Over the last few days we have received concerning news around dramatic cuts and funding rescission of existing grants and cuts to staff at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). These cuts are targeting a range of programs at universities as well as scholarly societies and humanities councils.
Targeting the NEH, as well as the Institute of Museum and Library Services, impacts humanities and arts research at UC Santa Cruz that contributes vital perspectives to the university’s broader intellectual ecosystem. UC Santa Cruz is known for its interdisciplinary ethos and commitment to public and community engagement and scholarship and creative work that critically examines culture, history, ethics, and representation. This work, which crosses across all disciplines, not only advances academic knowledge but also enriches public discourse and informs more just and imaginative futures.
Much like we have seen with decisions from NIH, NSF, and other agencies that have had a direct impact on research, these decisions threaten not only individual research initiatives and fellowships, but also the infrastructure that supports cross-disciplinary collaboration and public engagement.
As we seek clarity on the actions being taken by NEH we ask principal investigators to contact the Office of Research by contacting research@ucsc.edu. If you receive any notice from a sponsoring agency that indicates a change or pause in your award, please forward it to ospdocs@ucsc.edu immediately.