The American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR) in Amman, Jordan is a private, international, non profit 501(c)(3), academic institution dedicated to promoting research and publication in the fields of archaeology, anthropology, ancient through Islamic history, art history, cultural resources management, conservation and preservation studies, Near Eastern languages, religion, and other aspects of Middle East and Near Eastern area studies.
The research fellowship programs have traditionally been the primary means of accomplishing ACOR’s mission to promote academic awareness and research about ancient and modern Jordan and the Middle East. Through fellowships, ACOR has provided numerous educational opportunities for American and other international senior and junior scholars in various humanities and social science disciplines focusing on Middle East and Near Eastern studies.
ACOR’s fellowship program now includes 14 different fellowships and scholarships.  ACOR provides 20-22 fellows with awards each academic year (subject to funding).  This program attracts scholars reflecting a broad spectrum of disciplinary, institutional, regional, and cultural backgrounds.  In the 2011-2012 cycle ACOR introduced a new fellowship for senior scholars to complete a scholarly work for publication and introduced a competitive award for Jordanian scholars to present a paper at the annual ASOR meetings in the USA.
Most of ACOR’s fellowship programs are “residential”, i.e., room, board, and research space are provided. ACOR attempts to create an academic community within the institute by choosing mature scholars and students from a variety of disciplines. Occasionally, numerous scholars from a single discipline are present to form a community of their own. In the past this was the archaeological/anthropological community. However ACOR has become a community for political scientists, historians, and specialists in Middle East and Near Eastern studies.
All ACOR fellows are normally expected to lecture on their research at least once during their fellowship tenures. They may participate in international conferences, meetings and workshops.  ACOR fellows may be asked to lecture at the local universities, the international community schools, other private and international research institutes and organizations.  All of these events throughout the year foster intellectual interaction and information exchange in the fellow’s community.  It is ACOR’s experience that contacts from these processes often develop into long-term professional relationships.
The final selection for ACOR fellowships is conducted by the Fellowship Committee of the Board of Trustees. Â Applications are reviewed by both Fellowship Committee members and outside reviewers. It is essential that an applicant be well qualified and that s/he proposes a viable project that will make a scholarly contribution to ACOR, Jordan, and his/her own academic development. Fellowship Committee members and outside reviewers follow established policies and selection criteria.
