Credit: Allison Shelley/Complete College Photo Library
By Paul Stern
Humanities education and research are central to the mission of America’s leading research universities. Earlier this week, AAU staff took part in the National Humanities Alliance’s (NHA) annual meeting and joined delegations from across the United States on Humanities Advocacy Day to advocate on Capitol Hill for federal funding for humanities programs and to underscore the positive impact that humanities research investment has on our nation. AAU is a proud sponsor of Humanities Advocacy Day and participates in the event annually.
At the March 9 NHA annual meeting in Arlington, VA, advocates first learned about the vital role federal agencies and programs play in supporting the humanities across the nation. These include the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Archives, and the Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs. Advocates discussed how to foster congressional support for humanities research, education, and public programs at the federal, state, and institutional level.
The following day, on Humanities Advocacy Day, state-based delegations visited the offices of their members of Congress to urge them to provide sustained, robust federal funding for these agencies and programs and to join relevant congressional letters and caucuses in the House and Senate to demonstrate their support.
AAU staff joined delegations from Florida, Louisiana, and West Virginia during their Hill visits. The delegations included academic leaders, faculty, and advocates from Tulane University, the Council of State Archivists, and Glenville State University.
During these meetings, advocates highlighted the economic and cultural impact of funding for the humanities at the state and local level as well as the adverse consequences of funding disruptions at federal agencies. They discussed the role of federal humanities funding in commemorating and preserving our history and our collective identity, including celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. AAU advocates and all allies also talked to members of Congress about how a humanities education helps students gain durable skills that make our nation more prosperous and safe, and is crucial to understanding the social, legal, and ethical impacts of the continued use and development of artificial intelligence.
As Congress begins the FY27 appropriations process, AAU urges lawmakers to fund and support the humanities. Specifically, AAU asks Congress to fund the NEH and the National Endowment for the Arts at $215 million, IMLS at $300 million, and the international education and foreign language programs like Title VI and Fulbright-Hays at $85.7 million. Funding at these levels will help ensure that our nation can preserve its history, cultivate a skilled and civically minded workforce, and be prepared to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
Paul Stern is legal analyst for government relations and public policy at AAU.