Mission Statement

Our Mission

Our Mission


The Clemente Course in the Humanities provides a transformative educational experience for adults facing economic hardship and adverse circumstances. Our free college humanities courses empower students to further their education and careers, become effective advocates for themselves and their families, and engage actively in the cultural and civic lives of their communities.


What We Do & Why


The Clemente Course in the Humanities is founded on the conviction that studying the humanities enables individuals who face barriers to economic and social opportunities to develop critical, reflective and creative skills that empower them to improve their own lives and those of their families and communities.


Using the Socratic method, and drawing from primary sources, Clemente’s seasoned professors provide a rigorous education in literature, philosophy, history, art history, and critical thinking and writing. Students do not need to have a high school diploma or GED to be admitted to study. Rooted in our commitment to access, tuition is always free for Clemente courses and the costs of books, childcare, and transportation are also covered.


Courses are accredited by higher education institutions, including our longstanding partner Bard College. For many Clemente alumni, these college credits mark the first step toward receiving a college degree. For all students, whether they choose to pursue additional formal education or not, Clemente aims to increase civic literacy, participation, and advocacy.


Clemente has expanded substantially since its first courses more than twenty-five years ago, conceived by its visionary founder Earl Shorris. Clemente now encompasses dozens of courses around the country, has been honored with a National Humanities Medal, and received prestigious grants from the National Endowment of the Humanities and other leading bodies. CCH is an indispensable resource for Clemente courses nationwide, providing assistance with student recruitment, curriculum development, staff and faculty hiring, course accreditation, grant-writing, and faculty training and development.

Staff


Dr. Aaron Rosen, Executive Director
aaron@clementecourse.org

 

Dr. Marina van Zuylen, National Academic Director

vanzuyle@bard.edu

     
Lela Hilton, Special Consultant to the National Academic Director

lela@clementecourse.org


Vivé Griffith, Special Projects
vive@clementecourse.org


Board of Directors


Officers


  • James S. Shorris, President and Chairman of the Board; Senior Vice President, Curaleaf Holdings, Inc.
  • Jeremy Koch, Treasurer; Former President, Time Consumer Marketing; Founder, What's Next Media.
  • Starling Lawrence,Chairman Emeritus; Author and Editor-at-Large, W.W. Norton Publishers.


Members


  • Susan Wise Bauer,Publisher and editor-in-chief of Well-Trained Mind Press; Owner, Well-Trained Mind Learning Services, an educational consultancy.
  • Dr. Jonathan Becker,Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Director, Center for Civic Engagement; Professor of Political Studies at Bard College.
  • Dr. Dawn Delbancoserved on the National Council on the Humanities for 11 years and teaches in the Department of Art History and Archaeology at Columbia University. 
  • Christopher Eklund, Managing Director at J.W. Childs Associates, a venture capital investment firm focused on biotechnology, consumer products and other industries. 
  • Dr. Jaime Incla'n,Founder and Director, Roberto Clemente Family Guidance Center; Associate Professor of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine.
  • Dr. Janine de Novaisis a writer and independent scholar whose academic career spans more than a decade. Her work focuses on race, culture, and critical pedagogy.
  • Dr. Timothy Patrick McCarthy is an award-winning scholar, teacher, and activist who serves as Core Faculty at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has taught at the Boston Clemente Course for decades.
  • Lamont Smith, Emmy Award-winning Television Editor with NBC Universal; 1997 Clemente Course Graduate.
  • Dr. Marina van Zuylen,Professor of French and Comparative Literature, Bard College; Academic Director, Kingston Clemente Course.


Organizational Objectives


The national Clemente Course in the Humanities, Inc. (CCH) supports courses nationwide to accomplish the following objectives:


I. Academic Standards

CCH maintains the quality and integrity of its program by ensuring that outstanding college teachers are hired as instructors, that students who are enrolled have the necessary core abilities and the motivation to succeed, and that local courses meet national standards with respect to curriculum and program delivery.

II. Outreach and Engagement

CCH helps increase social capital nationally and sustain Clemente Courses locally by fostering collaboration among courses and ensuring clear communication to the public about Course goals and outcomes.


III. Research and Evaluation

CCH oversees research and evaluation gathered at local Course sites; ensures that Course outcomes are consistent with CCH’s overall goals and objectives; and promotes excellence in teaching, classroom management, and student support.


IV. Program Support

CCH raises funds to provide matching grants to existing and start-up courses, emergency funds for students, and other material support to courses at the local level.

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