Reframing Relevance: Sustaining the Humanities in Specialized Academic Contexts (Northeast Modern Language Association Conference (NeMLA))
Newport, RI
Organization: Northeast Modern Language Association Conference
Event: Northeast Modern Language Association Conference (NeMLA)
As some institutions restructure academic priorities in response to various pressures in higher education, the Humanities can face contraction, marginalization, or elimination. These challenges are intensified at specialized universities, meaning institutions oriented toward fields such as STEM, health sciences, business, etc., where Humanities courses are often kept to general education requirements and could be perceived as peripheral to students’ professional training. Within such environments, Humanities faculty must navigate not only broader disciplinary challenges but also institutional cultures that may misunderstand or underappreciate the field’s contributions.
This roundtable invites faculty working in specialized institutional contexts to reflect on how they sustain and advocate for the Humanities amid these pressures. How do instructors articulate the intellectual, ethical, and professional value of Humanities study to students primarily focused on career-focused pathways? What pedagogical or curricular strategies have proven effective in demonstrating relevance to disciplines such as engineering, nursing, or business? Alternatively, how have faculty members built collaborations with colleagues across fields to integrate Humanities perspectives into specialized curricula?
Participants will also consider how they engage multiple audiences—students, faculty peers, and administrators—to communicate the significance of Humanities education. By sharing concrete strategies, institutional experiences, and models of interdisciplinary partnership, this discussion aims to highlight adaptable approaches for maintaining the visibility and importance of the Humanities in specialized settings. Ultimately, the roundtable seeks to reassert the Humanities as essential to professional education.
This roundtable is part of the Northeast Modern Language Association conference, which will take place between March 6-9, 2027 in Newport, RI. Hybrid: The session will be held in-person but a few remote presentations may be included. 250-word abstracts for participation in this roundtable are welcome, and they can be submitted through this website: https://cfplist.com/nemla/Home/login
https://cfplist.com/nemla/Home/login
Susan Gorman