Center for Digital Humanities, University of South Carolina

Tanya Clement

May 11, 2011

¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 Founded 2010
David Miller, Director

¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 The Center for Digital Humanities at South Carolina is home to three full-time staff:  (1) an Associate Director, (2) an Assistant Director and Lead Programmer, and (3) a Media Arts Specialist.

¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 The Center itself is currently in its first year as an officially recognized research Center at the University, following two years of unofficial operation in which we were charged to demonstrate our viability.   We funded those first two years from multiple sources:  start-up funds from the College of Arts and Sciences, a second start-up package from the Provost’s office, a mix of grant funds from different projects, along with annual pledges from the Office of Information Technology, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the departments of English, Art, Philosophy, History, and Computer Science.  We even got small but meaningful contributions from the Institute for Southern Studies and the Women and Gender Studies program.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0 This background tells you that we have survived as hunter-gatherers.  We are just now submitting our request to the College for a permanent budget line.  Along with this request we are submitting two further proposals, one for funds to renovate a suitable space on campus (allowing us to move out of our temporary quarters in the English Department), and another for two tenure-track hires in Digital Humanities.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 The positions of our staff have changed as the Center has grown.   The A.D. was initially a post-doctoral fellow; when that appointment expired, we cobbled together funds for a Research Assistant Professor position (non-tenurable) that is renewable for at least a second year.  Our other two staff have been on year-to-year appointments funded by one-time money.   Our Media Arts specialist started working for us as a student in our first year, and stayed on after graduation to take the full time position.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on paragraph 6 0 We have from the start been concerned with the professional development of our staff.   Our lead programmer came to us with an M.A. in Computer Science; we encouraged her to enter the Ph.D. program here while working for us, and have covered her tuition charges out of Center funds.   But much of what we can do for staff is contingent upon which way the budgetary winds blow.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on paragraph 7 0 So far we have had more success than I would have anticipated in a season of economic doom.  If we can sustain this success, my goals for our staffing will be to fund all full-time positions out of recurring money, to add to the number of positions as our portfolio of projects grows, and to stay alert for ways in which staff members can advance in their careers.

¶ 8 Leave a comment on paragraph 8 0 CDH is situated within the College of Arts & Sciences.  Its space and administrative support are currently provided by the English Department.

¶ 9 Leave a comment on paragraph 9 0 The lab is open to students working with PIs on sponsored projects, e.g. a doctoral student in Computer Science working on image registration.  CDH co-sponsors graduate RAs with some units, e.g. Library & Information Science and the Composition program.

¶ 10 Leave a comment on paragraph 10 0 Director (Faculty, English Department):  Represents the Center to its Campus Advisory Board and to University Administration; has final approval over budget; conducts weekly meetings with staff.

¶ 11 Leave a comment on paragraph 11 0 Direct reports:

0. ¶ 12 Leave a comment on paragraph 12 0
1. Associate Director (Faculty, Research Assistant Professor, appointed to the Center and affiliated with History):  Manages budget and personnel, project development, grant-writing.

   Direct Reports

   0. ¶ 13 Leave a comment on paragraph 13 0
   1. Assistant Director, Lead Programmer (Staff): manages technical work on all projects; supervises lab and work of student programmers.
      0. ¶ 13 Leave a comment on paragraph 13 0
      1. Media Arts specialist:  staff.  Primary duties:  graphics, web design.
      2. Graduate Research Assistants
      3. Undergraduate Research Assistants