University in the Community (UitC) is an initiative of a charitable, non-profit organization called the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA).

Our program strengthens the mutual benefits of bringing the university into the community and the community into the university

We support public education that is inclusive, participatory, and lifelong.

We provide non-credit, university-level courses in the liberal arts for adults

We reach out to those whose access to post-secondary education has been limited by academic, social and/or financial barriers by offering classes that are free-of charge in Fall, Winter, and Spring terms

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At University in the Community, all participants – students and volunteer lecturers – experience first-hand how learning and understanding is fundamentally shaped in relationship with each other.

UitC would not be possible without the participation of its exceptional volunteer presenters:

Rosemary Aubert, Franҫoise Baylis, Ronald Beiner, Charlotte Bell, John Bell, John Borrows, Shauna Brail, Luisa Bravo, Pearce Carefoote, Jayce Chiblow, David Crombie, Art Davis, Dennis Duffy, Kate Dupuis, Jeffrey Dvorkin, Ray Ellenwood, Martin Friedland, Katy Fulfer, Rita Gardiner, Usha George, Donald Gillies, Lorna Goodison, Will Greaves, Ken Greenberg, Christos Hatzis, Ainsley Hawthorn, Travis Hay, Samantha Hill, Kofi Hope, Anne Innis Dagg, Nicholas Keung, Rebecca Kingston, Naulaq Le Drew, John Lorinc, Heather MacDougall, Peter MacLeod, Lee Maracle, Louis March, Dr. Kwame McKenzie, Dara McLeod, Brenda McPhail, Rebecca McTaggart, Gerta Moray, Daniel Munro, Steve Munro, Muneeb Nasir, Bryan Nelson, Channon Oyeniran, Melanie Panitch, Damiano Pietropaolo, John Polanyi, Chris Ramsaroop, Ken Rea, Kent Roach, Cecilia Rocha, David Rooney, Peter Russell, Joe Schlesinger, John Sewell, Don Shebib, Julian Sher, Haroon Siddiqui, Ruby Singh, Laura Spinney, John David Stewart, R. H. Thomson, Teajai Travis, Brenda Wastasecoot, Zachary Weinstein, Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Cynthia Wilkey, Natalie Zemon Davis

FALL 2023: Reclaiming the human scale (in a world of mega-everything)

TIME: 5:00-6:30 pm

WHERE: A mix of online (Zoom) and in-person meetings.

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We get out and about in the city! Excursions to art galleries, museums, libraries, public events, and walking tours are included whenever possible.

Click here to read out fall program in detail

UitC is funded by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts and Science.

On the initiative of University Professor Peter Russell, a partnership between UitC, Senior College, and Innis College was established in 2015.

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Members of Senior College’s UitC Committee provide us with experienced guidance and advice on program matters, volunteer speaker suggestions, as well as the opportunity to write about our program in the Senior College Bulletin.

Innis College’s provision of a classroom, tech support, the Town Hall for our events and most importantly, the sense of inclusion that the college offers, has been an invaluable gift for the program.

Selected topics: UitC courses 2012-2023:

• Toronto Governance and Canadian Culture: Seeking Common Ground (2012);
• How Cultural Industries Produce Meaning (2014);
• The Political Economy of Equality and Issues in Canadian Social Policy (2015);
• Cultural Geography and Social History of Toronto (2016);
• Professors, Ideas, and their Impact on Everyday Life (2017);
• Human Rights and the City (2018);
• The Public Good: Who is the Public and What is the Good? (2019);
• Lessons Learned in Lockdown (2020);
• Meeting Our Historical Moment (2021);
• Emotions in the World (Spring 2021);
• Well-being (Spring 2022);
• Finding the Fault Lines (2022-3);
• Philosophy of New Media (Spring 2023)

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For the past three years, Dr. Daniel Munro and Zachary Weinstein have facilitated a special four-week program in philosophy during the Spring term.

Our courses are taught by academics, citizen advocates, artists, and community activists who are exceptional teachers and communicators.

UitC EVENTS

In conjunction with students at U of T’s Faculty of Law, UitC held ‘literary moot’ benefit performances that placed characters in The Great Gatsby (2014), Oliver Twist (2015), and Othello (2016) on trial.

The verdict? A hilarious evening of law, literature, and improv!

In December 2022, UitC hosted a mind-opening evening at Innis Town Hall with the co-authors of Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, A White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation (Harper Collins 2022). A panel discussion with co-authors Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii), moderated by Akosua Matthews, was followed by a lively Q+A with the audience.

UitC is an initiative of the charitable, non-profit organization, the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA). We believe in the mutual benefits of bringing the university into the community and the community into the university.

In the early 1900’s, the Workers’ Educational Associations’ (WEA) movement laid the seeds for liberal arts learning for non-traditional students.

In 1918, Sir Robert Falconer, the 5th President of the University of Toronto (U of T), played an instrumental role in founding the Workers’ Educational Association of Canada. His interest lay in establishing a forum for liberal arts learning for the community.

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UitC began as a partnership with Woodsworth College at U of T and Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre in 2003. St Stephen’s Community House was also an early supporter of our program.

From 2014 to 2017, UitC ‘set the table’ for indie chefs, students, and residents of the surrounding neighbourhood to come together for ‘Thought for Food’ - our weekly outreach program held at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

How does the program differ from a traditional university course?

• UitC courses are free of charge
• We do not grade students’ work nor do we offer credit
• A large portion of class time is devoted to discussion and Q+A
• Homework may be assigned but it is minimal

What is required of UitC students?

• Students are expected to attend regularly, to be respectful, and to participate in the discussion. Note: UitC is not a drop-in program
• For ease of participation, an intermediate level of English language proficiency (reading and speaking) is strongly suggested

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How often does the program run?

• Up until 2020, UitC ran twice a year in Fall and Winter terms. In 2021, we added a third program that runs for four weeks during the Spring term

How do people learn about the program?

• Students learn about our program through the network of Toronto Community Centres, through Learning Curves (the newspaper of the Workers’ Educational Association that is both widely distributed and online), and through outreach activities
• Look for University in the Community on the WEA website: weacanada.ca
• Email the program coordinator at universityinthecommunity@gmail.com

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When does the next UitC course begin?

• Our Fall 2023 program will run on Wednesday evenings from 5:00-6:30 pm, September 27 to November 29, 2023

How do I register for a UitC course?

• If you would like to learn more about UitC or to register, email us at: universityinthecommunity@gmail.com
• You can also call the WEA office and leave a message at 416 923-7872.

We look forward to hearing from you!