Odyssey Project, Urbana-Champaign

Support us today: go.illinois.edu/odysseygift 🌟

💬“I have surpassed the goals that I initially set for myself at the beginning of this program. I’ve made friends, improved my writing skills, ventured out and explored new places, and reclaimed some of my favorite things to do.” -Sherry, Odyssey alumna

We know the power of a humanities education to change lives, but Odyssey Project students often say it best. In fact, surveys show that a majority of Odyssey participants felt the experience sharpened their writing skills, increased their civic engagement, and improved their feelings of empowerment and hope.

For income-eligible adults in our community, the Odyssey Project may be their very first college experience, while for others it marks a long-delayed return to the classroom. We invite you to join us today to make higher education—and the humanities—more accessible to all!

🌟go.illinois.edu/odysseygift

📚 Odyssey Project students can earn up to 8 transferable college credits in foundational humanities courses for free, all in a space designed to support non-traditional adult learners.

Your gift makes a tangible impact on our students—providing books, classroom technology, and field trips, among other resources.

With your support, you can help ensure that our community continues to benefit from the Odyssey experience!

Join us today: go.illinois.edu/odysseygift
🧡💙 Artwork/reflections by Odyssey students

Apply today! go.illinois.edu/odysseyinternship

Undergrads in the humanities, arts, humanistic social sciences, and education: are you interested in educational access and building a sense of belonging? Would you like to serve as a bridge between the campus and the C-U community? Apply for a paid internship with the Odyssey Project!
Odyssey is a program through HRI that offers free college courses to income-eligible residents of the local community. The intern supports students in their coursework and classroom technology, and may assist with alumni outreach and research projects.

🔖Deadline: March 31, 2026
📎 go.illinois.edu/odysseyinternship

Share and spread the word! go.illinois.edu/odysseygift

🚨 Orange and Blue Days is almost here!

Will you consider being a social advocate for our cause? You can help us inspire support for educational access with the Odyssey Project.

🖊️ Sign-up is easy
📱 Share/repost right from your phone
✨ Help raise $ for Odyssey

Sign up at go.illinois.edu/odysseygift and help spread the word March 4–6!

We're getting excited for Orange & Blue Days! March 4–6, we're aiming to reach 25 donors for the Odyssey Project. We welcome you to share this great opportunity to support access to higher education through a unique humanities-based learning experience.

Learn more or consider giving early: go.illinois.edu/odysseygift

Mark your calendars: Orange and Blue Days is coming next week! 🧡💙

Last year, you helped us reach our fundraising goal for the Odyssey Project. This year, March 4–6, we are asking for your help in reaching 25 donors. Together we can support Odyssey students and provide access to this life-changing humanities learning experience!

☞Want to give early? Visit go.illinois.edu/odysseygift

It's wonderful to see Odyssey mentioned as a way to support educational goals! We are proud of all of our students, past and present, who have helped to make this program the vibrant learning community that it is.

Consider the Odyssey Project when it comes to setting goals - SPlog In case this sounds unfamiliar, let’s discuss it a bit. The Odyssey Project within the Humanities Research Institute at the University of Illinois is a program that offers free courses in the humanities to income ...

Odyssey alumna Aiesha West shares her story of finding community and a renewed commitment to education. 💙🧡

Life gets in the way. That’s one reason people start college but don’t graduate.

Through The Odyssey Project, Aiesha West rediscovered herself and her love of learning. She and her classmates paid nothing but gained so much.

Odyssey and other adult learning programs show how granular the University of Illinois System gets to provide supportive pathways for students of all ages to create the lives they want: https://ow.ly/J1Gy50XjSQT

Check out our students' work archive!
https://hri.illinois.edu/odyssey-project/student-work

“But what I’ve learned from Odyssey is that for me, personally, there’s joy in being a messy work in progress while in community, and not distant and searching for perfection apart from others.” -Kenneth, Odyssey student 🧡See more artwork and reflections from Odyssey students on the HRI website. Interested in applying for Odyssey? Sign up for an information session by 📆July 8!

Kate Spies, Visiting Odyssey Project Academic Advisor and Student Support Coordinator, talks about the 2025 application process, why she’s passionate about the program, and the “magic of the humanities.” Sign up now for an info session to learn more about Odyssey and how to apply!

🔗go.illinois.edu/KateOdysseyQA

It's always a joy to revisit graduation day! Congratulations to all of the hardworking Odyssey students who make our classroom and community a transformative, memorable space to be.

Thanks to WCIA for this wonderful story featuring Odyssey Project student Nico and the 2025 graduating class. The event was a beautiful celebration of everyone's hard work and persistence. We're proud to call you part of our Odyssey community!

Considering Odyssey for yourself? Sign up now for a summer information session ➡️ go.illinois.edu/odyssey

https://www.wcia.com/news/champaign-county/celebrating-success-11-adults-graduate-from-uis-odyssey-project-program/

Celebrating success: 11 adults graduate from UI’s ‘Odyssey Project’ program URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Thousands of students are getting ready to cross the stage and turn their tassels across the country. U of I students graduate on May 17, but a small group has already g…