The Humanities Institute for Lifelong Learning (HILL) offers opportunities for adult education to residents of the Greater Capital District of New York. HILL provides six-week Fall and Spring semesters with courses taught by distinguished faculty from across the region.
Spring 2026 Courses Begin Monday, March 16th
HILL will be offering three six-week courses during the Spring 2026 term. All courses will be offered in-person at the Delmar Reformed Church located at 386 Delaware Avenue, Delmar. The Monday- Jazz/Miriam Makeba course and the Tuesday Democratic Erosion course will also be offered via Zoom. Registration for these hybrid courses includes access to both formats. The Shakespeare’s Poetic Language course will be offered in-person only.
Please note: While we do our best to provide Zoom delivery for the two hybrid courses, that delivery will be dependent on properly functioning equipment.
Registration Fee is $45 per course.
Please register no later than March 11, 2026
Spring 2026 Courses
Mondays P.M.
Mama Africa: The Life of Miriam Makeba
INSTRUCTOR: Seton Hawkins, Director, Public Programs, Jazz at Lincoln Center
A vocalist who effortlessly crossed genres throughout the world’s music traditions, an advocate for South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, a beacon for the global struggle for liberation, Miriam Makeba was all of this and more. South-African born educator Seton Hawkins – host of “South African Jazz” on SiriusXM’s Real Jazz channel and producer of the South African Jazz series AfricArise – explores her unique genius.
Available in-person and on Zoom. Zoom delivery will be dependent on properly functioning equipment.
Class meets March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20
Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Tuesdays A.M.
Shakespeare’s Poetic Language in Plays and Sonnets
INSTRUCTOR: Christi Spain-Savage, Associate Professor of English, Siena College
Through complex puns, paradoxes, and metaphors, William Shakespeare’s works reverberate with astonishing verbal force. In Romeo and Juliet, the lovers share a sonnet comparing their meeting to a pilgrim visiting a saint’s shrine. In “Sonnet 130”, the speaker inverts Petrarchan love clichés to describe his affection for the dark lady. And, in Othello, the tragic hero’s linguistic ability declines as Iago poisons his relationship with Desdemona. This course will focus on Shakespeare’s rich use of language in a number of plays and sonnets. Placing these texts within their particular historical and cultural contexts, the lectures will help demystify Shakespeare’s poetic art and shed light on what makes his works so timeless.
Available in-person only.
Class meets March 17, 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21
Time: 10am – 12pm
Tuesdays, P.M.
Democratic Erosion in the 21st Century
INSTRUCTOR: Robert Turner, Kate Graney, and Beau Breslin, Professors of Political Science, Skidmore College
Democratic erosion is the subtle, often incremental decline of democratic norms, institutions, and practices, threatening the foundations of free societies. Unlike dramatic coups or revolutions, erosion typically unfolds through legal and political maneuvers that undermine checks and balances, weaken the rule of law, and erode civil liberties. This team-taught class explores the global rise of democratic backsliding, highlighting case studies from the United States and European democracies to illustrate common warning signs and underlying causes. We will show how polarization, disinformation, and executive overreach contribute to this phenomenon, and why even mature democracies are not immune. The course will conclude with strategies for defending democratic values and fostering civic engagement to counteract these troubling trends.
Available in-person and on Zoom. Zoom delivery will be dependent on properly functioning equipment.
Class meets March 17, 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21
Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Registration and Fees
Registration is required for each individual in order to attend a course. There is a $45 fee for each course selected.
NOTE – With our new registration system, payment can be made by credit card or check.
If you pay by credit card, your registration confirmation will be emailed to you immediately. If you pay by check, you will receive an email noting your course selection and providing instructions on how to make your payment. You will receive an additional email confirming your registration once your check has been received.
Links to Zoom Classes and Materials Folders will be emailed to paid, confirmed registrants approximately one week before classes begin.
Registration Form
Use the following link to display the registration form.
Please register no later than March 11, 2026.
Zoom
HILL will not be able to provide technical support but directs you, if needed, to Zoom endorsed sites such as support.zoom.us. Or you can type Zoom Help Center in your browser.
HILL Phone
For questions not related to Zoom, or if you have registered and not received a confirmation email, you may leave a message on the HILL phone: 518-368-7029. A volunteer will return your call.
HILL Email List
If you are new to our program and would like your name and contact information to be added to our email list, please click on the link below and provide the requested information.
Thank you for your interest in HILL.
The Humanities Institute for Lifelong Learning (HILL) 