AAU urges Congress to provide at least $204 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities in FY23.
AAU urges Congress to continue the longstanding practice of funding NEH at the same level as the National Endowment for the Arts. A robust humanities education is critical to cultivating a broadly educated workforce ready to compete in the knowledge-based, global 21st-century economy. From the basic building blocks of early education to the highest levels of academic attainment, humanities fields provide individuals from all disciplines -- including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) -- with skillsets they will need to succeed. These include critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, analytical skills, competencies, and the expertise needed to fill public, private, and non-profit sector jobs.
For the cost of less than 50 cents per American, NEH grants support the humanities nationwide—including history, English, and civics—which are fundamental to learning and essential for full participation in a modern democracy. NEH provides opportunities for collaboration among students and faculty and helps sustain the pipeline of young humanities researchers and scholars.
AAU remains concerned about the long-term erosion of NEH funding for competitive grant awards for nonprofit institutions and scholars. NEH competitive grants are known for their quality and ability to leverage non-federal funding. NEH grants are at one of the lowest funding rates in NEH’s 50-year-plus history. This includes grants in the following divisions:
• Research
• Education
• Preservation and Access
• Challenge Grants
• Public Programs
• Digital Humanities