On-campus learning opportunities for retirees abound
Workshop presenters (from left) Julie Selander, Anastasia Faunce, and Sandra Krebs Hirsch describe the abundance of learning opportunities at the U for retirees.
We began the 2019–20 Living Well Workshop series with a presentation on educational opportunities for retirees at the U of M, and we learned that there is a wonderful array of possibilities!
First, we heard from Anastasia Faunce, director of LearningLife in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS). LearningLife offers a wide-ranging portfolio of noncredit short courses, seminars, and immersions taught by University faculty and experts from the community. The short courses and seminars range in cost from $55 to $165. UMRA members receive a 10 percent discount.
Another signature LearningLife program is Headliners, a series of single-session lectures on current events by University scholars. The cost is $20 per session or $90 for the series of seven.
LearningLife also hosts Encore Transitions, a series of one-day immersions to help people prepare for retirement. Courses focus on how to achieve personal fulfillment and deal with practical issues while pursuing purpose-driven, post-career engagement.
We then heard from Sandra Krebs Hirsh, vice president of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), a membership organization (also in CCAPS) that offers more than 300 courses, discounted trips in the U.S. and abroad, and opportunities to participate in more than 30 special interest groups. Courses are taught by volunteers and are held in locations across the Twin Cities. Annual membership costs $240.
Finally, we heard from Julie Selander, director of One Stop Student Services in the Office of the Registrar, who spoke about the Senior Citizen Education Program, which allows state residents age 62 or older to take courses in the regular curriculum, for $10 per credit or audit for free.
Registration can be done online or in person at a One Stop location on campus (Bruininks Hall, West Bank Skyway, or Coffey Hall). Seniors may register for any available course, subject to the same rules for prerequisites as other students.
—Ron Matross, chair, Workshop Committee
Back to school: opportunities for retirees at the U of M
Tue, September 24 2019, 1:30pm
Dale Shephard Room, Coffman Memorial Union
September is back-to-school month, so our September workshop will be all about how UMRA members can continue their education by taking courses at the U of M. We will have representatives from three University programs talk about the opportunities their programs offer.
Anastasia Faunce, director of LearningLife in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS), will discuss the noncredit seminars, courses, and immersions that LearningLife offers to the general public. Sandra Krebs Hirsh, vice president of the board of the Osher Life Long Learning Institute(OLLI), will discuss the extensive array of courses and seminars for seniors offered by OLLI, which is also in CCAPS. Julie Selander, director of One Stop Services in the Office of the Registrar, will discuss the Senior Citizen Education Program, which allows retirees to take courses at low cost in the regular curriculum, either for credit or for audit.
Each presenter will briefly describe the nature of their program, how to access it, where classes are held, and how much they cost. As time permits, they may highlight some of their offerings for the 2019–20 academic year. They will also offer brochures on their programs and answer questions.
Please join us following the UMRA luncheon on Tuesday, September 24, for this workshop starting at 1:30 p.m. in the Dale Shephard Room.
—Ron Matross, chair, Workshop Committee
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.