Principles of Civility for NEH Professional Development Programs

NEH Seminars, 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. Seminar, 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.

Participant Eligibility

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
• 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.

Participant Expectations

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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.
 

Application Information and Instructions

K-12 Institutes provide K-12 educators with the opportunity to engage in intensive study and discussion of important topics and issues in American history and culture, while providing them with direct experiences in the interpretation of significant historical and cultural sites and the use of archival and other primary evidence.

​

Prior to completing an application to a specific workshop, please review the project website and consider carefully what is expected in terms of residence and attendance, reading and writing requirements, and general participation in the work of the project.

​

NEH-funded institutes are professional development programs that convene K-12 educators from across the nation to deepen their understanding of significant topics in the humanities and enrich their capacity for effective scholarship and teaching.

​

Please Note: An individual may apply to up to two NEH summer projects (NEH Landmarks Workshops, NEH Summer Seminars, or NEH Summer Institutes), but may participate in only one.

Selection Criteria

A selection committee (consisting of the project director, one of the project scholars, and a veteran K-12 teacher) will read and evaluate all properly completed applications.

​

At least three workshop spaces will be reserved for teachers who have been teaching for five years or less. While recent participants are eligible to apply, selection committees are charged to give first consideration to applicants who have not previously participated in an NEH-supported seminar, institute, or workshop. Additionally, preference is given to applicants who would significantly contribute to the diversity and dissemination of the workshop. 

​

Special consideration is given to the likelihood that an applicant will benefit professionally and personally from the workshop experience.  It is important, therefore, to address each of the following factors in the application essay:

• your professional background;

• your interest in the subject of the workshop;

• your special perspectives, skills, or experiences that would contribute to the workshop; and

• how the experience would enhance your teaching or school service.

Stipend, Tenure, and Conditions of Award

Teachers selected to participate as NEH Summer Scholars will receive a $2,200 stipend at the end of the workshop session. Stipends are intended to help cover travel expenses to and from the project location, books, and ordinary living expenses.  Stipends are taxable.

​

Participants are required to attend all scheduled meetings and to engage fully as professionals in all project activities.  Participants who do not complete the full tenure of the project will receive a reduced stipend.

​

PLEASE NOTE: stipends WILL NOT be available on the last day of the workshop. All checks will be mailed to the participant’s home address within 60 days of the workshop’s conclusion.

Application Instructions

In any given year, an individual may apply to a maximum of two NEH summer programs, but may attend only one NEH program per summer. Once they have accepted an offer to attend any NEH Summer Program (Landmarks or Institutes), participants may not accept an additional offer or withdraw in order to accept a different offer.

Application Checklist

A completed application consists of the following items:

• A completed application form 

• Responses to short essay prompts uploaded with the application form (limit each response to 300 words)​

  • Why are you interested in this program? Please explain what draws you to this program and its topic.

  • How would participating in this program enhance your teaching? Describe how you plan to apply what you learn to your classroom or professional work.

  • How does your current teaching or professional role align with the goals of this program? Highlight specific aspects of your work that connect to the program’s focus.​

Applicant and Participant FAQ's

 

​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 a series of one-week workshops held across the nation
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 for the duration of the program at the
host site.
• Virtual: All participants attend for the duration of the program using an
online platform. This can include synchronous and asynchronous sessions.
• Combined: All participants attend a portion of the program online and a
portion of the program at the host site. Online and residential sessions occur
at different times, but participants attend the same format simultaneously.
 

When are Institutes and Landmarks programs held?

Institutes and Landmarks programs are typically held between mid-June to early
August each year. Programs may include required online meetings before and/or
after in-person activities. Please see the complete list of individual program
websites for specific dates and schedules.

What is the difference between an applicant and a participant?
An individual is considered an applicant if they submit a complete application by
the due date to an Institutes or Landmarks professional development program. An
individual is a participant if they accept a project director’s offer to attend by the
due date, meet NEH eligibility criteria, and fully participate in program activities.

How many participants attend Institutes and Landmarks programs?

• Institutes for K-12 and Higher Education: Programs may accept 25-36
participants per program. Please see specific program websites for the exact
number.
• Landmarks for K-12: Programs may accept 30-36 participants per week,
meaning 60-72 total per program. Please see specific program websites for
the exact number.
• Landmarks for Higher Education: Programs may accept 20-24 participants
per week, meaning 40-48 total per program. Please see specific program
websites for the exact number.
 

B. PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY
 

Who is eligible to apply?
Participant eligibility is determined by NEH and all professional development
programs must adhere to the same eligibility criteria. The current NEH Institutes
and Landmarks participant eligibility criteria are available here.

J1 and F1 visa holders should confer with their sponsoring institution regarding
their eligibility to receive a stipend from another institution.

How many NEH Division of Education professional development programs can I
attend each year?
An individual may attend only one Institutes or Landmarks program per year.

Can I apply if I attended a NEH professional development program in the past?
Yes, individuals who have previously attended a Seminar, Institutes, or Landmarks
program and who meet the current participant eligibility criteria can apply to
attend an Institutes or Landmarks program that is different from those they
previously attended.

C. PROJECT AUDIENCE
 

Who attends?
 

• Programs for K-12 educators target a national audience of full- or part-time
K-12 educators who teach in public, charter, independent, and religiously
affiliated schools, or as home schooling educators. They may also admit
museum educators and other K-12 school personnel who demonstrate that
participation will advance project goals and enhance their own professional
work.
• Programs for higher education faculty and humanities professionals target
a national audience of full- or part-time faculty who teach undergraduate
students and/or whose work in the humanities lies outside undergraduate
teaching but who demonstrate that their participation will advance project
goals and enhance their own professional work.
Are programs required to reserve spaces for certain applicants?
Yes, Institutes and Landmarks projects are required to reserve the following
percentage of spaces for eligible and qualified early career applicants:
• Institutes and Landmarks for K-12 Educators: 20% of the available spaces
for educators who are new to the profession (five years or fewer of teaching
experience).
• Landmarks for Higher Education: 20% of the available spaces for early
career faculty (three or fewer years as higher education faculty), humanities
professionals, and/or non-tenure track faculty and 10% of the available
spaces for advanced graduate students (individuals who have reached
candidacy in a doctoral program or are in the final year of a terminal degree
program).
• Institutes for Higher Education Faculty: 20% of the available spaces for
non-tenured/non-tenure track faculty and 10% of the available spaces for
advanced graduate students (individuals who have reached candidacy in a
doctoral program or are in the final year of a terminal degree program).
 

D. Applications

​

How are application requirements determined?
NEH determines participant eligibility criteria. Each Institute or Landmarks
program establishes their own application requirements and review criteria. NEH is
not involved with reviewing individual applications or making decisions about offers
to attend. Please refer application questions to the specific project(s) to which you
are applying.

Who reviews my application?
Each project team determines who will serve on their application review panel.
Decisions are based on NEH established eligibility criteria and qualifications for
attending are determined by individual project teams. Please refer application
questions to the specific project(s) to which you are applying.

Are application due dates the same for all programs being held next year?
Yes, applications open and close on the same day for all Institutes and Landmarks
programs. Please see the NEH Professional Development page for the current
application deadlines.

When will I know if I have been accepted or not?
All Institutes and Landmarks programs will contact applicants on the same day to
notify them if they have been accepted or not. Accepted applicants will then have
two weeks to accept or decline an offer. Participants may not accept an additional
offer or withdraw to accept a different offer once they have accepted an offer to
attend an NEH Institutes or Landmarks program. Please see the NEH Professional
Development page for the specific acceptance dates.
 

E. PARTICIPATION
 

Am I responsible for booking travel and lodging?
Yes, participants are responsible for making their own travel and lodging
arrangements. Please consult with the project director(s) for the program you will
attend for specifics about transportation and lodging. NEH is not involved with
participant travel. Cancelled travel arrangements are ineligible for
reimbursement.

What are the NEH Principles of Civility?
All participants, presenters, and project team members are expected to uphold the
NEH’s Principles of Civility throughout their time with the program.

Can guests join me during my time attending the program?
While participants may opt to travel with companions, only accepted participants
are permitted to participate in program sessions, site visits, and scheduled
activities.

F. PARTICIPANT STIPENDS
 

How do stipends work?
All participants are eligible to receive a stipend to help offset costs related to
attending an Institutes or Landmarks program. Stipend amounts are based upon
the format and length of the program. Stipends are considered taxable income.
 

 

​

​

What happens to my stipend if I arrive late or leave early?
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, project directors
may only pay a pro rata share of the stipend or require that an appropriate pro rata
share of the stipend is returned if the participant has already received the full
stipend.

Am I required to complete an assignment to receive the stipend?
Participants are not required to complete an assignment in exchange for payment
of a stipend.

How are stipends paid?
Stipends are paid by the host institution and each institution may have its own
process and requirements for completing payment. Please check with the project
director(s) for the program you will attend to ensure you have completed the
proper paperwork. NEH is not involved with the payment of stipends.

Can a project director reduce my stipend for program activities?
Project directors cannot reduce participant stipends for project-related activities,
lodging, and meal costs without your prior approval. For example, if a deposit is
required to reserve a block of rooms for an Institutes or Landmarks program,
project directors must ask participants to approve or decline a reduction in their
stipend to cover the deposit prior to arrival.

G. POST-PARTICIPATION TOPICS
 

Can I receive continuing education, in-service, or graduate credits?
Project teams may opt to offer continuing education, in-service, or graduate credit.
These opportunities sometimes require additional work by participants beyond the
program and participants are responsible for associated costs or fees unless
otherwise noted. See individual project websites for additional information.

Will I be able to provide feedback about my experience?
Yes, all Institutes and Landmarks project directors must collect anonymous
evaluations at the conclusion of the program. NEH staff are available to discuss
your experience and are interested in learning how you will apply what you learn to
your own work. Please contact the appropriate program (institutes@neh.gov or
landmarks@neh.gov) if you are interested in speaking with NEH staff.

Submission of Applications and Notification Procedure

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on March 5, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance on April 2, 2025.

All applicants will be notified of their acceptance, waitlist, or non-acceptance status on this date (not before and not after) by email.

​

Those who have been accepted will have until April 16, 2025 to accept or decline an offer.

Equal Opportunity Statement

NEH does not condone or tolerate discrimination or harassment based on age, color, disability, sex
(including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), genetic information, national origin,
race, or religion. Nor does NEH condone or tolerate retaliation against those who initiate
discrimination complaints (either formally or informally), serve as witnesses, or otherwise
participate in the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) process, or oppose discrimination or
harassment. For further information, write to the Equal Opportunity Officer, National Endowment
for the Humanities, 400 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024. TDD: 202-606-8282 (this is a
special telephone device for the Deaf).

​