MADISON—The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters today announced a new pilot program to bring noncredit courses to lifelong learners across Wisconsin. Developed in conjunction with Chris Chambers and Angela Johnson, two former program directors at the UW–Madison Division of Continuing Studies, the pilot Academy Courses program will provide six online courses across subjects in creative writing and the visual arts during spring 2021.
“We’re known as a place for Wisconsinites to connect with experts and learn from each other. Over the course of our 150-year history, lifelong learners have found value in our programs and magazine, as well as in our reports and other resources,” says Jane Elder, executive director of the Wisconsin Academy. “Lately, we’ve found a growing audience for in-person and online workshops around local responses to climate change. When the opportunity arose to add some active creative offerings to our series of science-based workshops, we jumped at it.”
Because of their commitment to sharing Wisconsin ideas, the Academy will provide these noncredit courses in creative writing and the visual arts—which feature top-tier instructors from across the state—to the public at an affordable cost. The Academy will also provide course scholarships that will help ensure more access and opportunity for nontraditional students, thanks to a grant from the UW–Madison Division of Continuing Studies.
If the Academy Courses pilot is successful, Elder says that the Academy has plans to offer to more courses in 2022, including the possibility of a day-long interdisciplinary conference in spring 2022.
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About the Wisconsin Academy
The Wisconsin Academy is a place for people to connect with experts and learn from each other. Founded in 1870 to gather, share, and act upon knowledge for the betterment of Wisconsin, the Academy today showcases contemporary art at our James Watrous Gallery, examines science and culture in our Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine, and explores pathways to a sustainable future through our Wisconsin Initiatives. We recognize Wisconsin excellence through our annual Fiction and Poetry Awards for emerging writers and our Fellows Award for leadership in and across the disciplines. We also support the Wisconsin Poet Laureate and other endeavors that help us to fulfill our mission: to create a better world by connecting Wisconsin people and ideas.
