Sonoma State University opens the doors to its Lifelong Learning Institute this fall in an effort to provide a unique educational experience to anyone over 50 years old by offering courses without homework or grades.
An open house for the new institute will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 5 in the Evert B. Person Theater. Professors offering the eight-week classes will be on hand to discuss their courses which will run two hours each, one day a week. Coffee and pastries will be served beginning at 9 a.m. Campus tours follow the presentation.
The classes begin on Sept. 10 and include Jack London: Local Writer, Global Thinker; Creativity and Beyond; The Great Central Valley; Music and Dance in the World's Religions; Sugar, Sweeteners and Society; How Western Music Got the Way it Is; The Evolution of Human Sexuality; and Hitchock's America. Different classes will be held in future semesters.
Cost is $150 per semester, which can cover enrollment in up to four classes.
The spark for the program came from Glen Ellen resident Ed Stolman, owner of The Olive Press, who originally brought the idea to SSU based on his experience at the Fromm Institute, a similar program at the University of San Francisco.
The public is invited to come and hear about the program. A parking fee of $2.50 will be charged for those not already enrolled in classes. For information, call (707) 664-2691.
