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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 10/1/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
October 27, 2003 Students learn throughout life UWGB program keeps seniors' minds active By Cynthia Hodnett But there's still a lot of learning going on for the 500-plus students
enrolled in the Institute for Learning in Retirement at the University
of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Learning in Retirement gives senior citizens the chance to take noncredit
college courses and attend daylong trips for enrichment.
"Many of these people never took a college course before," said Jean
Watson, 64, of Ashwaubenon, president of the program.
"Most of them are retired or semiretired people in their 50s and 60s,
but we have some who are even in their 80s," said Watson, who joined the
program six years ago. "It's a way to keep your mind active and to meet
new people."
UWGB's Learning in Retirement Institute began 12 years ago, she said,
adding that there are similar programs at more than 10 colleges and universities
in the state.
Students pay $50 for a year or $35 a semester, Watson said. Although
UW-Green Bay provides classroom space, the program is funded completely
by group participants, she said.
They can chose from 40 classes each semester from topics including religion,
photography, finance, nutrition, safety and relationships. They can also
participate in activities including day trips to the Milwaukee Art Museum
and Paine Art Center in Oshkosh.
Most classes typically last two hours and meet once a week for two to
six weeks.
UWGB instructors and community residents teach some of the classes,
but many are led by class members.
"I think it's good to have the classes taught peer-to-peer because it
allows people to share their knowledge with others in the group," said
66-year-old John Wood of Suamico, who is vice-president of the program.
The program had 615 members last year, the most in the program's history,
Watson said.
Nearly 574 students are enrolled in classes this year, Watson said.
Many students learn about the program through word of mouth.
Dorothy Maki, 76, of De Pere learned about the program six years ago
while attending a senior fair.
"LIR really enhances your life in so many ways," she said. "You meet
so many interesting people. It's wonderful. If we ask the professors to
do a class, they are willing to help. A lot of the people are very receptive
and are so interested in learning, and the classes are always full."
Being on a college campus also exposes senior citizens to traditional
college-age students, said Dean Von Dras, assistant professor of human
development at UWGB.
Von Dras, who teaches a class on adulthood and aging for undergraduates,
also taught a class on grandparents in the LIR program last spring.
"The average 18- to 20-year-old college student hasn't had much contact
with people outside their own age group," Von Dras said. "The same can
be said for the older adults. They tend to interact with people in their
own age groups, maybe with the exception of their own families."
Angela Olson, a 23-year-old psychology major at UWGB, was one of several
undergraduates enrolled in Von Dras' classes who worked with LIR participants
on a number of survey and research projects on issues facing older adults
such as grandparenting, memory loss and stress.
"I have grandparents and great-grandparents who are pretty open, but
they aren't as willing to share as much as these people were," Olson said.
"We talked about death, sex or any subject under the sun," Olson said.
"It was pretty surprising to see how open they were with sharing their
beliefs and thoughts about those issues."
To find out more
Those interested in the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's Institute
for Learning in Retirement can call (920) 465-2356 for more information.
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