Oregon Humanities

Apply for a Free, College-Level Humanities Course in Portland

Adults living on low incomes in the Portland area who want to explore challenging ideas about power, justice, knowledge, and community can now apply for Humanity in Perspective. HIP is a free, two-semester college course for adults who do not have a college degree (AA, BA, MA, etc.) and who face financial barriers to continuing their education. The course is offered by Oregon Humanities and taught by Reed College professors. Challenge yourself—submit an application by the extended deadline of Friday, August 5, 2011!

For more information, please download the brochure, below, or contact the Course Director, Sarah Van Winkle, at (503) 241-0543, ext. 112, or by email.

Downloads

• Humanity in Perspective Portland application
• Humanity in Perspective Portland brochure

16 May 2011 | Permalink | Comments? (0 so far)

Humanity in Perspective's 10th Class Graduates

Humanity in Perspective (HIP), Oregon Humanities’ free college humanities course for low-income adults, will graduate its tenth class at Reed College’s Vollum Lounge, 3203 SE Woodstock Ave., Portland, at 3:00 p.m. on April 10, 2011. The ceremony and reception to follow are free and open to the public.

Kim Stafford, poet, essayist, and professor at Lewis & Clark College, will deliver the commencement address.

The 2011 class of fifteen brings the total number of graduates since 2001 to one hundred and fourteen. Another thirty-five students have completed one semester of the two-semester course, which is taught by Reed College professors. A second course, taught in Salem by Willamette University faculty, was launched in 2009. HIP students have gone on to study at Portland Community College, Portland State University, and Marylhurst University.

10 March 2011 | Permalink | Comments? (0 so far)

Apply Now for HIP Salem

This summer, adults living on low incomes in the Salem area who want to explore challenging ideas about power, justice, knowledge, and community will have a chance to participate in Humanity in Perspective (HIP), a free, one-semester, college-credit course in the humanities. HIP is offered in Salem in partnership with Willamette University.

Applicants must be eighteen years of age or older, able to speak and write fluently in English, and willing to commit to attending class two evenings per week during the four-month program. Applicants are not required to have a high school diploma or GED. Those who already have a college degree are not eligible.

The application deadline has been extended to Tuesday, April 12, 2011.

For more information, download the brochure below, visit the Humanity in Perspective program page, or contact program coordinator Kellie Ernst at (800) 735-0543, ext. 112, or via email.

Downloads

• Humanity in Perspective Salem 2011 brochure
• Humanity in Perspective Salem 2011 application

25 January 2011 | Permalink | Comments? (0 so far)

HIP Portland 2010 Graduation

The Humanity in Perspective (HIP) Portland class of 2010 (pictured above with Course Director Sarah Van Winkle) graduated in a ceremony this past Sunday at Reed College. Visit our Facebook page to see the photos, and visit the program page to find out more about HIP Portland and HIP Salem.

30 March 2010 | Permalink | Comments? (2 so far)

Humanity in Perspective Overview

HIP in Portland

Oregon Humanities and Reed College jointly present a free public program to provide economically and educationally disadvantaged individuals in the Portland-metro area the opportunity to study the humanities in a two-semester, college-level course. Both organizations undertake this effort in the shared conviction that the humanities provide access to ideas and skills that in fact change people’s lives. Through a rigorous encounter with great texts and ideas, the program hopes to foster the intellectual and personal growth of the participants, to further their engagement in civic and community life, and to make it possible for them to choose to continue their education. With a class schedule and support services designed to address their unique needs, the program will allow students to engage with a college-level curriculum without the burdens of financial constraints, childcare, transportation costs, or interference with employment.

HIP in Salem

Oregon Humanities began a partnership with Willamette University to offer a one-semester HIP course in Salem beginning in summer 2009. Through twice-weekly classes taught by Willamette professors, HIP aims to promote the intellectual and personal growth of students, spark their interest in civic and community life and encourage them to continue their education. HIP in Salem began in May 2009, and classes met twice weekly on the Willamette campus through August 2009. HIP students receive free tuition, books and other course materials; free child care during class; free bus tickets for transportation to and from class; and transferable college credit from Willamette University.

An Insider’s View

Read HIP graduate Sam Nerveza’s blog entry about how the course changed his life and the way he sees the world.

Program Goals

• To promote the personal and intellectual enrichment of students, thereby preparing them for a richer participation in all aspects of civic, economic, and political life;
• To create a network of community agents involved in advocating for and providing integral support to low-income and disadvantaged adults who have committed to seeking a college-level education; and
• To create a bridge between the low-income communities of Portland and the many forms of higher education available in the area.

Program History

Humanity in Perspective is based on the Bard College Clemente Course in the Humanities, an innovative program that began in New York City in 1995 and now operates in several cities nationwide and internationally, in Yucatan, Mexico. The Clemente program was founded by author and poverty activist, Earl Shorris, as described in his books, New American Blues: A Journey Through Poverty to Democracy (Norton, 1996), and Riches for the Poor: The Clemente Course in the Humanities (Norton, 2000). Bard College maintains oversight of the Clemente Course, and also provides supporting funds for the establishment of additional programs around the country. The dissemination project values the innovations of diverse communities seeking enrichment through the humanities.

From 2005 to 2008, Oregon Humanities offered a HIP course at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (EOCI) in Pendleton. EOCI has a strong commitment to education and offers GED courses, Adult Basic Education courses, and a few college courses. The offering of HIP at EOCI was based upon the conviction that all individuals, no matter their life history or economic circumstance, can live better as free persons in society once they have the opportunity to explore some of the fundamental questions of human existence through the great literature and ideas of the past and present. OCH and EOCI believe that investing in education programs for inmates not only reduces recidivism but also breaks the cycle of criminality. HIP at EOCI was taught by professors from Eastern Oregon University, Blue Mountain Community College, and Whitman College.

Community Sponsors

Oregon Humanities has partnered with a small number of social service and educational organizations to make this program a success in Portland. The role of these organizations, also called community sponsors, is to assist Oregon Humanities with student recruitment and retention. Community sponsors are committed to:

• Informing their clients about the HIP program.
• Assisting individuals interested in the program with the application process.
• Working with the HIP course director to provide support for the students they recruited who are selected to participate in the course. This helps us to ensure each student’s success in the class.

Program Cost

There will be no cost to students or community sponsors. Tuition, course materials, books, transportation, and on-site childcare will be provided by OCH. All of this would not be possible without the generous support of foundations, corporations, and individuals.

HIP Portland

Classes meet on Monday and Thursday evenings in downtown Portland, September through March.

HIP Salem

Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings on the Willamette University campus, May through August.

For More Information

For more information, contact the course coordinator, Sarah Van Winkle, at (503) 241-0543; (800) 735-0543; or by e-mail.

Downloads

• HIP Portland 2010 application
• HIP Portland 2010 brochure
• HIP Salem 2010 brochure

03 September 2009 | Permalink | Comments? (0 so far)