Humanities 101 is an outreach program designed to give a taste of higher learning to those who face barriers – financial or otherwise – and who may never have believed that they could participate in postsecondary education.

Humanities 101 is a 12-week non-credit course.  Free of charge, and led by professors who volunteer their time, the course provides transportation, child or elder care support, a YMCA pass, school supplies and meals.  Humanities students are provided with a student ID and are able to take advantage of all of the services that Lakehead students receive.  At course end they celebrate with a graduation at which they receive a certificate to recognize their accomplishment.

Humanities 101 students come from all walks of life – they may be single parents, living in a shelter, recently released from prison, or facing some kind of barrier that prevents them from accessing a postsecondary education.  Participants range in age from 18 to 80.  They participate in lectures that introduce them to a wide variety of topics, including biology, business, English, history and Aboriginal studies.

Each semester, Humanities 101 can accommodate up to 30 students.  Without the generous support of the community, this program, and these individuals, would not have the opportunity to experience learning at a postsecondary institution.  For these individuals, this is a life- changing experience, bringing hope, pride and empowerment to those who have faced many difficult times throughout the course of their lives.

Lakehead Orillia would like to ensure that Humanities 101 continues to be offered each year.  Ultimately, our goal is to expand into a Humanities 201 program where past graduates can continue to stay involved with the university, and can continue to grow.