Originally inspired by the movement begun in 1962 at the New School for Social Research in New York City, ILEAD was founded in November, 1990 by 38 members of the Hanover community, intrigued with the concept of encouraging continued learning. The founders relished the challenge of putting together thought-provoking discussion programs which would be self-administered and peer taught. Since its founding, there have been 1,000 Study Groups and over 18,500 students participating in ILEAD programs
ILEAD is a volunteer-run learning organization designed to serve adults in the (Connecticut River) Upper Valley, bridging New Hampshire and Vermont and encompassing such towns as Woodstock, Quechee, Norwich, Hanover (home to Dartmouth College) and well beyond. Its goal is to promote learning through the study of a continuing series of thought-provoking topics,each of which is conceived and conducted by one of its members acting as a Study Group Leader.
ILEAD is a self-supporting department of Dartmouth College, similar to 300 such institutions at other colleges and universities throughout the country. It is currently the sixth largest such institution in the country, and boasts close to 1,400 full time members. ILEAD is supervised by a fifteen member Executive Committee and continues to welcome members with or without past or present Dartmouth affiliation.
ILEAD currently offers between 35 and 45 Study Groups for its fall, winter, spring term. Courses run from five to eight weeks. Mini-courses lasting two-five weeks are also offered in winter and spring. Most classes vary in size from 15-25 students and usually meet once weekly for two hours. Subjects are conceived, planned and coordinated by members acting as Study Group Leaders who volunteer their time with no remuneration. A wide variety of Study Groups are offered ranging from politics and history to art, literature and theatre, from science, ethics and culture, to writing, music and spirituality.
In addition: ILEAD offers further educational programs including group travel events, comprehensive overseas travel with required pre-travel courses, weekend, and other ad hoc lectures on subjects of current interest.
