The AHA has signed on to a memo from the Coalition for International Education urging the US Department of Education to protect Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships. A new interpretation of policy would make graduate students seeking funding for beginning level training in less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) ineligible for FLAS fellowships. In opposing this change, the AHA recognizes the need to protect the nation’s efforts to strengthen area and international studies among the rising generation of scholars.
Note: the Coalition for International Education received a response to this letter from the US Department of Education on June 24, 2016.