The Shimer Great Books School at North Central College provides and preserves education centered on discussion of enduring questions and issues. No tests.
The Shimer Great Books School at North Central College provides and preserves education centered on discussion of enduring questions and issues through the Great Books pedagogy, rooted in the Socratic Method. Here, the pedagogy is anything but conventional. There are no lectures. No textbooks in place of primary texts. Classes follow the Socratic Method – professors ask questions that challenge st
07/17/2025
We want to offer a reminder that this Saturday, July 19, Christ Episcopal Church in Waukegan will hold a memorial for Don Moon, President of the College from 1978-2004. All are welcome. For those unable to attend, the church will host a live-stream of the service on their YouTube channel, here:
Christ Episcopal Church, Waukegan Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
As published in a recent addendum to the Shimer Alumni Bulletin, we are observing the passing of the Reverend Don Moon, with his family, who have issued this obituary:
https://noctrl.box.com/s/suyu3ofg3qc5h9l8o5q7i8odivf0tnlg
We also invite anyone with remembrances of Don to upload a file of your offering to the subfolder for "Remembrances." Copies of these remembrances will be available at a memorial to be observed on Saturday, July 19th, 2025 at 3 pm in Waukegan, Illinois at Christ Episcopal Church.
There will also be a service this coming Sunday, April 27th, 2025 at Noon in Bremerton, Washington at St Paul's Episcopal Church.
We want to make a special request of anyone planning to drive from or through Everett, WA on their way to and from this service, that they be in touch. An alumna of Shimer has asked for this help, and we are happy to pass along the request.
08/21/2024
WELCOME BACK, CARDINALS! We wish you a wonderful first day of classes! The Shimer House at 5 S. Loomis St. really missed you (and so did we).
05/10/2024
We’re thrilled to announce that we have received a substantial donation from Shimer alum Jayne Baron Sherman to establish the Shimer Great Books Emergency Fund. This fund will help current and future students through financial hardships and school expenses. Jayne challenges our network of Shimerians to make a donation to the Emergency Fund in order to double the impact of her gift.
Here is the link to donate: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/46792/donations/new
From all of us here at the Shimer School, thank you for your generous support!
04/29/2024
It’s Finals Week, and that means that this Friday 5/3 is our Orange Horse talent show! We invite anyone on campus and in our larger Shimer community to take the stage and show us what you’ve got. We’ll have music, poetry, comedy, and more! We’ll see you there and we’ll send off this school year with a bang (or maybe a neigh).
02/14/2024
It’s not every day that you have class with the president! We loved having join Dr. Dolinko’s Philosophy of Race and Gender course! The discussion covered Audre Lorde’s “Sister Outsider”, and in true Shimer fashion, it was an impactful conversation! Thanks for joining us, Dr. Thomas!
02/02/2024
There’s still time to register for our Montaigne Scholarship discussion!
12/05/2023
Happy last week of classes, students! We wish you focus and peace as you finish your last assignments, and as many moments of stress-free fun as you can find during finals week. If you need some extra motivation, stop by Shimer House this Sunday, December 10th from 12-3pm for some cookies, coffee and relaxation!
11/14/2023
It may be November, but it’s still porch weather around these parts, and the reading is getting good. Mia is one of a number of Shimer students diving into Paradise Lost this week, and we’re all starting to feel a little sympathy for the devil.
09/28/2023
Someone doesn’t want you to read this, and that’s exactly why we think you should. We’re excited to host our Banned Books Read-In on Tuesday, October 4th from 5:00-6:30pm with our friends at ! Bring a selection of your favorite banned book to read out loud and hear how we’re keeping banned books in the conversation. Dinner will be served to attendees. Prospective students register with the link in our bio!