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Reimagining Humanities Graduate Education: The Doctoral Futures Initiative

In a groundbreaking move aimed at elevating the landscape of humanities education, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), in collaboration with prominent organizations including the American Historical Association (AHA), the Modern Language Association (MLA), and the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), has launched the Doctoral Futures initiative. This bold initiative, supported by a grant from The Mellon Foundation and additional resources from the ACLS endowment, aims to reassess and innovate the current structures of humanities PhD programs over the next three years.

The urgency for such an initiative arises from the increasing challenges facing higher education, particularly within the humanities and social sciences. With substantial cuts to funding, dwindling staff numbers, reduced enrollments, and a lack of resources, there are serious stakes involved in how humanistic knowledge is produced and shared, particularly through graduate education.

Purpose and Goals of Doctoral Futures

The Doctoral Futures initiative is structured around a series of in-person and virtual committees. These committees will include a diverse group of participants—institutional leaders, faculty, both current and recent doctoral students—who will critically analyze and envision new paradigms for humanities graduate education. The scope of the initiative encompasses a wide array of aspects, from recruitment and admissions practices to curricular innovation, mentoring, and retention strategies, right through to comprehensive assessments of career trajectories for humanities PhD alumni.

Additionally, the initiative aims to compile a publicly accessible and extensive inventory of research related to innovations in humanities graduate education. This will serve as a foundation for new research initiatives focusing on successful practices across the field. By actively engaging with institutional decision-makers, the initiative hopes to adapt existing practices and support faculty and administrators as they implement new strategies.

Challenges in Doctoral Education

Joy Connolly, President of ACLS, poignantly highlighted the bleak future of doctoral education within many humanities disciplines, emphasizing the urgency to advocate for practical solutions against austerity measures. The initiative's goal is not only to empower PhD students during a time of scarce academic job opportunities but also to actively involve them in attracting future undergraduates to the study of humanities.

Through collaborative engagement with academic society partners, ACLS aims to enhance the graduate experience across the humanities for all students, particularly reaching out to first-generation college students and those from traditionally marginalized backgrounds. The Doctoral Futures initiative also aligns with broader advocacy efforts aimed at reforming the faculty merit system, ensuring that the essential contributions of those engaged in maintaining robust undergraduate programs are aptly recognized and rewarded.

Key Areas of Focus

Kicking off in Fall 2025, the initiative will conduct concurrent committees focusing on three core domains:
1. Preparation and Inclusion, led by the Society of Biblical Literature;
2. Graduate Programs, led by the Modern Language Association;
3. Career Pathways for PhDs, led by the American Historical Association.

With a commitment to innovation, these committees will critically evaluate existing practices, moving toward a consensus on the most effective and promising methods for enhancing graduate programs in the humanities. The objective is to disseminate the recommendations widely by early 2027, culminating in a comprehensive report detailing progress and outcomes expected for release in 2028.

Leadership and Participation

The Doctoral Futures initiative is being convened by ACLS and is under the leadership of Stacy Hartman, Program Officer, and Treviene Harris, Project Manager. Their backgrounds provide a wealth of experience in both academic consultancy and direct involvement in graduate education initiatives. Participation in the Doctoral Futures working groups will be by invitation, emphasizing a targeted and strategic approach to reforming graduate education in the humanities.

The ACLS, formed a century ago, stands as a nonprofit federation representing 81 scholarly organizations. The council upholds the principle that knowledge serves as a public good and is committed to enhancing the flow and forms of scholarly knowledge, championing diversity in identity and experience within academic spheres. Partners in this initiative, including the AHA and MLA, share a similar commitment to nurturing scholarship and teaching in the humanities.

Conclusion

The Doctoral Futures initiative embodies a proactive response to the ongoing challenges in humanities education, aiming to fundamentally reshape how future scholars are trained. As this initiative unfolds, it holds the promise of not only enhancing graduate education but also ensuring that humanities knowledge continues to thrive in an increasingly complex educational landscape. For more information or updates, interested parties can reach out to the initiative through the specified contact channels.