Interesting
courses focus of Senior University
By Gina Ponce
On-line Forty-Niner
An
opportunity has been given to those 50 years
of age and older to either remember or find
out the experiences of being in a classroom.
The Senior University program at Cal State
Long Beach was established in 1996, when
it initially received a grant from Long
Beach Community Hospital.
“[The program] was established to have a
place for those 50 years or over to come
and study in an informal atmosphere,” said
Don Friedman, curriculum chair for Senior
University.
According to the brochure, the vision statement
of Senior University’s dedication “to promote
the positive aspects of aging. We offer
an environment that fosters personal growth
and promotes individual empowerment of older
adults. Lifelong learning is celebrated
and human potential is nurtured.”
The program is run by the College of Health
and Human Services, but develops its own
curriculum. A whole series of courses including
music, art, computers and writing are offered
in the program.
Friedman said International Relations is
one of the most popular courses at Senior
University. It will be taught by Y.Y. Kim,
a professor of International Studies in
South Korea, and will have discussions centered
around on international relations in the
news.
Alfred Leung, department chairman of physics
and astronomy at CSULB, will be teaching
Science of Color. The students in this class
will learn how color is created and perceived,
the future of color and color in nature,
art and language.
Travel without luggage is a course that
will be using slide shows to allow students
to visit European, Central American and
Asian locations. Different presenters will
be contributing to this course.
Diana Rodriguez, president of Senior University,
said instructors can submit courses they
would like to teach and the curriculum committee
may approve them and add them to the course
offerings.
Friedman said the program tries to fit the
needs of the students. Students say what
classes they want to take and teachers are
found to teach those classes.
One difference between Senior University
and CSULB is that none of the instructors
are paid. They are strictly volunteers.
Con Rader, chairman of the computer lab
at Senior University, said he volunteers
because he likes to interact with people
and there is a satisfaction in giving knowledge
the students want and need.
“It’s just a good way to retire,” Rader
said.
Senior University started with 300 to 350
members and has raised its numbers to 686
members in 2001. Rodriguez said she
believes the increase in membership is due
to the wide variety of courses offered.
“Our biggest success lies in the curriculum,”
Rodriguez said.
Roy Hubbs, a retired art teacher, said he
volunteers his time because he missed teaching.
Hubbs is the instructor for the watercolor
workshop and drawing classes at Senior University.
“It’s a much more relaxed atmosphere than
a formal classroom. Most of that is
because of the people enrolled,” he said.
“The secret is that they don’t have to be
here. The goal isn’t a diploma in
the end.”
Hubbs said this age group is wonderful to
teach, and they are great to work with.
This program gives them an outlet and a
lot of personal enjoyment, he said.
Rader said Senior University is a place
for social interaction and to meet people
your own age. He said the greatest draw
to the computer lab is learning how to use
the computer for e-mail.
Gabriele Anton, office administrator at
Senior University, said there is quite a
bit of interaction between this program
and the rest of the campus. Seniors visit
a lot of the activities CSULB offers and
there is a lot of communication going on,
especially with some of the volunteer instructors
coming from the campus, Anton said.
There are four eight week sessions of classes
per year. Winter classes begin Jan.
21 and run through March. Yearly membership
is $30 and classes are $10 each. Registration
begins Jan. 4 with a presentation by Ronald
Vogel, new dean of the College of Health
and Human Services.
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