FACACLASSIC

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NEH - 1098 - Humanities Panel - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Humanities Panel	Agency Name	National Endowment for the Humanities
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1098
Original Establishment Date	9/29/1965	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	930
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	General Counsel
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	11/17/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Michael
Date Of Renewal Charter	11/17/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	P.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	McDonald
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 606-8322
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	20 U.S.C. 959(a)(4)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	mmcdonald@neh.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	9/29/1965
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Grant Review Committee

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	Pursuant to 20 U.S.C. 959(a)(4), the Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is authorized to use panels of experts in carrying out the functions of the agency. Consistent with that authority, the Humanities Panel's objectives and scope of activities include (1) advising the NEH Chair and the National Council on the Humanities (NCH) on NEH policies, programs, and procedures as requested; and (2) reviewing and making recommendations on applications for financial support submitted to NEH.
How is membership balanced?*	To ensure that NEH reviews all applications under the highest standards of excellence in the humanities, Humanities Panel members are selected on the basis of their subject matter expertise in a humanities discipline, on the basis of their experience in a humanities institution, or both. NEH selects panelists from a broad range of humanities disciplines (including languages, literature, history, jurisprudence, philosophy, archaeology, comparative religion, ethics, and the history, criticism, and theory of the arts). Panelists also are selected from a wide range of humanities institutions (including colleges, universities, archives, libraries, museums, and historical societies). To the extent practicable, NEH strives to form panels reflecting wide ethnic, racial, gender, and age representation. Additional considerations include equitable geographic representation of panelists and inclusion of panelists whose location, type of institution, or status of institution may be underrepresented in humanities funding. The agency also considers an individual's previous NEH experience; whether there will be multiple individuals from the same institution serving on a panel; and frequency of service and consecutive service.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Meetings to review grant applications are convened on an ad hoc basis, in accordance with applications received. A panelist serves only for the duration of the specific meeting he/she attends. The Humanities Panel held 203 meetings in Fiscal Year 2024.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	As stated above, NEH receives a large number of applications from a wide variety of sources representing every humanities field. The range of views and opinions offered by members of the Humanities Panel could not be obtained from other sources.
Why close or partially close meetings?	Humanities Panel advisory committee meetings generally review grant applications as their main activity. These applications contain personal, commercial, and financial information given in confidence by grant applicants to the NEH.
Recommendation Remarks	NA

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	Yes	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	Yes
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	Yes
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	4,898
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	777
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$87,365,836.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	The Humanities Panel reviews applications to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and provides advice on applications for financial support. The advice received from the Humanities Panel is assembled by NEH staff and presented to the National Council on the Humanities. The NEH Chair takes into account all of the advice of the Humanities Panel, NEH staff, and National Council on the Humanities through the review process, and, by law, is authorized to make final funding decisions. The Humanities Panel may also provide advice to the Chair concerning policies, programs, and procedures of NEH.
Number Of Recommendations*	777	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	Not Applicable	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	100.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Not Applicable	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	The Humanities Panel does not make specific recommendations regarding grant amounts. Therefore, there is no possibility of partial implementation of recommendations from the Humanities Panel.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Grant awards are listed in an annual report.	Narrative Description*	The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) serves and strengthens the nation by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. NEH accomplishes this mission by providing grants for high-quality humanities projects in four funding areas: preserving and providing access to cultural resources, education, research, and public programs. NEH’s grant programs are organized through the Division of Education Programs, Division of Preservation and Access, Division of Public Programs, Division of Research Programs, Office of Digital Humanities, and Office of Federal/State Partnership. The Humanities Panel supports NEH’s mission by providing a peer review process through which applications for financial support may be initially evaluated. The Humanities Panel serves an integral part in carrying out the agency's strategic plan because it provides advice and assesses applications for financial support that: (a) foster significant research and original scholarship in the humanities; (b) provide opportunities for lifelong learning; (c) preserve and provide access to cultural and educational resources; (d) strengthen teaching and learning in the humanities in schools and colleges across the nation; and (e) strengthen the institutional base of the humanities.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	3/12/2025 12:10 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Arts Arts and Humanities Education Schools and Academic Institutions Social Sciences History

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