By Jane Martin
What topics interest you most – downtown abbey history, Greek comedy and Roman satire or William Faulkner’s greatest hits?
These are only a few new courses being offered this fall at Vancouver Island University’s ElderCollege.
They among dozens of already popular courses that will also be running such as Vancouver Island history, Bridge the Communist Revolutions, and Birding –Backyard and Beyond.
One might ask why take ElderCollege courses? That’s easy. Not only is it a fun and fascinating way to keep our brains active, it also helps us expand our knowledge base and better understand the world around us.
The instructors are passionate about their subject matter and sharing it with their students, so class discussions can get lively.
But relax – there are no exams or compulsory assignments in the courses, just lots of class participation and personal learning. It’s also a great way to meet people who share similar interests to yours, all in an informal atmosphere.
The ElderCollege program focuses on the lifelong learning needs and interests of people 50 years old and more. All courses are held during the day, at either VIU’s Nanaimo campus on Fifth Street, the VIU Parksville campus on Jensen Avenue, or public locations such as The Gardens in Qualicum or Nanaimo Museum.
All locations are accessible by bus and have parking nearby.
ElderCollege instructors and board members are volunteers, allowing the program to keep course fees modest – usually $40 plus HST for a six-week course of one or two hours per week.
Students also pay an annual membership fee of $15, and with their annual VIU ElderCollege student card, can access additional benefits such as free entrance to Milner Gardens and use of VIU library services.
So why not make new friends and learn something different this fall?
Check the ElderCollege course offerings and register for your preferences. You can pick up a course calendar at one of the VIU campuses, go to www.viu.ca.eldercollege or call 1-866-734-6252.
Class sizes are limited.
