The Tucker Center for Spiritual and Ethical Life has launched its first community-wide interfaith course, targeting residents across the Upper Valley with a structured curriculum that extends beyond Dartmouth’s traditional campus programming.
The eight-week program, titled “Interfaith Leadership in Community,” charges participants $150 for the full course, marking a departure from the Tucker Center’s typical free programming model. Early enrollment data shows 42 participants registered within the first two weeks, representing a mix of Dartmouth faculty, staff, and Upper Valley community members.
“We’ve seen consistent demand from community members who want deeper engagement with interfaith dialogue beyond our occasional public lectures,” said Rev. Nancy Vogele, executive director of the Tucker Center. “This structured approach allows us to create sustainable programming while covering operational costs.”
The program structure reflects careful financial planning by the Tucker Center, which operates on a $1.2 million annual budget largely funded through college allocations and private donations. Course fees are projected to generate approximately $6,300 in revenue, covering instructor compensation and materials while creating a scalable model for future offerings.
Participants meet weekly for two-hour sessions covering topics ranging from interfaith conflict resolution to collaborative community service projects. The curriculum draws from established interfaith studies programs at peer institutions, with customization for Upper Valley demographics and local religious communities.
Registration data reveals participation from eight different religious traditions, including representatives from local congregations in Hanover, Lebanon, and White River Junction. Age demographics skew toward professionals aged 35-55, with 60% of participants holding graduate degrees.
“The business model makes sense for sustainability,” said David Chen, Tucker Center’s program coordinator. “We’ve structured pricing to remain accessible while ensuring we can offer quality instruction and materials.”
The course launch comes as colleges nationwide reassess community engagement programming, particularly following budget constraints from the pandemic. Similar interfaith initiatives at peer institutions have adopted fee-based models, with programs at Middlebury College and Williams College charging between $125-200 for comparable community courses.
Local religious leaders have responded positively to the initiative, viewing it as an opportunity for cross-denominational collaboration in a region where religious communities often operate independently. Rabbi David Edleson from Congregation Beth Jacob in Lebanon noted the program fills a gap in structured interfaith education for adults in the Upper Valley.
The Tucker Center plans to evaluate program outcomes through participant surveys and retention metrics, with decisions about spring programming dependent on completion rates and participant feedback. Initial indicators suggest strong engagement, with 95% attendance rates through the first three weeks.
Financial projections for expanded programming remain conservative, with Tucker Center leadership emphasizing sustainable growth over rapid expansion. The model could potentially support 3-4 community courses annually, generating $18,000-25,000 in additional revenue while serving 120-170 community participants.
“We’re treating this as a pilot program with measurable outcomes,” Vogele explained. “Success metrics include both participant satisfaction and financial sustainability for future offerings.”
The program represents a broader trend of college-affiliated centers seeking revenue diversification while maintaining mission alignment. For the Tucker Center, community programming offers dual benefits: expanded reach for interfaith education and modest revenue generation to support core campus activities.
Registration for the spring session opens February 15, with the Tucker Center planning to maintain the $150 fee structure while potentially adding scholarship options based on community feedback and demand patterns. The center expects to announce enrollment capacity and curriculum details by early March, pending evaluation of the current pilot program’s completion metrics.
