On the Doorstep: Unlocking new worlds of learning
Signum University sprouted from a desire to take fantasy and science fiction literature seriously.
Building from the success of his Tolkien Professor podcast, Signum’s Founder and President Dr. Corey Olsen wanted to foster a serious academic discussion on imaginative literature among scholars and fans alike. Over the last seven years, many volunteers and donors have contributed toward the success of that vision.
Signum University has three main branches:
Signum Graduate School: A pioneer in online education, Signum offers a Master of Arts in Language & Literature that allows students to focus their degree work in one of four areas: Tolkien Studies, Imaginative Literature, Germanic Philology or Classical, Medieval & Renaissance Literature.
Mythgard Institute: A center for research and education in speculative fiction, Mythgard provides educational opportunities to the public through programs such as Mythgard Academy, the Mythgard Movie Club, the Silmarillion Film Project, and Lord of the Rings Online activities.
Signum for Kids: Launched in Summer 2017 with the popular Hobbit Immersion Camp, Signum’s kids programming is a way that we are bringing fun and educational study of imaginative literature to children.
These programs have seen great success in just a few short years – and Signum University wants to do even more! Started from scratch as a 21st century university, Signum is ready to continue building these programs that use the digital connections of our world in a fulfilling and edifying way for all who want to learn what they love.
2018 Campaign Event Schedule
During our campaign, we will highlight the excellent programs and activities that the various branches of Signum conduct on a regular basis.
Among our standard programming are the following weekly events:
- Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. – Exploring The Lord of the Rings
- Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. – Mythgard Academy (Le Morte d’Arthur)
- Every other Friday at 10 a.m. – Silmarillion Film Project – Season 4 starts Oct. 12th!
- Fridays at 12:30 p.m. – Gryfflet’s Adventures in Middle-earth (on LOTROstream at Twitch.tv)
In addition, we will have a few special events that have become staples of our annual campaign, including a closing webathon. See the list of events happening during our campaign period. Links to more information will be provided as more details become available.
- Sept. 22 – Hobbit Day Readings, Panel Discussions, and Campaign Kick-Off! (3 p.m.)
- Sept. 27 – Signum Symposium: Mental Health in the Academy (4 p.m.)
- Sept. 28 – Thesis Theater: Emily Denny & Lola Lindle (9 p.m.)
- Sept. 29 – LOTRO Marathon: Wigend Goes to Gondor! (Noon)
- Oct. 6 – MiddleMoot (9 a.m.)
- Oct. 11 – Mythgard Movie Club: She (8:30 p.m.)
- Oct. 13 – Campaign Webathon (start time TBD)
How Your Donation Supports Signum University
- Honoraria for our world-class faculty and speakers
- Classroom interface (aka, “Netmoot”) costs
- Library resources for our students
- Website hosting services
- Cloud storage and streaming
- Administrative tools for our worldwide team of volunteers, faculty, and work-study staff
For those who can’t make it live, all events will be recorded and available for free viewing on the Signum University YouTube Channel.
Note: All times are Eastern Daylight Time.
2018-19 Donor Appreciation Program
Signum University’s students, staff, and faculty are grateful to our donors, and we want to show our appreciation. As a result, individuals who donate at certain levels will receive certain benefits as outlined in the table below.
Note: This year we are making it even easier to receive benefits through monthly donations. Recurring monthly donations help Signum better plan for budgeted expenses throughout the year. Please consider setting up a recurring contribution when completing the donation form.
Annual Donation
Gift
Up to $99
Voting rights in the Mythgard Academy
$100 and up
or
$10 monthly
Membership on the Council of the Wise to nominate Mythgard Academy seminars
$150 and up
or
$12 monthly
Signum Annual Memorabilia: Your choice of a mug or bag featuring the exclusive annual campaign graphic
$200 and up
or
$15 monthly
Membership in the Signum Fellowship, including invitation to a monthly live interactive update with Corey
$250 and up
or
$20 monthly
Access to the lecture archives for one course from the Signum Catalog
$500 and up
or
$40 monthly
Acknowledgement and access to the lecture archives for a second course from the Signum Catalog
$1,000 and up
A special session of your choice, and appearance as a guest/panelist, for one of the following programs: Signum Symposia, Mythgard Movie Club, Gryfflet’s LOTRO Adventures, or Mythgard Academy
$2,500 and up
VIP admission to Mythmoot VI in June 2019
$5,000 and up
A full Mythgard seminar on the book, film, or TV series of your choice
$10,000 and up
Lifetime access to the lecture archives of the full Signum Catalog
Donate Today
If you enjoy the activities offered by Signum University and the Mythgard Institute, please donate today. Donating not only gives you the special access to programs and courses noted, but it lets you help others enjoy our free educational materials as well.
Questions?
Send your questions about donor perks and other donation-related inquiries to donate@signumu.org.