The NEH Challenge

In 2008 Northampton Community College was chosen by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to receive the largest Challenge Grant  awarded that year in a highly selective national grant competition. The College's NEH grant received the "We the People" designation, placing it among an elite group of projects associated with an NEH initiative aimed at strengthening the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture.

The $800,000 NEH award was a challenge grant. It required the College to raise an additional $1.6 million from other donors. The funds created an endowment that  enables public school students, college students, and the community at large to explore a different humanities-related theme each year. Exploration of the yearly theme includes credit and non-credit course offerings, as well as public programming such as a film festival, a "one-community-one-book" series, panels, podcasts, webcasts, and visits by nationally known speakers.

"This is a big deal," recently retired NCC President Dr. Arthur Scott said at the time. "We try hard to blur the line between the college and community, and this grant will benefit both our students and the surrounding community."

The year-long theme is integrated into curriculum at Northampton's Bethlehem, Tannersville, and Southside campuses, as well as into the community with the help of community partners.

Community partners help to generate interest in each theme and present public programming. Partners include Bethlehem Area Public Library, the Bethlehem Area School District, the Eastern Monroe Public Library, Historic Bethlehem Partnership, Monroe County Historical Association, and the Stroudsburg Area School District.

Visit the "American Presidency" website for more information.

Thank You for Helping Us Meet The Challenge!
Northampton thanks the community for the support received to meet this history-making challenge. In 2012 NCC was able to complete the challenge grant one year early. Having raised $1.6 million the National Endowment for the Humanities matched those funds with $800,000. As a result Northampton Community College has  established a $2.4 million endowment that will support and enhance expanded programming, curriculum development and speakers, all addressing American History and culture. Additional information about this years NEH theme and programming can be found at www.northampton.edu/neh.