HOUSTON – Lone Star College-University Park’s Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) is meeting the educational and social needs of the elder community through non-credit classes and group outings.
ALL plays an important role in offering members a community where they can meet people in their same age group. The membership program for adults aged 50 and older starts at $20 annually to take any class available and attend bus trips. The cost is so low because the facility belongs to this community and the classes are offered by college and community volunteers.
“As the community’s college, we are proud to create many opportunities for all residents to be active participants on our campus,” said Dr. Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park president. “Offering a low-cost option to keep adult students engaged in learning and affording them a chance to develop personal relationships is our way of giving back to these invaluable community members.”
Studies have shown that a strong predictor of longevity for older individuals is having social connections and talking to others. ALL classes offer opportunities for interpersonal engagement, while also helping members enjoy learning for the sake of learning.
“We’re offering members the opportunity to stretch their brain, no tests, no books, no pressure, and all fun,” said Nancy Kral, LSC-University Park’s ALL coordinator.
Many class topics emerge from word-of-mouth and recommendations from ALL members. Volunteers from the community, LSC faculty and ALL members lead every class, and the enthusiasm and interest from students keeps many coming back. Mike Adams, a former professor with LSC, has taught ALL classes for 11 years, focusing on ancient civilization and ancient history.
“I was so impressed with the enthusiasm of the students, and their interest in the subject matter,” said Adams. “These people have been around a while and a lot of them are very well-read, so it’s a stimulating relationship I have with students.”
Each class is kept brief, and because there are no assignments or exams, instructors are flexible to encourage student interaction that allows for unique learning experiences. Topics change every semester based on the availability of volunteer instructors, and cover a wide variety of interests, including computer literacy, Thai cooking, Reiki healing and basics of antibiotics. Adams said some topics may seem too foreign or unappealing. However, he urges those interested in joining ALL to keep an open mind.
“Some of the topics are such that people think they don’t know anything about it, so they shouldn’t attend,” said Adams. “The fact is that most classes are geared toward people who don’t know anything about the subject.”
The next ALL Open House will be held Tuesday, Aug. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon in Lone Star College-University Park’s Energy & Manufacturing Institute (EMI). To see the current semester’s class schedule or to learn more about the ALL program, visit LoneStar.edu/ALL-UniversityPark or stop by the EMI lobby at 11521 Compaq Center West Drive.