The Spotlight on Humanities in Higher Education program supports small projects that help students from underserved populations gain access to and benefit from the humanities. Projects must enhance the teaching and study of the humanities at one or more colleges and universities that enroll fewer than 10,000 undergraduate students and that belong to at least one of the following categories: community colleges, minority-serving institutions, rural colleges and universities, or colleges and universities with more than 40% of students receiving Pell grants. These institutions, nonprofit organizations, and state, local, or Native American Tribal governments aiming to advance the humanities at these institutions are eligible to apply.
The outcome of a Spotlight project will be planning for or advancement of a project to develop a curriculum, initiative, community or faculty partnership, or teaching resource that improves student understanding of and access to the humanities. The program supports activities including but not limited to course or program development, expert consultations, speakers’ series, student research and experiential learning, creation of teaching resources, and community engagement.
You may request support at one of two levels: Exploration or Development. If you have not yet begun working on the project and would use a Spotlight award to get started, you should apply at the Exploration level. If you have taken steps (even small steps) to begin your project and would use a Spotlight award to make additional progress, you should apply at the Development level.
Eligible Applicants
If your institution is a college or university, it must:
- enroll fewer than 10,000 undergraduate students, and
- belong to at least one of the following categories:
- community colleges,
- minority-serving institutions,
- rural colleges and universities, or
- colleges and universities with more than 40% of students receiving Pell grants
If your institution is a nonprofit or a state, local, or tribal government, you must
- explain how you will partner with one or more eligible colleges or universities
- submit Attachment 2 (to list partner institutions and show how they meet eligibility criteria or, if not yet selected, to explain how you will select project partners and ensure that they meet eligibility criteria)
Application deadline: October 1, 2024
Date posted: September 14, 2024