Yale Alumni College

Yale Alumni College (YACOL) is run by alumni, for alumni, and offers small seminar, in-person classes in a variety of locations throughout the U.S. This program presents a unique learning environment for Yale alumni, family, and friends, including:

• Exceptional faculty (either Yale professors or Yale alumni who teach in the area) 
• Highly motivated classmates who share a passion for lifelong learning 
• Small seminar format to encourage participation and discussion, with no more than 25 students per class 
• Cultural outings with students from all classes to promote social engagement and enhance the learning experience 

Since its inception in 2011, Yale Alumni College has welcomed more than 2,000 alumni, family, and friends, and featured more than 150 courses online and at nine different locations, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New Haven, New York, Princeton, Washington, D.C., and more.

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The wonders of a Yale education do not end at graduation! For over a decade, more than five thousand participants in Yale Alumni College (YACOL) have studied in small courses with world-class Yale-affiliated faculty. YACOL is open to alumni of all ages, as well as family and friends. 

Created by alumni, YACOL offers intensive seminars and outings that provide both intellectual enrichment and social engagement. Courses are offered both online and in person across the country. 

Bringing a diversity of life experience to a wide range of topics, our alumni faculty share a passion for learning. YACOL courses provide opportunities to forge social connections and build a vibrant intellectual community. Courses are also enhanced by outings led by Yale faculty to significant cultural attractions. 

Keep up with what is happening with Yale Alumni College. View our latest newsletter. 

Past Newsletters: 
Jan 2023
Aug 2022
April 2022

The board of Yale Alumni College is delighted to announce that our founder and emeritus chairman, Marv Berenblum ’56, has established a scholarship fund in memory of his daughter, Eve Berenblum Goldberg. We invite our BOLD alumni (Bulldogs of the Last Decade) to apply for our scholarship and encourage everyone who would like to donate to support the fund.

"The program is an excellent way of engaging Yalies in selected locations with some of the best professors in the world. They are the world experts in their fields. It is a great way for Yale to reach out to its alums with something very special." -John Wellemeyer '59 (Fall 2018, Princeton)

"In many ways, Yale Alumni College is the most ideal form of learning: The professors are brilliant and passionate about their subjects, discussions are informed by classmates’ life experience and mature reflections, and the atmosphere is pleasant and stress-free. Always a source of great joy, Yale Alumni College has been especially uplifting in 2020." -Laurie Treuhaft (Fall 2020, Online)

"The short story course I took as part of the Yale Alumni College Program was in my opinion the ideal alumni activity: I learned a great deal, met alums I didn't already know, engaged in meaningful conversation and left each evening very proud of being a Yalie. I cannot wait to take another class." -Julia Levy ’81 (Spring 2017, Atlanta)

"The course exceeded my expectations. The professor was excellent – she not only was a deep subject matter expert on the topic, she also did a great job facilitating the discussion. I appreciate the opportunity to have this caliber of learning and intellectual discussion with other alumni." -Ann Manikas ’93 (Fall 2018, Chicago)

"I highly recommend the class. The amount reading for each class was reasonable, the professor was really engaging, [and] the discussions were extremely interesting both from a strategic thinking and historical standpoint. I would sign up again without hesitation." -Anthony Allard ’07 (Fall 2018, Washington D.C.)

“These relatively short, insightful courses are deeply enriching, even – or especially – without exams or grades! Learning for learning’s sake is a pure joy.” -Vincent Kerr (Fall 2020, Online)

Yale Alumni College courses have been taught by a growing roster of exceptional faculty that includes both Yale professors and Yale alumni. Browse our faculty directory to learn more about the professors we have partnered with.

Looking for a sampling of past Yale Alumni College courses? We have them here for you, broken down by subject area and with notes about location and professors.

To learn more about Yale Alumni College, registration, or course materials, please contact Sharon Small, Project Coordinator, Lifelong Learning and Travel, or call her at 203-871-1284.

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