Lee University’s Encore Program, which offers people age 60 and over the opportunity to take university courses, has a new line-up of specially designed mini-courses for the fall. These mini-courses are planned exclusively for Encore-eligible students and are available along with selected traditional courses.
With a $25 fee for up to two courses, the Encore Program will offer the following courses: Spanish Language and Culture for Travelers V, Fitness for the Encore Years, Joint Conditioning, Baseball Legends and Heroes, Microsoft Word and Excel for Beginners, Computers for Beginners, Hand-Built Ceramics, Archaeology and the Bible, Golden Age of the British Mystery Novel, Creative Writing Workshop Part II, Second Seasons Two: More on Successful Aging and Research, iHows in the iWorld, Basic Digital Photography, Beginning Photoshop, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War and Divine Rules for Successful Christian Living.
Spanish Language & Culture for Travelers V is a continuation of the Spanish Language & Culture for Travelers IV offered in spring 2015. It is intended for travelers to further their knowledge of Spanish-speaking countries through the study of language, culture, and useful expression. Students will be exposed to a more in-depth look into the political, social, and religious issues occurring in some Spanish-speaking countries. Dr. Alexander Steffanell, associate professor of Spanish, will teach this four-week course on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, Oct. 6—Nov. 3.
Fitness for the Encore Years is a ten-week course that will teach active but low-impact aerobic and weight resistance exercises that will include sitting and standing. The class will begin with introductory exercises, and each week will include a new component to encourage the participants to challenge their fitness levels. Students need to wear comfortable clothing for movement and shoes with good support. Roxanne Tyson will teach this course on Wednesday afternoons, Sept. 8—Nov. 17.
Ms. Tyson will also teach the Encore Joint Conditioning Class, a ten-week course that will cover different techniques to help students strengthen and regain movement in their joints. The class will include different stretches and breathing techniques to help with relaxation and flexibility. Students will need to wear the proper attire. The class will meet on Wednesday afternoons, Sept. 8—Nov. 17.
Baseball Legends and Heroes, a five-week course, will use Ken Burns’ documentary to teach the history of baseball from its earliest beginnings to the 21st century. Students will have the opportunity to travel to places such as the Ty Cobb Museum, the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum, and the Johnny Mize Museum in addition to learning about the game’s history. This course is taught by Dr. David Altopp and will meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, Aug. 25—Sept. 24.
Microsoft Word and Excel for Beginners is designed to present students with the basic concepts of Word and Excel. The goal for each student is to create simple documents and spreadsheets using the computer programs. The five-week class will meet on Thursday evenings, Sept. 3—Oct. 8 and will be taught by Rhonda Graham.
Ms. Graham will also teach the Computers for Beginners class, to help students learn the basics of computers such as sending and receiving emails, searching the internet, and using social media to keep in touch with family. Students should bring a 2 gigabyte flash drive with them. The course will meet on Tuesday evenings, Sept. 1—Oct. 6.
Hand-Built Ceramics will teach students to make and glaze their own ceramic creations. There is a $30 materials fee. This class, taught by John Simmons, assistant professor of art, will meet on Tuesday evenings from Aug. 25 to Sept. 29.
Dr. Brian Peterson, assistant professor of Old Testament, will teach Archaeology and the Bible, which will offer a general overview of the field of Biblical archaeology. Topics covered will include methodology, basic history, important discoveries, key debates about Biblical sites, and why this knowledge is important to believers. Along with instructor lectures, the class will include guest lectures, video presentations, and discussions. The six-week course will meet Wednesday afternoons, Aug. 26—Sept. 30.
Golden Age of the British Mystery Novel will cover five novels from the four British “Queens of Mystery” during the Golden Age: Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham. Discussion of British culture of the period will accompany discussion of the novels and their various successes. Dr. Christopher Coulter, associate professor of English, will teach this five-week course meeting Wednesday afternoons, Sept. 2—30.
Brian Conn will teach Creative Writing Workshop Part II on Tuesday afternoons, Sept. 15—Nov. 3. This course seeks to pursue better writing through a workshop model, with all participants subjecting their work to the scrutiny of the class. Students who desire to write better in creative genres and who were enrolled in Creative Writing Workshop in the spring of 2015 are eligible for this course.
Second Seasons Two: More on Successful Aging and Research will be a five-week course considering new research on aging from a multidisciplinary point of view. Students will consider the medical, social, environmental, and spiritual aspects of the encore years. The class will be team taught by sociologists and Lee faculty Karen Mundy Judkins and Bennett Judkins and will take place on Monday evenings from Sept. 21 to Oct. 19.
iHows in the iWorld will be taught by Dr. Bill Jaber, professor of computer information systems, and will introduce the student to the world of iPads and iPhones. The course will cover the basics of navigation, settings, email, FaceTime, messaging, and taking pictures and videos. Students will learn how to share pictures with friends and family through messaging, email, and Facebook, while also examining free apps, utilities, and games for the devices. The six-week course will take place Tuesday evenings, Sept. 1—Oct. 6.
Tom Kilpatrick will teach Basic Digital Photography, which will cover the basic functions of the digital camera as well as basic Photoshop functions and the aesthetics of the photographic image. A camera with manual controls is recommended. This six-week course will meet Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from Aug. 25 to Oct. 1.
Beginning Photoshop will cover the basic tools of Photoshop and will be specifically geared to applications for post-processing and photographic images. Students need to have access to the Photoshop program. This course, also taught by Mr. Kilpatrick, will meet Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, Oct. 6—Nov. 17.
Dr. Drew Bledsoe, assistant professor of history, will teach Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, an in-depth examination of some of the Civil War’s most crucial military campaigns and the leaders who planned and executed them. Through close study of the Civil war’s battles, the class will seek understanding of the role of leadership in armies’ successes and failures and to assess how the outcomes of these battles shaped strategic decisions, the course of the war, and the fate of the nation. This five-week course will take place Tuesday afternoons, Sept. 8—Oct. 6.
Divine Rules for Successful Christian Living will provide a new look at the Ten Commandments as given to Moses. The commandments will be compared to the teachings of Jesus as well as the writers of the New Testament. Dr. Henry Smith will teach this class, which will take place on Monday evenings, Sept. 14—Oct. 7.
Students may choose up to two courses from the list of traditional courses and special lecture topics. All enrolled students will have free entry to campus concerts, plays and athletic events.
Pre-registration will take place August 11—18 in room 113 of Lee’s Communication Arts building from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. After August 19, Encore office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.–noon in room 214 of Lee’s Higginbotham Administration Building (HAB). Applications can also be returned by mail to HAB 214 at Lee University.
Fast-track registration will take place Thursday, Aug. 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Centenary Room of the HAB. Participants can drop-in and complete registration in one step during these times. All courses are on a first-come, first-serve basis, and spaces are limited.
Lee University's Encore Program is a part of the institution's commitment of service to the community.
For more information about Encore, contact Community Relations at 614-8598 or communityrelations@leeuniversity.edu.