EDUCATION Fall means back to school for seniors, too.

Back to school for seniors

By Logan C. Ritchie

Atlanta has its own way of bringing in the fall season, even when the weather feels just about the same. Popular annual festivals, such as the Decatur Book Festival and the Atlanta Greek Festival, return to cue the coming of autumn. Gradually, the whole city goes back to school; new backpacks fly off the shelves, yellow buses clog neighborhood streets and college students roll back onto campus.

But the younger set doesn’t have a monopoly on education. In the state of Georgia, residents aged 62 and up are entitled to free tuition with some exclusions.

With nearly 60 higher education institutions in the greater metro, opportunities for learning abound. If you’ve been thinking of rolling back onto campus, too, here’s a list of programs to spark your interest.

Clayton State University

2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow 30260 clayton.edu/admissions/ undergraduate/62-and-older Contact: 678-466-4115, admissions@clayton.edu

Clayton State University opened in 1969 as a junior college, using $5 million in bonds to build a campus. It became a fouryear university, offering both associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, in 1986. Clayton State has grown since its early days, expanding from its main campus in Morrow to satellite campuses in Locust Grove, Fayetteville and Peachtree City.

Eighty-seven seniors are currently pursuing degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels at Clayton State University.

“The programs afford seniors the opportunity to engage with a curriculum that meets their interests due to the variety of elective courses that can be taken. Students can design their own program,” said Dr. Jill L. Lane, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

“Clayton State University is a good fit for seniors returning to school or pursuing their dreams of a college degree because we are dedicated to providing students with support services to help them navigate through the curriculum and our faculty are dedicated to going the extra mile to help their students succeed,” Lane said.

Lane is a professor of Instructional Design and Technology and liaison to The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which accredits higher learning institutions around the world.

Clayton State provides many points of entry for non-traditional students.

“The best advice I can give a senior who is thinking about coming back to college is to visit campus and schedule an appointment with the department chair or advisor in their desired major,” said Lane.

Clayton’s CaPE

Clayton State University’s Center for Continuing and Professional Education (CaPE) offers classes that do not count toward degree programs. CaPE is an excellent option for nontraditional students looking to refresh professional skills or explore a new path.

CaPE offers cost-effective, relevant coursework for professional certificates and courses in paralegal studies, nursing, education, computer science, leadership and management, dental hygiene and more.

For those focused on personal enrichment, Clayton State University has a wide variety of classes. Basic crochet, Understanding Medicare, American Sign Language, digital photography, improv, public speaking, Microsoft Excel, sewing and voiceover are just a sampling of classes beginning this semester.

Veterans Affairs benefits will cover professional development courses in professional investigating, project management, SHRM learning system, Six Sigma, Black Belt I and II, HVAC and healthcare.

Lane suggested students “ask questions about course offerings, flexibility in scheduling and support services that can ease the transition.”

OLLI at Kennesaw State University

3333 Bushbee Drive, Kennesaw 30144 cpe.kennesaw.edu/olli/ Contact: 470-578-6755, pwalke43@ kennesaw.edu

OLLI at Kennesaw State University’s College of Continuing and Professional Education has classes in art, music, finance, history, languages and technology. The school runs on a quarter, not semester system.

OLLI at Kennesaw is more than academia. It arranges small-group travel — Greece, Italy, Alaska, Israel and New Zealand and Australia top the list — as well as day trips. Community events like Donuts and Notes bring together seniors and local school groups who come to perform choral and musical concerts.

“We are a pretty active group,” said Melissa Conners, manager of community programs that includes OLLI. “We have a special club with access to a community room for just $5 per month. There members can go to book club or play bridge or play other games.”

OLLI at Emory University

6 Executive Park Drive, Atlanta 30329 olli.emory.edu or ccpe.kennesaw. edu/olli/ Contact: 404-727-5489, OLLI@Emory.edu

Emory University began catering to older students in the late 1970s, holding classes in public meeting spaces like church basements. Thanks to an endowment, Emory now boasts spring, summer, fall and winter classes through Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).

Arts, finance, languages, yoga and history are just a few subjects offered.

A sampling of OLLI classes at Emory University includes: ■ What it Was: Growing Up When the Music Mattered, a backstage pass to the time of classic rock and roll, the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War. ■ Auteurs 1: Explore the Filmmakers and Filmmaking brings attention to little known but well deserving filmmakers like Sarah Polley, Jane Campion and Julian Schnabel.

Fees at OLLI are $49 for one class. For each additional class, there’s a discount.

Georgia State University

3 Gilmer Street SE, Atlanta 30303 perimeter.gsu.edu/admissions/ apply/senior Contact: 404-413-2500, admissions@gsu.edu

Georgia State University boasts five campuses across the metro area: Downtown Atlanta, Alpharetta. Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody and Newton.

At Georgia State University, older students are welcome to resume, continue or begin a college education as a GSU-62 student. The program allows eligible applicants to register for college-level courses for credit or audit on a space-available basis. Students must first apply online as a freshman, bachelor, graduate or post-baccalaureate.

Perimeter Adults Learning and Services

Dunwoody Baptist Church, 4045 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody 30338 palsonline.info Contact: 770-698-0801, DunwoodyPALS@gmail.com

Perimeter Adults Learning and Services (PALS) is a nonprofit, volunteer-led organization led by senior adults for senior adults offering enrichment in Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Norcross and surrounding communities. PALS began in 1991 with support from local religious institutions and civic groups.

Registration for fall classes is underway, running Sept. 12 to Nov. 7. The cost for an eight-week class is $45 for the session or $8 to drop in. Note that there are no classes the week of Sept. 26.

PALS students can choose from Sociology of Religion, Love to Travel, Mah Jongg, Bridge, Election 2022 and Shakespeare’s A

Midsummer Night’s Dream. PALS’ quarterly enrichment features Monday Lunch ‘N Learn, an all-day event.

Seniors Enriched Living

Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell, 30075 facebook.com/ SeniorsEnrichedLiving Contact: 770-587-3750, info@ selroswellga.org

Seniors Enriched Living (SEL) is a non-profit, interfaith organization in Roswell Square. More than 300 participants take senior adult continuing education classes during the spring, summer and fall. Class registration is online, and classes are offered online starting Sept. 19 and in person starting Sept. 20.

Interested in art museum collections in Fort Worth, Texas or the U.S. Constitution? Subjects range from Notable Homes and Gardens to Estate Planning, and many more topics in between. The cost is $70 for up to five classes. Each additional class is $10.

Senior University of Greater Atlanta

Rehoboth Baptist Church, 2997 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker 30084 suga.org Contact: SugaAtlanta@gmail.com

Senior University of Greater Atlanta (SUGA) is located in Tucker. Classes range from history, literature and science to mythology, opera and law. Membership, not tuition, is charged per quarter.

A book club meets monthly to hear a presentation and discuss the month’s book selection. Coming up in September: “While Justice Sleeps” by Stacey Abrams, candidate for Georgia governor, and “The Sum of Us” by Heather McGee, economy expert.

Lifespan Academy

3003 Howell Mill Road NW Atlanta, GA 30327 Contact: 470-757-6693 peggy@lifespanatlanta.com or lol@lifespanatlanta.com

Fall classes start Sept. 8, according to the organization’s webpage.

The state of Georgia allows students aged 62 and older to take college classes without paying tuition. Some lesser costs may be incurred, like an application fee or parking fees, but tuition is free. Each college or university has slightly different fees, so read the fine print.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Georgia Constitution, eligibility for enrollment under this provision requires such persons: 1. Must be residents of Georgia, 62 years of age or older at the time of registration and shall present a birth certificate or other comparable written documentation of age to enable the institution to determine eligibility. 2. May enroll as a regular or auditing student in courses offered for resident credit on a space available basis without payment of fees, except for supplies, laboratory or shop fees. 3. Shall meet all institution undergraduate or graduate admission requirements. Reasonable prerequisites may be required in certain courses. 4. Shall have all usual student and institutional records maintained. However, institutions will not report such students for budgetary purposes. 5. Must meet all institution and legislated degree requirements if they are degree-seeking students. 6. May not enroll in dental, medical, veterinary or law schools under the provisions of this policy.

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