Beacon Hill Seminars is an inclusive community of adults from Boston and beyond that provides educational opportunities for vigorous intellectual growth as well as engaging cultural and social activities.
Our Beginnings
In early 2000, under the leadership of Jack Curtin, a “founding council” gathered on Beacon Hill to consider forming a community-based program for lifelong learning. The council’s vision was to provide a diverse set of courses in which participants could broaden their intellectual horizons, learn from one another, and have fun along the way. That vision took root in fall 2000 as the newly organized Beacon Hill Seminars (BHS) offered 13 courses with about 60 participants.
As a guide for the years ahead, our founders set forth a number of operational tenets:
- Remain as an independent organization run by and for the members.
- Maintain openness to all, with no admission requirements. Welcome members of all ages and from all neighborhoods. Extend full or partial scholarships to those needing financial assistance.
- Offer intellectually engaging courses that facilitate discussion. Avoid how-to courses.
- Provide experienced course leaders who serve on a pro-bono basis and welcome the opportunity to engage adult learners.
- Select board members who are active members of the program, either as teachers or participants.
- Encourage volunteer opportunities for members who wish to play a part in various aspects of the program.
- Keep administration and rules to a minimum.
Our Progress
Our in-person courses take place in historic venues in and around Beacon Hill and Back Bay. In the spring of 2020 we ventured online and began offering courses via Zoom. This semester, we will be offering a mix of both in-person and online courses in an effort to increase accessiblity, and we remain committed to our mission of building a community of life long learners. Over the years we have increased the number of courses available each semester; extended the range of subjects covered; broadened the type of teaching formats to include a mix of seminars, lectures, off-site visits, and pop-up lectures on timely topics; and hosted annual in-person and online events. In the process, our membership has grown to well more than 200 individuals coming from Beacon Hill, Back Bay, greater Boston, and beyond with the addition of our online course offerings.
Member Engagement
Over the years we have facilitated a variety of opportunities for members to get to know one another through the kickoff event we hold before each semester and at other events. We have also gained immeasurably from members’ volunteer efforts in planning and hosting these events, running our annual book sale, serving as class coordinators, generating ideas for courses, leading courses, and recruiting new members.
Organizational Effectiveness
We have improved our administrative operations, enhanced our communication capacities, benefitted from strategic planning, and established a solid financial foundation for the program while keeping a tight lid on costs to members. We are proud that about 25 percent of our revenues come from member contributions.
Our Challenge Ahead
We celebrate all that we have achieved as an organization. But as we enter our third decade of operation, we recognize that we cannot rest on our laurels. As we continue our efforts to improve the program, we commit ourselves to the challenge of embracing our tradition while also addressing changes taking place in technology, member expectations, and the marketplace for adult learning programs in the Boston metropolitan area.
Thank You!
We would like to thank our invaluable group leaders who give so generously of their time and expertise, and our members who inspire and challenge us to meet their intellectual expectations. We would also like to thank the following for the valuable support they have given to our program:
- Cambridge Trust Company
- The Cathedral Church of St. Paul
- Church of the Advent
- The Engineering Center Education Trust
- J.M. Forbes and Meeting House Offices
- King's Chapel
Board of Directors 2023-2024
Officers
- Carroll Perry, President
- Joseph Hern, Vice President and Clerk
- Nat Butler, Treasurer
Executive Director
- Megan Hermida Lu
Directors
- Barbara Berkman
- Laura Dunn
- Stephen Harr
- John Hodgman
- Maureen Marcucci
- Catherine Mannick
- Juan Rivera
- Mary Rivet
- Beth Sanders
- Lynn Smiledge
- Roger Stacey
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I have to be a member to take courses?
Yes. You must be a member of BHS to take classes in a given academic year. Annual membership runs from July 1 to June 30 and includes access to BHS classes, access to the Course Recording Library, and invitations to all BHS membership programs and events.
2. How do I become a member?
Becoming a member simply requires filling out the online registration form and paying your annual membership dues of $300 (which are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law) and the $100 per semester course registration fee.
3. What is my total cost if I take courses in both the Fall and Spring semesters?
It is $500 ($300 for membership dues and $100 for registration fees each semester). If you only take courses in the Spring semester, your total cost is $300 ($200 for prorated mid-year dues and $100 for registration).
4. When are the courses offered?
The fall term begins the first week of October and extends to late November or early December. Spring courses typically take place in two segments, from the first week of February to the end of March, and from the beginning of April until the end of May. Individual courses typically have four to eight classes.
5. How do I register for courses?
You can register and pay for courses online via the Join/Register page of this website. If you prefer to pay by check you can select the Pay by Check option on the online registration form and mail your payment to Beacon Hill Seminars, 121 Mt. Vernon Street, Boston, MA 02108.
6. How many courses can I request and take each semester?
You can register for up to three courses in the Fall semester and up to four in the Spring semester. It is important that you list your choices in order of preference beginning with #1 as your first choice. Courses that are over-subscribed are filled first with members selecting that course as their first choice, then with members selecting it as their second choice, etc. If you wish to take the maximum number of courses in any semester, we suggest that you list an alternate selection. If you are not registered for a course that you chose, you can ask to be put on a waiting list.
7. When do I have to submit my course selections and when will I be informed on my course placements?
You must submit your selections by the registration deadline noted on the Join/Register page. You will receive a confirmation of your courses a few days after the registration deadline. Late registrants may be enrolled if space permits.
8. If I am registered for a course and wish to drop it, what should I do?
If classes have not yet begun, please inform the Executive Director by email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or or phone (617-523-0970). If classes have already begun, please inform both the Executive Director and the Group Leader. Timely notice is important because it can enable someone on a waiting list join the course.
9. What should I do if I cannot attend a class?
Send an email to the Group Leader informing her/him of your expected absence. For discussion-focused courses, continuity of attendance can be particularly important to their success. If you know before selecting such a course that you will miss two or more classes, we suggest that you take that into account before enrolling.
10. How do I know if an in-person class will be cancelled?
For weather-related concerns, BHS follows the school cancellation decision of Boston Public Schools. If a class needs to be cancelled for other reasons, the Executive Director or the Group Leader will send you an email notice.
11. How can I volunteer to help BHS?
Volunteers play an important part in our program. They serve as class coordinators for our courses, provide audio/visual support in certain courses, participate in our curriculum and outreach committees, work as organizers and booksellers at our annual book fair, and assist with course registration and other office functions. If any of these or perhaps other roles might be of interest to you please email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or phone (617-523-0970).
12. How can I offer feedback about classes and the program as a whole?
We suggest that you express your views to individual group leaders and to the class coordinators for the courses. For more general feedback, we urge that you respond to the member feedback surveys we send via email upon the completion of the course. At any time, you can contact our office to share your thoughts. We value feedback in any of these ways and do our best to respond constructively to it.
13. How can I make a financial contribution to BHS?
As the only community-based learning in retirement program in the Boston metropolitan area, financial contributions play a particularly vital role in our program. They enable us to make important continuing improvements in our program while keeping our membership and tuition costs fully competitive with other programs.
Members can make donations in response to the annual appeal that we make each year in the fall. You can also donate to Beacon Hill Seminars online at any time via the Donations page on this website. Members are also welcome to mail in additional contributions with their course registration form or anytime during the calendar year.
We also welcome bequests and memorial donations as a means of financial support. Please contact our office for further information in this regard.