Here is my understanding of how NEA determines if a department is an
independent component.

The component must meet all three of the following criteria:

be a distinct entity as an administrative and programming unit that is
separate from the parent organization;

have a separate budget and independent board of trustees;

and

employ a professional staff whose responsibilities are directed primarily
to the component unit.

This analysis thanks to the "Arts & Culture Funding Report" from the
Education Funding Research Council.

I can see a potential problem for many private universities trying to get
more than one application into the new NEA: each entity needing to have a
board of trustees independent from the university's. How it treats the
public university/research foundation hybrid I wouldn't hazard a guess.
university-affiliated art museums or university presses may meet these
criteria.

Remember, too, that NEA still doesn't have its budget approved for the
current fiscal year.

Bob Burke

______________________________________________________________________________
Robert P. Burke                         (219) 631-6494
Institute for Scholarship               fax: (219) 631-7743
   in the Liberal Arts                  e-mail: xxxxxx@nd.edu
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana  46556
USA