Signum in 2020

Signum in 2020

Signum is blazing new paths, and as we head into the new year, we’re looking at new programs and expanding existing ones. Check out some of the destinations we’re heading toward in 2020.

Signum Path

Our newest venture is Signum Path, a program designed to help train people in the “soft skills” they need to succeed in their careers. The program consists of various badges that can be earned by taking courses in topics like Two-Way Communication and Writing as Process.

This spring, we’ll be launching the program for our first corporate clients. Later in the year, we plan to open registration to any and all individuals who want to improve their communication, writing, and other skills for a professional environment.

See Signum President Dr. Corey Olsen discuss our plans for Signum Path in last fall’s State of the University address.

Signum Academy

At the other end of the spectrum, we have Signum Academy. Initially designed as a series of summer reading camps for middle-school-aged children, we recently relaunched Signum Academy as an ongoing monthly discussion for all ages, with biweekly sessions on the Signum Twitch channel.

Our discussion schedule through the first half of the year is as follows:

  • January: Introducing the new and improved Signum Academy programs
  • February: Starting with The Fellowship of the Ring and Tolkien’s Old English “fan fiction”
  • March: C.S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian and discussing what order to read the Narnia series
  • April: Looking at structure and allusion in Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time
  • May: Observing how J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books grow up with readers
  • June: Discussions on fan communities and adaptation

We plan to revive our popular reading camps in July and August – and then continue with other engaging discussions in the Fall!

For those who can’t make the live sessions, you can find recordings on the Signum Academy YouTube channel.

Many Moots!

“Moot Season” is soon going to cease having a meaning, since we’re nearing the point where we’re going to have moots all year! Coming up quickly are TexMoot and SoCalMoot (formerly LAMoot). In addition to bringing back some of our previous moots like MiddleMoot, BayMoot, and MagnoliaMoot, we’re also looking add to our international gatherings with moots in Wales and Japan.

And then of course, there’s the big one, Mythmoot, which will once again be at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, VA, from June 25-28, 2020. This year’s theme for Mythmoot VII is “Defying and Defining Darkness,” taken from a quote attributed to Anne Frank:

Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.

We’re getting close to opening up the CFP and Early Bird Registration, so start planning now!

Signum Symposia

Signum Symposia is our ongoing series of panels and discussions featuring Signum faculty, staff, students, and special guests. This year, we’re looking to increase the number of overall Symposia that we hold, with events like faculty roundtables to discuss classes, special topic chats, and more. Some of our most recent Symposia include:

If you have an idea for a Signum Symposium, email us at [email protected] and we’ll make sure to pass it on to the right folks. All Symposia are recorded and posted to the Signum University YouTube channel.

New Masters Classes

Lest we forget our flagship program, we of course are continuing to offer classes for those wishing to pursue an MA in Language & Literature. The Spring semester has just started (though it’s not too late to register if you still want to), and we’re already looking ahead to upcoming semesters. Among the classes we are offering are a couple new ones, including:

We’ll have a new one in the fall semester as well, but we’re still working out the details!

Whether you’re already in process with your MA, looking to start in 2020, or you just like auditing our fun, unique literature and language courses, you can always see what’s coming up on our Future Courses page. (That’s right – at this “sci-fi university,” you can see into the future!)

Forge a Path With Signum!

2020 is shaping up to be our most exciting year yet. Thank you to all of those who have been traveling with us thus far, and to all those who are just joining us on the path – welcome!