The Pan-African Studies Community Education Program(PASCEP) is a low-cost, non-creditcontinuing education service of the College of Liberal Arts.

PASCEP was founded in 1975 by Annie D. Hyman, a Temple University graduate andNorth Philadelphia community activist who sought to bring the University to the community.Prior to coming to Temple, the Community Education Program was held in community schools,churches and centers. University faculty volunteered their time to teach classes. Ms. Hymanlater obtained the support of Dr. Odeyo Ayaga, who was then Chairman of the Pan-AfricanStudies Department, to seek Temple University’s sponsorship of the Community EducationProgram.

In the Spring of 1979, the University adopted the Program and it came to the campus underthe auspices of the Pan-African Studies Department of the College of Arts and Sciences of Temple University. Faculty of the Pan-African Studies Department and other facultycontinued to volunteer time to teach courses for PASCEP: Dr. Rita Smith, D r. AudreyPitman, Dr. Tran Van Dinh, Professor Sonia Sanchez, Professor Jacqueline Mungai, Dr.Wilbert Roget, Dr. C. T. Keto, Dr. Barbara Hampton, and Dr. Thaddeus Mathis, among others.

Today the vast majority of PASCEP’s courses are taught by volunteers from the communitywhose purpose is to give back to others what was given to them in knowledge, skill,inspiration and example. Community self-help is no better exemplified than in the PASCEPphilosophy and practice.