Signum University
{{short description|Online university focusing on the humanities}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Signum University
| type = Private graduate school
| established = {{start date and age|2012}}
| president = Corey Olsen
| faculty = 22
| administrative_staff = 10
| city = Bedford
| state = New Hampshire
| country = United States
| website = {{URL|signumuniversity.org}}
}}
Signum University is a non-profit, online graduate school based in New Hampshire, granting the degree of Master of Arts in Language and Literature. Its founder and president is Corey Olsen.
Signum's master's degree program has four areas of concentration: Classic Literature, Tolkien Studies, Germanic Philology, and Imaginative Literature. Instruction is done entirely via the Internet, with a combination of the use of webinars, live and pre-recorded lectures, Google Classroom, and Google Groups.
Signum is one of the few universities to offer multiple courses in Tolkien Studies. In addition to founder Corey Olsen, the university also draws from other notable Tolkien scholars such as Tom Shippey, Verlyn Flieger, Douglas A. Anderson, John Garth, Michael D. C. Drout, and Dimitra Fimi. The Germanic philology program is also robust and growing.{{Cite web |website=Granite geek |title=A possible future of online higher ed, with a heavy dose of Tolkien and Beowulf |url=https://granitegeek.concordmonitor.com/2019/01/29/a-possible-future-of-online-higher-ed-with-a-heavy-dose-of-tolkien-and-beowulf/}}
History
Signum's beginning was with the launch of the "Tolkien Professor" podcast in 2009 by Corey Olsen, who was teaching at Washington College at the time. In 2011 its first credit classes were offered, and in 2012 the university was founded.{{Cite web |title=History of Signum |url=https://signumuniversity.org/history-of-signum/}}{{Cite web |website= Nashua Telegraph|title='Sci-Fi University' comes to Nashua |url=https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/local-news/2019/02/13/sci-fi-university-comes-to-nashua/}}
In 2018, Olsen announced that Signum University was to be formally entered for state certification via the New Hampshire Department of Education. Following some days of crowdfunding, they raised the $23,720 required,{{Cite web |title=Help Cover Signum's Accreditation Application Costs |url=https://signumuniversity.org/fund/donate/credentials/ |access-date=March 30, 2019 |website=Signum University}} and later in 2018, it began the ascension process,{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2019 |title=Signum University: NH Dept. of Ed. Announces Signum's Approval |url=https://signumuniversity.org/news/nh-dept-of-ed-announces-signums-approval/ |access-date=March 30, 2019 |website=Signum University}} announcing that the New Hampshire Department of Education had accepted the request for Signum University to do business in the state{{Cite web |title=New Hampshire General Court - Bill Status System |url=http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/bill_status.aspx?lsr=1033&sy=2019&txtsessionyear=2019&txtbillnumber=SB138&sortoption=&q=1 |access-date=March 30, 2019 |website=gencourt.state.nh.us}}{{Cite web |website=New Hampshire Public Radio |title=New Hampshire Approves Sci-Fi and Fantasy Online College |url=https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2019-02-08/new-hampshire-approves-sci-fi-and-fantasy-online-college}} after facing a difficult vote in the New Hampshire legislature.{{Cite web |website=Granite geek |title=Online college with J.R.R. Tolkien emphasis faces a tough vote in N.H. House |url=https://granitegeek.concordmonitor.com/2020/01/08/online-college-with-j-r-r-tolkein-emphasis-faces-a-tough-vote-in-n-h-house/}}{{Cite web |website=WCAX |title=Sci-fi literature university seeks degree-granting authority |url=https://www.wcax.com/content/news/Sci-fi-literature-university-seeks-degree-granting-authority-507039671.html}}
In 2021, Signum received authorization from the State of New Hampshire to grant the Master of Arts degree.{{Cite web |title=Governor Chris Sununu Signs 23 Bills Into Law, Vetoes 2 |url=https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-and-media/governor-chris-sununu-signs-23-bills-law-vetoes-2 |website=Office of the Governor of New Hampshire}}{{Cite web |title=A Long-Desired Signature! |url=https://signumuniversity.org/news/a-long-desired-signature/}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official|signumuniversity.org}}