The Clemente Course in the Humanities was awarded a National Humanities Medal by President Obama and has received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and other prestigious bodies.
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 partner Bard College. For many Clemente alumni, these college credits mark the first step toward receiving a college degree.
Clemente helps students develop critical, reflective and creative skills that empower them to improve their own lives and those of their families and communities.
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.
More than 30 Clemente Courses are offered across the U.S. Find one in your community.
Since 2015, the Clemente Veterans' Initiative has supported those transitioning from military to civilian life.
Graduates say taking a Clemente Course was a turning point in their lives, leading them to earn degrees, advance their careers, and engage more in their communities.
The documentary, A Reckoning in Boston, began in a Clemente classroom and aired on PBS in January 2022. Learn more about the film and check out our video gallery.
In 1996, the Clemente Course in the Humanities graduated its first class in a ceremony attended by New York City Mayor David Dinkins. From the beginning, Clemente was a radical idea. By offering free college humanities courses to low-income adults that create a sense of agency and encourages civic engagement, Clemente founder Earl Shorris challenged traditional anti-poverty programs that operate on deficit instead of capacity models and emphasize skills training rather than intellectual engagement and self-reflection.
There are now dozens of Clemente Courses operating across the U.S. from Harlem, New York to rural Washington State. Each is embedded in its local community in partnership with local and regional funders, key academic institutions, and social service and cultural organizations. Each is guided by a common purpose: to provide transformative educational experiences in the humanities for adults facing economic hardship and adverse circumstances.
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