The Center prides itself in its efforts to promote research and learning. One way that it does so is through its one-semester Fellows Program. Washington University faculty that are awarded the fellowship are designated Fellows of the Center and would be relieved of all teaching and administrative duties for that semester. One way that it does so is through its one-semester Fellows Program. Washington University faculty that are awarded the fellowship are designated Fellows of the Center and would be relieved of all teaching and administrative duties for that semester. The Faculty Fellows Program is designed to provide a supportive environment for innovative, interdisciplinary scholarship and research. The fellowships are open to all tenured and tenure-track faculty members in Arts & Sciences.

The Center also endows several grants to encourage academic exchange among the University community. One-year faculty seminar grants and Three-year faculty seminar grants are awarded to tenured or tenure-track Washington University faculty who propose to lead a seminar on a particular topic; lasting three years, these seminars provide an informal environment for attendees to share their own thoughts and work concerning the theme. One-year faculty seminar grants hold to the same principles over a shorter amount of time. Reading group grants, renewable annually, are awarded to tenured or tenure-track faculty and Washington University humanities graduate students to create reading groups structured around a particular theme.