Presidents' College
About Us
The Fellow membership fee has been eliminated as of July 1, 2019. Donations to the Presidents' College will now be 100% tax deductible. Stay Informed.
We have made the difficult decision to cancel all Presidents' College courses and lectures for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester due to the continued spread of COVID-19 across the globe.
The Presidents' College is an informal community of people—living in the greater Hartford area—who come together for brief courses and stand-alone lectures on almost every imaginable topic, including history, literature, science, current events, the fine and performing arts, and much more. Many of our instructors are drawn from the University faculty, but we also engage distinguished figures from the wider world.
Anyone can become a part of our community by simply registering for one or more of our events.
As you will see, the cost of our offerings is remarkably low. Nevertheless, the College generates a modest surplus each year that directly benefits the University’s library system. Over the past decade, that surplus has returned more than $250,000 to library operations, which has been directly used to purchase books, musical scores, scholarly periodicals, computer equipment, and all the things that a modern university library requires in order to serve the needs of its students.
So there is a pleasing symmetry to the program: Presidents’ College members enjoy intellectual stimulation and engagement, while simultaneously contributing to the education of the next generation of informed citizens.
Please consider becoming part of our vibrant, friendly community. I look forward to personally greeting you at one of our upcoming events.
Randi Ashton-Pritting
Interim Director, Presidents' College
Catherine Banbury, VolunteerWhether you want to deepen your knowledge of a few beloved subjects or seek a new intellectual journey, the Presidents’ College is intellectually stimulating, enlightening, fun, and collegial."
Duncaster Lectures
As part of the University’s continuing cooperation with the Duncaster Retirement Community in Bloomfield, monthly lectures are offered on the Duncaster campus, 40 Loeffler Road in Bloomfield. Each lecture begins at 4 p.m.
Library Lectures
The Library Lectures are sponsored by the Fellows of the Presidents' College as a service to the campus and community.
Directions to Library Lectures in the KF Room, Harrison Libraries.
McAuley Lectures
The McAuley lectures feature outstanding faculty members from the University of Hartford. The lectures take place at 2 p.m. at McAuley Retirement Community, Steele Road, West Hartford. The lectures are held in the main building, at the foot of the hill.
Directions to McAuley lectures.