The Hall Center for the Humanities at Kansas University is accepting applications for its first-ever Simons Distinguished Citizen Fellowship.

The program, which begins this fall, will bring professionals in fields such as journalism, business, health care, law, politics, the arts or nonprofit work to KU for continuing education or to conduct research.

Applications are due by Jan. 31. Victor Bailey, director of the Hall Center, said no applications had been received, but he expected them to start coming in closer to the deadline.

He said Hall Center staff distributed about 5,000 letters and fliers to alumni and others identified as potential fellows for the program.

“It’s a bit of a large process for us,” Bailey said. “We’ve never recruited for such a thing before.”

The program will provide a $20,000 stipend for a fellow to spend one semester at KU. The fellow can work with faculty, conduct research, serve as a guest speaker and participate in Hall Center activities. He or she will present a public lecture at the end of the fellowship period.

“It’s rather open-ended,” Bailey said. “It’s really up to them what to do.”

To qualify, the applicant must have five years of professional experience and take a leave of absence from his or her current employer, who will be urged to supplement the stipend amount to provide a greater salary. Preference will be given to applicants from the Midwest.

The fellowship was established by a $350,000 gift from Dolph C. Simons Jr., editor of the Lawrence Journal-World and chairman of The World Company, and his wife, Pam.

The gift will be partially matched through a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to create a fund worth $437,500.

For more information on the program, visit www.hallcenter.ku.edu or e-mail hallcenter@ku.edu.