By Paul Stern
Earlier this month, AAU was proud to sponsor and participate in the National Humanities Alliance’s annual meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day, which brings together delegations from across the United States to Capitol Hill for two days to make the case for robust federal funding for the humanities.
On Humanities Advocacy Day, state-based delegations visit the offices of their members of Congress to advocate for humanities learning and education across federal agencies and programs, such as the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Archives, and the Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs, which support international education and foreign language studies.
During the NHA annual meeting on March 10, advocates gathered to learn more about the importance of funding federal humanities agencies and programs as well as about available resources that can help demonstrate the impact of federal funding on humanities research and education, including the preservation of documents and culture, throughout the United States.
Following the annual meeting, advocates from across the nation (including from many AAU member institutions) held meetings on Capitol Hill with congressional staff to discuss the importance of robust funding for the humanities.
AAU staff joined the Washington state delegation, which included staff and educators from the University of Washington and Seattle University, to highlight the role of humanities research and education in building a well-rounded citizenry with the skills and cultural competencies to engage in the 21st-century economy.
During their meetings with congressional staff, advocates highlighted the vibrant humanities work being done at their institutions, districts, and states. For example, the Washington delegation talked about the Dialogues on the Experience of War program, which enables “veterans and nonveterans to explore together and in depth such topics as civic engagement, veteran identity, [and] legacies of military service.”
AAU staff also highlighted important initiatives like the NEH’s Humanities Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence program, launched in 2023. This program provides support for projects that use insights from the humanities to better understand the social and civic challenges and opportunities presented by AI.
AAU continues to urge Congress to fund and support the humanities so we can preserve our heritage and be better prepared to face the challenges ahead.
The National Humanities Alliance’s website provides detailed examples of humanities initiatives supported by the NEH in all 50 states. Please visit NEHForAll.org to see the impact of NEH-funded programs and initiatives in your state or district.
Paul Stern is legal analyst for government relations and public policy at AAU.