Free College Course for Low-Income, Portland-Area Adults

Adults living on low incomes in the Portland 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, two-semester, college-credit course in the humanities. HIP, a program of Oregon Humanities (formerly Oregon Council for the Humanities), is offered in partnership with Reed College. Applications should be submitted by Thursday, July 15, 2010.

Applications are available for download on the Oregon Humanities website (oregonhumanities.org) or by request from Course Director Sarah Van Winkle at [email protected] or (503) 241-0543, ext. 112.

Applicants must be 18 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 seven-month program. Applicants are not required to have a high school diploma or GED. Those who already have a college degree (AA, BA, MA, etc.) are not eligible. Applicants with an income of less than $20,000 for a household of one or less than $40,000 for a household of four are eligible for HIP.

The course begins September 16, 2010. Classes meet twice weekly, from September to March, in downtown Portland. HIP students receive free tuition, books, and other course materials; reimbursement for childcare during class; free bus tickets for transportation to and from class; and transferable college credit from Reed College.

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. Since its inception in 2001, HIP has provided more than 350 economically and educationally disadvantaged individuals across the state the opportunity to study the humanities in a college-credit course. Subjects of study include philosophy, literature, ancient Greek and American history, politics, and theater.

Oregon Humanities connects Oregonians to ideas that transform communities. More information about our programs and publications, which include the Conversation Project: A New Chautauqua, Think & Drink, Humanity in Perspective, Teacher Institutes, Happy Camp, Public Program Grants, Responsive Program Grants, and Oregon Humanities magazine, can be found at oregonhumanities.org. Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust.