Summer Seminars and Institutes

These grants support faculty development programs in the humanities for school teachers and for college and university teachers. NEH Summer Seminars and Institutes may be as short as two weeks or as long as five weeks. NEH Summer Seminars and Institutes ¿ extend and deepen knowledge and understanding of the humanities by focusing on significant topics and texts; ¿ contribute to the intellectual vitality and professional development of participants; ¿ build communities of inquiry and provide models of civility and excellent scholarship and teaching; and ¿ link teaching and research in the humanities. An NEH Summer Seminar or Institute may be hosted by a college, university, learned society, center for advanced study, library or other repository, cultural or professional organization, or school or school system. The host site must be suitable for the project, providing facilities for scholarship and collegial interaction. These programs are designed for a national audience of teachers. Program formats ¿ Seminar for school teachers¿sixteen participants (NEH Summer Scholars): A seminar enables sixteen participants (of whom two may be full-time graduate students who intend to pursue a K-12 teaching career) to examine an important text, study works of well-known authors, or review scholarship on a significant historical period or event. The principal goals are to deepen teachers¿ understanding of the subject at hand through reading, discussion, reflection, and writing, and to sustain their intellectual commitment to teaching. The director, an expert in the field, guides discussion of common readings and offers advice for individual study and projects. ¿ Institute for school teachers¿twenty-five to thirty participants (NEH Summer Scholars): An institute, which is typically guided by a team of core faculty and visiting scholars, presents the best available scholarship on important topics and works in the humanities that are taught in the nation¿s schools. Participants (of whom three may be full-time graduate students who intend to pursue a K-12 teaching career) compare and synthesize the various perspectives offered by the faculty and make connections between the institute content and classroom teaching. The emphasis throughout is on teaching the specific humanities subject matter and not on pedagogical theory and approaches. ¿ Seminar for college and university teachers¿sixteen participants (NEH Summer Scholars): A seminar enables participants (including two full-time graduate students in the humanities) to conduct scholarly research and focused study under the direction of a scholarly expert. The director designs a program to articulate key topics and focus discussion in seminar meetings. The director also advises participants on individual projects. ¿ Institute for college and university teachers¿twenty-five to thirty participants (NEH Summer Scholars): An institute focuses on a subject of major importance in undergraduate education. Guided by a team of core and visiting scholars, participants (including three full-time graduate students in the humanities) explore a variety of perspectives on the subject. The primary goal is to advance humanities teaching.