February/March 2025: Federal Policy Updates

Phi Beta Kappa began with a student-driven idea that the arts and sciences could serve as a grounding and elevating force in turbulent times. Today, times are now turbulent for the arts and sciences themselves as policymakers propose cuts to critical funding for higher education accessibility, scientific research, and the nation’s cultural endowments. Amid uncertainty, here are some productive ways to champion the arts and sciences.

• Read Phi Beta Kappa’s statement about proposed cuts to scientific research funding
• Learn about the impact of the arts, humanities, and sciences in your state and district by using the following resources:
  • National College Attainment Network State Economic Value of College Profiles
  • National Endowment for the Arts State Profiles
  • National Endowment for the Humanities State & Jurisdiction Impact
  • National Science Foundation by the Numbers
• Express your support for higher education that includes the arts and sciences by sharing these messages with your newly elected officials.
• Stay up to date on the arts and sciences in higher education by following Phi Beta Kappa on LinkedIn.
• Sign up for our State of the Arts & Sciences newsletter where we provide monthly policy updates for those who support the arts and sciences.

National Organizations

American Academy of Arts and Sciences 

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Council of Learned Societies 

American Council on Education 

 Association of American Colleges & Universities

Association of American Universities

Council of Graduate Schools

Council of Independent Colleges

Consortium of Social Sciences Associations

National Alliance for the Humanities

National Humanities Center

Reports and Infographics

Myths and Realities About Humanities Majors
(Humanities Works)

Strategies for Recruiting Students to the Humanities: A Comprehensive Resource
(National Humanities Alliance)

What Are You Going to Do with That?
(National Humanities Alliance)

Doubling the Maximum Pell Grant
(National Association of Student Financial Aid Adminstrators)

chArts and Sciences
(Phi Beta Kappa)

The Real, Long-term Labor Market Outcomes of Liberal Arts Grads
(Strada Institute for the Future of Work and Emsi)

Federal Funding for Social and Behavioral Sciences
(Association of American Universities)

It Takes More than a Major
(Association of American Colleges & Universities)

Liberal Arts Degrees and Their Value in Employment
(Association of American Colleges & Universities and National Center for Higher Education Management Systems)

Power of the Liberal Arts
(Council of Independent Colleges)

Science Matters
(Science Coalition)

Heart of the Matter
(American Academy of Arts & Sciences)

Arts + Social Impact Explorer
(Americans for the Arts)

District Advocacy Guide: Engaging Humanities Advocates on a Local Level
(National Humanities Alliance)

NEH Impact Index
(Graduate Center Digital Initiatives)

The State of Humanities 2018
(American Academy of Arts & Sciences)