How PACE is removing barriers to higher education through free humanities course
NEW BEDFORD — People Acting in Community Endeavors, Inc., initiated the fall 2022 Clemente Course in the Humanities course on Monday.
The program — a partnership with Mass Humanities, Bard College, and locally with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth — offers college credit to adults in "traditionally underserved communities" via the study of art history, moral philosophy, writing, and more.
"The goal of the course is really to try and provide a couple of different things," Pam Kuechler, executive director of PACE, said. "One is to provide an opportunity for people thinking about higher education.
"Another, was to put them in an environment that could really support a new student."
Free class, free childcare, free transportation
The program — which also offers courses in Brockton, Dorchester, Springfield, and Worcester — targets communities where, whether for financial, time, or other reasons, many are restricted in educational opportunities.
To facilitate that, the free course offers free childcare, and transit to the class.
"Clemente is really set up for eliminating the barriers to really taking the classes," Kuechler said. "It's designed to provide people with a pathway to a higher education degree."
She added that while PACE does continue to encourage people to enter into vocational programs, an education in the humanities is critical to society and may be more to some community members' tastes.
"People have different areas of interest and different reasons for doing what they're doing," she said. "This is an opportunity for people looking for a different way forward."
Kuechler said there will be opportunities for students to speak with representatives from UMass Dartmouth and Bristol Community College about continuing their education — and support available — as part of the class.
Classes began on Sept. 12 and will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the PACE Head Start offices located at 32 Madison St. Enrollments will remain open after classes start until the limited number of seats are filled.
Participants will receive a certificate upon completion of the course and those with high academic achievements will be able to transfer six credits to continue their studies at BCC or UMass Dartmouth.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://paceinfo.org/programs/clemente-course-in-the-humanities/.
Contact Kevin G. Andrade at kandrade@s-t.com and follow him on Twitter: @KevinGAndrade. Support local journalism and subscribe to the Standard-Times today!
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: PACE Clemente Course offers free adult humanities college credits
