Senior citizens extend education
Each Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m., senior citizens from Pioneer Valley Lodge gather in the senate chambers on the third floor of the Taggart Student Center to continue their education.
Senior University is a program offered through the Val R. Christensen Service Center for Logan residents 62 and older. These students come from Pioneer Valley Lodge, Cache Valley Senior Center and the community.
According to Helene Salisbury, those who attend the class don’t consider themselves old at all.
“We’re all more mature people – we’re not old,” she said. “It keeps you alive when you’ve got things going on upstairs.”
Kelsey Kushlan, the director of Senior University, said Senior University started six or seven years ago as a capstone project but has continued on because of the value it offers the community.
“I think it’s important because seniors don’t get active very much and they need ways to socialize and learn,” Kushlan said. “It also provides professors a chance to donate their time and expertise to help out the population and town we live in.”
Each week of the school semester, a different professor from campus is asked to present an hour-long lecture regarding the area of their expertise. Ruth Holbrook, a student from Pioneer Valley Lodge, said she enjoys the range of topics.
“We learn about such a variety,” she said. “The pollination of plants, hybrid plants. Once there was a deaf man and it was terribly interesting, he had great tone and inflection and I was just amazed.”
Frank Salisbury, Helene’s husband who is also from Pioneer Valley Lodge, said one of his favorite lessons was on climate change.
“It was very well done,” he said. “The guy really knew his stuff.”
Kushlan said she tries to have a diverse group of professors present each semester and said occasionally she’ll have a professor present again if she knows the teaching style works for senior citizens. She said the way she picks the professors to come is not a scientific process.
“I usually just go through the directory of professors and then look at RateMyProfessor.com to just make sure they’re good teachers,” Kushlan said. “Teaching seniors is different than teaching others.”
Wednesday’s class was on social work and taught by Moises Diaz, clinical assistant professor in the department of social work. He was asked to speak originally in February but had turned the opportunity down d
ue to his course load. He said he is happy he had an opportunity to speak this semester.
“A former student of mine who I mentored years ago started this program, so when I received a random communication years later, I was excited it was still going,” Diaz said. “I think it’s important to serve and give back.”
The class attendees pay $10 per person per semester, and Kushlan said the fees go to an end-of-semester social, catered by University Catering. Originally, the fee was created in case the class was ever offered in the University Catalog.
“The idea was to begin with a fee, so it wasn’t a shock if it was added to the catalog,” Kushlan said. “I think if you pay a little, you’re a little more investing in going.”
Kushlan said she became involved in Senior University because a friend had to do a service project. She said she loves senior citizens and tries to provide them with as much information that is relevant and interesting as she can.
“I think of them as my grandparents, so I try help them stay informed on what’s happening,” Kushlan said. “I like professors to tie in current events to help the stay up to date. Last semester, we had a lecture on Obamacare.”
Kushlan said the program needs the volunteer efforts of other students as well as professors because the goal of the program is to get people interacting.
“I like the students to be there because it adds another perspective,” Kushlan said. “Here’s your generation, the professor’s generation and my generation, and it really lets the seniors feel like everyone at the university cares about them.”
Helene said the Salisburys attend the class because it’s important to keep learning, no matter how old a person gets.
“Learning – I think it’s the most exciting thing a person can do,” Helene said.
– april.ashland@aggiemail.usu.edu
@AprilAsh2012