The Villanova Undergraduate Program at SCI-Graterford and The Violette de Mazia Foundation are again partnering to offer aesthetic appreciation classes at the prison beginning in January 2008.

The SCI-Graterford program began about 30 years ago through the efforts of Dr. James McKenna, a sociology professor and past Director of the Graduate Program in Criminal Justice Administration at Villanova University. Dr. McKenna, who continued to teach a course on Race and Ethnicity at Graterford even after retiring, passed away in the spring of 2004. Dr. Stanley Jacobs assumed the direction of the Graterford and Graduate Programs in 1997.

There are 100 students in the Villanova Undergraduate program at SCI-Graterford. In this program, Villanova offers two courses in the fall and two in the spring semesters. All courses follow the Villanova academic calendar, satisfy the same standards and requirements as on-campus courses, and are usually taught by Villanova faculty. Occasionally, through the generosity of philanthropies such as the Foundation, as well as cooperating universities in the area, additional coursework above the 4 courses offered by Villanova is presented. Since 2003, William Perthes, Assistant Director of Education for The Violette de Mazia Foundation, has taught “Art and Aesthetic Theory: An Objective Approach,” and “The Traditions: An Objective Approach” which has allowed the Foundation to partner with Villanova in offering education to prison inmates. Both the Foundation and the University are pleased to continue this important program.

January 15-April 29, Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m.