The Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities received a $650,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support the Odyssey Project at the University.

The Odyssey Project was founded in Fall 2006 and is a free, two-semester program dedicated to helping community learners, who range from the ages of 18 to 80, acquire their education with a foundation in humanities. The project allows participants to earn college credit and then continue at a community college or any other higher education institution of their choice.

“We support the Odyssey Project because providing access to higher education is part of our University’s mission,” said LAS Dean Feng Sheng Hu in an email. “But more importantly, this program has real impact on real people in our community.”

Hu said the University is fortunate to have the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities, which contributes to the community in many rich and meaningful ways. Hu also expressed his admiration for the University’s highly accomplished and dedicated faculty members who provide an enriched education to humanities students.

“Studying languages, history, philosophy, religion and literature helps us better understand the world around us,” Hu said. “Our humanities programs help students develop important skills like verbal and written communication, critical analysis and problem solving.”

Antoinette Burton, director of IRPH, said the participants are interested in starting or completing their education by reconnecting with core humanities courses.

Burton said the importance of humanities today is that in the increasingly technological age that we live in, where humans can be transformed by all kinds of innovations and technologies, it is important to have a deep knowledge of the humanities and to be able to think, write and speak critically in an engaged way.

The grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will help the project expand and work toward being more supportive of its students. Community learners will receive mentoring services to assist them and will be presented with opportunities to hear speakers and work with resident artists.

An emphasis will be placed on connecting students to the campus and community. In addition, night classes will be held at the Ikenberry Commons to provide dinner for the students as well.

“We typically have had, over the years, Odyssey students do poster projects for Undergraduate Research week, so we will continue to do that to make them feel like they are integrated with the campus community,” Burton said.

Burton talked about her appreciation for the University’s support in the endeavors of the program.

“It’s part of the University’s larger effort to think more imaginatively about public engagement, and in any case we think that public humanities is really key to that kind of connection with the community,” she said.

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