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Hood Establishes University of Iowa's Senior College
February 01, 2012
Student Affairs
Professor Emeritus Al Hood helped start an adult learning program ten
years ago that has been a source of enjoyment and intellectual
stimulation for hundreds of seniors in eastern Iowa and beyond ever
since.
Hood, who retired in 2001, initiated the Senior College,
which offers courses on a variety of topics for seniors. In its first
semester, the program offered four courses. This spring, the Senior
College is offering 10 courses on topics such as astronomy,
architecture, economics, Shakespeare, and even college basketball’s
March Madness.
Hood, along with three other College of Education retirees, continues to be a board member. Professor Emeritus H.D. Hoover (MA ‘67/PhD ’69), Judith Hendershot (BA ’57)—the College’s former placement director, and Professor Emeritus Bea Furner (MA ‘63/PhD ’67) are on the committee, as was Professor Emeritus Dick Dustin previously.
Hood said the purpose of the program is to provide seniors with a chance to remain intellectually active.
He said he likes having the courses offered on campus whenever possible
so that traditional students and senior students can rub elbows.
“It’s great for the younger students to see people still interested in learning,” he said.
Hendershot said Senior College is one of her favorite activities in retirement.
“It
certainly proves that retirees don’t quit learning,” she said, noting
that the program recorded over 800 course registrations last year.
Furner said she enjoys her committee involvement.
“It’s a group of people that care about learning, cares about the
University, and is interested in learning new or revisiting topics,” she
said. “I enjoy meeting and interacting with new participants as well as
seeing familiar faces.”
Furner noted that one of the Senior College’s strengths is its
instructors. The program draws from the best of the best in the
community and on campus, including many retired professors, and gives
them a chance to teach a topic they care about to an exceptionally
interested, engaged audience.
Hoover has taught two courses for Senior College—one on the history and
art of maps and one on the history of testing in education.
“They’re
wonderful classes to teach,” Hoover said. “I taught at the UI a long
time. I was a statistics professor and I loved it, but I’ve never had
better students than these seniors. They want to learn something.”
Although the program is closely tied with the University of Iowa—the Emeritus Faculty Association and Retirees Association
are cosponsors and the UI Alumni Association provides support—Hood said
it’s a misconception that attendees must be affiliated with the
university.
“We’re open to all retired people,” Hood said, “and we actually don’t require anybody to be retired.”
Visit the UI Senior College for more information.
http://www.education.uiowa.edu/en/EducationFirst/February_2012_Newsletter/Public_Engagement.aspx