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Javits Fellowships

Program Description
The Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program, within the U.S. Department of Education, provides up to 4 years of competitively awarded support to students of superior academic ability and high financial need who are pursuing doctoral degrees, or the highest terminal degree, in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. It is the only federal fellowship program that provides financial support to students pursuing graduate degrees in the humanities and arts. The Javits Fellowship Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education.

Action Needed
We urge Congress to provide no less than $8.1 million in FY 2012 funding for the Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program within the Department of Education, the FY 2011 enacted level, and the amount approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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FY 2011 Funding Status: $8.1 million [Enacted April 15, 2011]
Following enactment of the FY 2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 1473) on April 15, 2011, the U.S. Department of Education finalized funding for the Javits Fellowship program at $8.08 million for FY 2011. This marks a $1.6 million (16.5%) decrease from the FY 2010 level of $9.7 million.

FY 2012 Funding Status: Pending

FY 2012 President’s Budget Proposal: $0/Consolidation [OMB Release- February 14, 2011]
President Obama's proposal would consolidate the Javits Fellowship into the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN), a traineeship program administered through the Department of Education supporting graduate students in areas of national need. The proposal provides $40.7 million for both GAANN and Javits, supporting 909 fellowships. GAANN was funded at $30.1 million in FY 2010. The President's budget zeroes out Javits, but increases the line item for GAANN by $9.7 million, the FY 2010 funding level for Javits.

Latest House Action: $0/Eliminated  [Subcommittee Draft- September 29, 2011]
On September 29, 2011, the House Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Subcommittee released a Majority-only version of a draft FY 2012 funding bill that was not considered by the full subcommittee. The Javits Fellowship program is eliminated under the draft House bill.

Latest Senate Action: $8.1 million  [Full Committee Vote- September 21, 2011]
On September 20, 2011, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the FY 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services Funding Bill (S. 1599). The Senate bill maintains funding for Javits as a separate line item at $8.1 million, the same as the FY 2011 enacted level.

Committee Jurisdiction
Appropriations:

Authorization:

Authorization [Last reauthorized: August 14, 2008]
The Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program is authorized under Title VII, Section 702 of the Higher Education Act (HEA). This law was last reauthorized under the Higher Education Opportunity Act (H.R. 4137), enacted on August 14, 2008.

Talking Points

  • The Javits Fellowship is critical to supporting a pipeline of talented experts and educators who will help to meet the demands of our 21st century workforce.
  • In order to remain globally competitive, we cannot afford to lose a generation of leaders.
  • In today’s knowledge-based economy, we need graduate students trained in the humanities and social sciences who will be able to address pressing national issues.
  • The program offers 4 years of support as a portable fellowship in select fields of study.
  • This is a highly competitive federal graduate program, with only 6% of applications funded.
  • The maximum stipend is $30,000 and the institutional payment is $13,755.
  • The average time to degree for doctoral candidate fellows is better than the national average.

Additional Resources