You are eligible to apply if you are a:

• United States citizen, including those teaching abroad at U.S. chartered institutions and schools operated by the federal government;

• resident of U.S. jurisdictions;

• or a foreign national who has been residing in the United States or its jurisdictions for at least the three years immediately preceding the application deadline.

You are not eligible to apply if you:

• are a foreign national teaching abroad

• are related to the project director(s)

  are affiliated with the applicant institution (employees, currently enrolled students, etc.)

• have been taught or advised in an academic capacity by the project director(s)

• are delinquent in the repayment of federal debt (taxes, student loans, child support payments, and delinquent payroll taxes for household or other employees)

• have been debarred or suspended by any federal department or agency

• have attended a previous NEH professional development project (Seminars, Landmarks, or Institutes) led by the project director(s)

NEH does not require participants to have earned an advanced degree. In any given year, an individual may attend only one Institute or Landmarks workshop. J1 and F1 visa holders should confer with their sponsoring institution regarding their eligibility to receive a stipend from another institution. To be considered for selection, applicants must submit a complete application as indicated on the individual project’s website. Any questions about applications should be directed to the individual project team.

• Eligibility and Applying: To be considered, you must submit a complete application as indicated on the individual project’s website. Prospective participants must follow the stated application and acceptance deadlines. In general, application extensions will not be granted. Any questions about applying should be directed to the individual project team. Participant eligibility criteria are determined by NEH. Application review and offer decisions are determined by individual project teams in accordance with NEH eligibility requirements.

• Participant Acceptance: In any given year, an individual may attend only one Institute or Landmarks workshop. Participants may not accept an additional offer or withdraw in order to accept a different offer once they have accepted an offer to attend an NEH Institutes or Landmarks program. Endowment programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

• Principles of Civility: Project teams and program participants must adhere to the Principles of Civility for NEH Professional Development Programs detailed here: https://www.neh.gov/grants/principles-civility

• Participant Stipends and Attendance: Stipends provide compensation to participants for their time commitment and help to defray participation costs, such as travel, program activities, lodging, and meals (for residential programs), and technical support (for virtual programs). For residential programs, participants cover their own costs for travel to/from a program, lodging, and meals. Stipends are taxable as income. Project teams must not reduce participant stipends for project-related activities, lodging, or meal costs without prior approval.
  
  Project teams must not place contingencies (completing a lesson plan, completing a program evaluation, etc.) on the receipt of participant stipends.
  
  Applicants who accept an offer to participate are expected to remain during the entire period of the program and to participate in its work on a full-time basis. If a participant is obliged through special circumstances to arrive after the beginning or depart before the end of the Institutes or Landmarks program, it shall be the recipient institution's responsibility to see that only a pro rata share of the stipend is received or that the appropriate pro rata share of the stipend is returned if the participant has already received the full stipend.

  Program Format:

  • Residential & Combined:

    • 1 Week: $1,300

    • 2 Weeks: $2,200

    • 3 Weeks: $2,850

    • 4 Weeks: $3,450

  • Virtual:

    • 1 Week: $650

    • 2 Weeks: $1,100

    • 3 Weeks: $1,425

    • 4 Weeks: $1,725

• Participant Evaluations: The NEH requires project directors to collect anonymous participant evaluations at the conclusion of their programs. Unedited participant evaluation responses will be included in the project’s final report to the NEH and any future Institutes or Landmarks applications.

• Continuing Education, In-Service, and Graduate Credits for K-12 Programs: Project teams may opt to offer continuing education, in-service, or graduate credit. These opportunities sometimes require additional work by participants beyond the program, such as writing a research paper, and participants are responsible for associated costs or fees unless otherwise noted. See individual project websites for additional information.

This document provides an overview of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to assist those applying to attend an NEH-funded Institute or Landmarks of American History and Culture program. All responses are relevant to both Institutes and Landmarks applicants unless otherwise noted.

A. OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMS

What is the Institutes program?
Institutes are one- to four-week professional development programs that convene K-12 educators or higher education faculty from across the nation to deepen their understanding of significant topics in the humanities and enrich their capacity for effective scholarship and teaching.

What is the Landmarks of American History and Culture program?
Landmarks programs are one-week workshops that enhance how K-12 educators, higher education faculty, and humanities professionals incorporate place-based approaches to humanities teaching and scholarship.

What are the format types for Institutes and Landmarks programs?

• Residential: All participants attend the program at the host site.

• Virtual: All participants attend the program online (synchronous and asynchronous).

• Combined: Participants attend both online and at the host site at different times.

When are the programs held?
Typically, these programs run between mid-June to early August each year. Specific dates and schedules are available on individual program websites.

B. PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY

Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is determined by NEH and all programs must adhere to the same criteria. Current eligibility details can be found here.

How many programs can I attend per year?
You may attend only one Institutes or Landmarks program per year.

Can I apply if I attended an NEH program before?
Yes, previous attendees can apply as long as they meet the current eligibility criteria.

C. PROJECT AUDIENCE

Who attends?

• K-12 Educators: Full/part-time educators from public, charter, independent, and religiously affiliated schools, including museum educators and other personnel.

• Higher Education Faculty: Faculty teaching undergraduate students or those in humanities professions.

Are spaces reserved for early-career applicants?
Yes, a portion of spots are reserved:

• K-12 Educators: 20% of spaces for early-career applicants (5 years or fewer of teaching experience).

• Higher Education Faculty: 20% for early-career faculty (3 or fewer years), and 10% for advanced graduate students.

D. APPLICATIONS

Who reviews my application?
Each project determines its review panel, and decisions are based on NEH eligibility criteria. Refer specific application questions to the project(s) you are applying to.

Are application due dates the same?
Yes, the application open/close dates are the same for all programs. Check the NEH Professional Development page for deadlines.

When will I be notified of acceptance?
All applicants will be notified on the same day, and accepted applicants have two weeks to respond.

E. PARTICIPATION

Am I responsible for booking travel and lodging?
Yes, participants must arrange their own travel and lodging. NEH is not involved in travel arrangements.

What are the NEH Principles of Civility?
All participants must uphold the NEH’s Principles of Civility throughout the program.

Can guests join me?
While participants may travel with companions, only accepted participants are allowed to join program sessions and activities.

F. PARTICIPANT STIPENDS

How do stipends work?
Stipends are provided to help offset program costs. Stipend amounts vary based on program format and duration.

For this specific program, each participant will receive a stipend of $1,300. The stipend is intended to help cover all expenses. Stipends are taxable as income.

What if I arrive late or leave early?
Participants who do not attend the entire program may have their stipends reduced.

How are stipends paid?
Stipends are paid by the host institution. Contact the program director for specifics.

Can my stipend be reduced for program activities?
No, unless participants agree in advance.

G. POST-PARTICIPATION TOPICS

Can I receive continuing education credits?
Some programs offer continuing education, in-service, or graduate credits, which may require additional work. Check individual program websites for more information.

Will I provide feedback on my experience?
Yes, project directors collect anonymous evaluations at the end of the program. You can also discuss your experience with NEH staff.

Where will I be staying during the program? What will it cost?

If you wish to stay on campus, please indicate this on your application to stay in dorms conveniently located on Tulane's Uptown Campus, where we will be meeting each day. Housing is secure and within walking distance of public transportation, with optional parking available for an additional fee. Rooms have shared bathrooms and offer access to laundry and kitchen facilities. Nightly rates include all amenities and utilities, such as electricity, air conditioning, cable, and both ethernet and wireless internet access. The cost, which would be deducted from your stipend, is:

• Single Room: $42 per person, per night

• Double Room: $36 per person, per night

Additional optional fees include:

• Linens: $5 per person, per night (if you do not bring your own linens)

• Rec Center Access: $4 per person, per night

NEH Institutes and Landmarks programs are intended to extend and deepen knowledge and understanding of the humanities by focusing on significant topics, texts, and issues; contribute to the intellectual vitality and professional development of participants; and foster a community of inquiry that provides models of excellence in scholarship and teaching. 

NEH expects that project directors will take responsibility for encouraging an ethos of openness and respect, upholding the basic norms of civil discourse. 

Institute and Landmarks presentations and discussions should be: 

1. firmly grounded in rigorous scholarship, and thoughtful analysis; 

2. conducted without partisan advocacy; 

3. respectful of divergent views; 

4. free of ad hominem commentary; and 

5. devoid of ethnic, religious, gender, disability, or racial bias. 

NEH welcomes comments, concerns, or suggestions on these principles at questions@neh.gov.