Both institutions received planning grants of $50,000 from the NEH, and their final proposals are due in August 2001.
The University is pooling its resources with those of both the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH) and Virginia Tech.
Project Coordinator Andrew Chancey said this is a very unique structure within the region.
"Our chances are 50-50. [The College of] Charleston has some advantages and we have some advantages," Chancey said. "A center housed at either place would be a viable program that would serve the region well."
If the University gets the center, it would be housed at the VFH located in Charlottesville, Chancey said.
Faculty and administrators from both the University and Virginia Tech would remain active in leading the initiative, aided by an advisory board comprised of experts from throughout the region, he said.
He added that the many technological resources at both the University and Virginia Tech have been recognized favorably by the NEH in the past, and that the College of Charleston does not have those resources on the same scale.
"A regional center housed here would be an opportunity to have the VFH serve the region," Chancey said. "This is not about the state or U.Va., we are doing this together to enhance the region"
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