Fall college classes a way for seniors to remain curious

Advertisements are firmly in place touting “back to school” sales. Most of them show children loading up on new clothes, pens and notebooks. But the back to school sentiment isn’t just for children anymore.

The Penobscot Valley Senior College, an affiliate of the University of Maine Center on Aging, has its fall class schedule in place, and the time to sign up is now. Open to people 50 and older, with classes located at the University of Maine, Orono and Bangor campuses, Senior College is a way for older people to learn new things, make new friends and generally “have a good time,” said Stan Marshall, president of PVSC.

“It’s the fun of learning and of curiosity, and there is no pressure because there are no exams,” he said. “People aren’t doing it for credit but just for fun.”

Marshall emphasized that enrolling in a Senior College course requires no prior college attendance, just an eagerness to learn.

“It is very non-threatening,” he said of the class environment. “And there’s a lot of participation in the classes, which are discussion-based. They’re very social.” In fact, the comment circled most on the surveys completed by students at the end of each course was “very good,” added Marshall proudly.

Christina Diebold, publicity person for PVSC, agrees.

“I think it’s innate that people want to learn, and older people have a passion for learning,” she said.

Though some of the class instructors are college professors and others are experts in their fields, the price of attending one of these courses is much less than average tuition. Annual membership to PVSC is $25 a person or $40 per couple. Each class is $25 per person.

“Most of the classes focus on the humanities around liberal arts and sciences,” said Marshall.

“But not all,” added Diebold. “There is a computer class.”

PVSC courses are generally held on Fridays, beginning Oct. 3, and run six weeks. There are morning or afternoon sessions, depending on the class. Each lasts about two hours.

The curriculum holds something for everyone. Here are just a few of the classes offered:

. Maine and the Sea: An Ongoing Heritage, taught by John Battick, will explore some of the lesser-known facets of Maine’s relationship with its ocean environment. Seafarers and shipbuilding are two of the topics covered.

. Caring for our Elders, taught by Deborah Killam, is a four-week class focusing on the experience of needing care, the needs of caregivers, available programs and services, and legal and financial issues.

. Food for Fun and Fitness, taught by Katherine Musgrave, will teach seniors nutrition principles, how to build a balanced diet, the use of supplements and medication on health and abuses of food safety.

There are about a dozen other classes available, each guaranteed to be stimulating and fun filled. For a complete course listing, call PVSC at 581-1947. Keep in mind this is a message phone only, so leave your name and phone number. Someone will call you in a day or two.

“Please be patient with us,” said Marshall. “There is no staff at the [senior] college. It is all volunteers – even the instructors.” Schedules and registration forms also are available at Eastern Agency on Aging in Bangor.

Also, draw a big red circle on your calendar for Friday, Sept. 19. The PVSC will hold a free open house, complete with a box lunch, for its members at Jenness Hall, University of Maine, Orono, from noon to 1 p.m. It’s a chance for members to meet course instructors and buy campus parking passes, said Marshall.

“There’s a reason we hold classes on Friday – when parking is easier,” he said. “We promote physical fitness by way of walking from the parking lot,” he added.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865 or log on www.eaaa.org.