May 31, 2007
Shimer College Awarded $400K grant

The Hutchins Graduate Institute of Chicago-based Shimer College has been awarded a $400,000, four-year grant from the Connecticut-based Louis Calder Foundation for expansion of the school’s Teaching Fellows program.

The Hutchins program director, Dr. James Donovan, said the money will allow the college to launch a unique continuing education program for K-12 teachers. The program uses Shimer's Socratic teaching approach to strengthen teacher subject matter knowledge.

The Calder grant to Shimer will put to the test Shimer's unique approach to education as well as its great books content in helping a district near Loveland, Colorado. Based on what happens in Colorado, Shimer hopes to be able to bring this approach to improving teacher content skills in districts like Chicago. For more information, contact: Frank M. Corrado, 312-235-3540