Lifelong Learning
Imagine being a senior citizen going back to college. You’re in
Speech 101, looking around the room at the sea of 18 and 19-
year-old faces, and it’s “Favorite Hobby” speech day. You’ve
already heard three speeches on skateboarding, two on celebrity
couples, and one on heavy metal. You’re undoubtedly nervous as
you clench your note card, which is filled with a few scribbles
on the joys of gardening. You take a deep breath as you come to
the front of the room…
Although this may be a fictitious situation, there are a number
of seniors who are currently doing just this type of thing.
Lifelong learning for many people stops at about the age of 22.
That’s not to say the average person doesn’t continue to learn
informally, they simply put a halt to furthering their academic
education. Nowadays though, with seniors living longer, fuller
lives, many colleges and universities are offering services to
promote lifelong learning. Among the local schools, Butler
County Community College (BC3), Slippery Rock University (SRU)
and La Roche College are a few of the institutions offering such
services.
At many academic facilities, senior citizens can audit college
courses, which is basically sitting in on a class but not taking
tests or getting grades. There is no college credit for taking
the course; you simply leave with the knowledge learned in
class.
One aspect that sets BC3 apart from other institutions is that
senior citizens can actually earn college credits and a degree
free of charge, other than the expense of textbooks. There are
certain stipulations with this feature. For example, a senior
citizen could not get a free degree in certain majors due to
special admission requirements. Visit http://bc3.cc.pa.us/ for
more information.
As part of their lifelong learning department at SRU there is a
program called the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR).
The ILR is a non-profit, member-operated organization that is
dedicated to the learning needs of mature adults. The list of
classes is extensive and includes such topics as advertising,
Alaskan history, and watercolor painting, as well as over 60
other courses. Classes are eight weeks long and are offered
twice a year, once in late September and once in late March.
A membership to the ILR costs $60 for one term and $100 for a
full year. The dues cover as many classes as the individual
wishes to take, a lunch and lecture series at no additional
cost, a wind-up party, SRU parking tag, privileges to the SRU
library, priority over non-members when registering for classes,
and discounts on ILR day trips and other special events. In
addition to classes being offered at the SRU campus, certain
courses are taught in Cranberry and Zelienople. More information
is available at
http://www.sru.edu/.
La Roche College also offers a Lifetime of Learning Program for
all adult learners. Courses are offered at greatly reduced
tuition for those interested in auditing. The small classes at
La Roche and the already high number of non-traditional (i.e.
over the age of 22) students, makes La Roche very friendly for
the older learner. For more information visit http://www.laroche.edu/
and look under special programs at Lifetime of Learning Program.
There are also on-line courses available. BC3 offers distance
learning classes. With the growing trend of technological
knowledge becoming more and more imperative these days, programs
and courses such as these are just the way for seniors to stay
sharp and well informed.
Frank M. Skrip, Jr. is a public relations intern at Concordia
Lutheran Ministries and master’s candidate at Point Park
University.
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