As the oddest of academic semesters draws to a close, let's return to a conversation from the past. In this interview on Utah Public Radio's " Access Utah ," Jean Cheney talks about the Venture Course, a Clemente Course in Salt Lake City, offered by Utah Humanities . This hour-long conversation covers the origins of Clemente in Earl Shorris's visit to a Westchester County prison and the moving stories of individual Venture students, whose commitment to learning is always inspirational.

The occasion of the interview was the publication of Hope, Heart, and the Humanities: How a Free College Course is Changing Lives by the University of Utah Press. The book, edited by Jean Cheney and her Venture Course colleagues, takes the reader into the Venture classroom, with reflections on teaching literature, history and more in a community space. Throughout the book are powerful stories about the students who brought their intelligence and aspirations to the table amid countless challenges.

The book offers the most comprehensive rendering of a Clemente Course since Shorris's own Riches for the Poor and is an invaluable asset for anyone interested in knowing more about our courses--or starting their own.

Dive into this important conversation here .