Newspaper Articles
Adult Learners goes independent
PUBLISHED: November 1, 2007
The Chelsea Standard
CareerFocus
Washtenaw Community College
Winter 2007 - Vol. 8, Issue 3
"Discover College Over 50"
ALI kicks off fall line-up
By Jennifer McArdle, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: July 13, 2006
The Chelsea Standard
Class helps spark memories for seniors
Adult Learners Institute brings course to CRC's Towsley Village
By Jennifer McArdle, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 25, 2006
The Chelsea Standard
A look back at women's clothing from the early 20th century brought smiles to the faces of residents at Chelsea Retirement Community's Towsley Village, along with memories of what the residents used to wear back in the day.
Those memories are precious to the Alzheimer's patients who live at Towsley Village and recently saw a presentation by instructor Helen Wellford on "The History of Women's Dress." Wellford offered the course last week through the Adult Learners Institute in Chelsea.
"Alzheimer's residents live in the present moment, for the most part. This course provides the opportunity to stimulate memories of the past through observing the beautiful gowns, feeling the materials, wearing the fur stoles," said Maggie Roberts, public relations coordinator at the institute.
"Helen Wolford, the instructor, gives a delightful commentary on the historical events that correspond to each era of clothing," Roberts said.
Wellford, who has been collecting vintage and antique dresses for the past 15 years, made several visits to Towsley Village to teach residents about the history of women's dresses. The May 15 presentation started with dresses from the 1920s and went through the World War II era. Wellford showed original dresses from the 20th century and some reproductions that she made.
"I got into this stuff because of vintage dance," Wellford said. "People keep giving me stuff and I end up collecting stuff whether I want to or not."
In the past 15 years, it has grown to quite a collection, including one item that was on display last week, a wedding dress circa the early 1940s that was given to Wellford by a friend. The dress has a matching velvet and satin coat with a fur collar that awed some of the residents at Towsley Village.
Residents also were given the opportunity to try on some of the more interesting pieces, including a fur coat and wrap.
Based in Chelsea, the Adult Learners Institute provides community-based learning experiences for adults in western Washtenaw County.
"The Adult Learners Institute is dedicated to lifelong learning for all members of our society. When the Towsley center contacted us about a special presentation of this four-part course for their residents, it made perfect sense," Roberts said. "ALI is proud to offer this course as a service to the community."
The Adult Learners Institute, which is affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network, has just marked its first year in Chelsea. Approximately 270 students were enrolled in 24 different courses in the past year.
"This response from our community has been gratifying," Roberts said.
The institute is planning its fall line-up, which will be unveiled at its Aug. 15 open house at the Chelsea Senior Center.
The Adult Learners Institute is a collaborative project hosted by the Chelsea Senior Center and sponsored by Washtenaw Community College and Siena Heights University.
Lifelong learning program to begin
CCA, donors fund educational program for seniors
By Steve Ricci, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: July 14, 2005
The Chelsea Standard
The Chelsea Senior Center will start the Adult Learners Institute, a lifelong learning program
for people 60 and older, this fall. Pictured are members of the Adult Learners Institute Board of Directors. In the back row are Jack Merkel (left), Barb Alseth, Dottie Staffeld, Malinda McCain, Jeff Rohrer and Susan Pettis; center, Joann Grosh (left), Sharlene Eisenbeiser, Kay Heller and Ruth Corwin; front, Nancy Schumann (left), Janice Webster, Maurine Nelson and Mary Schroer. Board members Jim Utsler, Ann Feeney, Mearl Bradley and Betty Groves are not pictured.
Photo courtesy of Kay Heller
Funded by a $2,000 grant from the Chelsea Community Foundation, as well as contributions from individual donors, the Chelsea Senior Center will launch a lifelong learning program for people age 60 and older, called the Adult Learners Institute, this fall.
The program is a joint effort between the senior center, the Chelsea School District's Community Education Program, Washtenaw Community College and Siena Heights University.
Courses, which will be offered to everyone, including those living outside of the Chelsea area, will feature topics such as Washtenaw County history and instruction about writing personal biographies.
All courses will be held in Chelsea between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with the majority at the Chelsea Senior Center, which is located in the Washington Street Education Center at 500 Washington St.
Most courses will meet four to six times.
Unlike other educational programs in Chelsea, the Adult Learners Institute will offer college-quality courses without college credits, exams and grades.
Certificates will be offered upon completion of the courses.
The Adult Learners Institute will be among 330 similar programs in the United States affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network, which has more than 100,000 participants nationally.
Kay Heller, interim director of the Chelsea Senior Center, said participants from all educational backgrounds would be welcome.
"You don't need a bachelor's degree, a master's degree or a high school diploma," she said.
"Continuing education is not a degree program. It's also a social thing. It allows people to get together and learn while socializing."
Heller added that some courses might be held at local retirement communities or the Chelsea Center for the Arts.
Participants may pay an annual membership fee and take classes at reduced prices, said Sharleen Eisenbeiser, a member of the Adult Learners Institute Advisory Board.
Those who do not pay membership fees can still take the classes for a slightly higher fee.
Maureen Nelson, chairwoman of the advisory board, said membership fees would be $25 annually. Members will pay $5 per course and non-members will pay $20 per course, she said.
"Compared to otherElderhostel programs, this is inexpensive," she said.
Nelson said members of the organization would be empowered with determining course content.
"We'll have administrators who are also learning and teaching classes," Nelson said.
Instructors will draw from a broad range of people, she said, including college instructors or members of the Chelsea community at large.
"Instructors need expertise and a willingness to share," Nelson said. "This classroom is meant to have a lot of interaction. It's very participatory, and everyone gets to participate in whatever they choose."
All instructors will offer their time pro bono.
Nelson said while similar educational programs are offered at institutions such as the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University, the Chelsea program grew from the idea that classes could be held off campus.
Nelson, a former director of continuing education at Frederick Community College in Frederick, Md., said the new program is important in Chelsea.
"There is quite a population that wants to continue learning," she said. "If you don't use it, you lose it."
An open house for the program will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 16 at the Chelsea Senior Center.
A course brochure for fall offerings will be available by Aug. 1. Fall courses will start in September and end in November. Courses for the winter semester will begin in January.
Those interested in the program may get more information by visiting the program's Web site at www.adultlearnersinstitute.org or by calling the senior center at 475-9242.
INBRIEF
Published: Monday, July 11, 2005
The Ann Arbor News
College-level courses for senior citizens
Under a program to be launched in August,Washtenaw County residents 60 and older may take college-level courses such as "Western Washtenaw County History'' and "Writing Your Life Story'' without worrying about exams or grades.
The Adult Learners Institute will kick off with an open house at the Chelsea Senior Center Aug. 16 at 10:30 a.m. at the Washington Street Education Center, 500 Washington St., Chelsea. Classes will begin Sept. 12, but early registration is recommended because the number of slots is limited, according to Maurine Nelson, chairwoman of the Advisory Committee of the Adult Learners Institute. There is a membership fee of $25 plus $5 for course material. Classes will be held primarily at the senior center between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., meeting four to six times.
The senior center has received a $2,000 grant for the program from the Chelsea Education Foundation, a non-profit community organization supporting educational programs, and other individual donors.
The Chelsea School District's Community Education program, Washtenaw Community College and Siena Heights University will participate in the institute by offering courses such as county history and writing personal memoirs.
The Adult Learners Institute is one of 330 such programs in the United States affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute network.
For registration or more information, call the Chelsea Senior Center at (734) 475-9242.
© 2005 Ann Arbor News. Used with permission
Who We Are
Based in Chelsea, Michigan, the Adult Learners Institute (ALI) provides a diverse selection of quality community-based learning experiences and camaraderie for adults in western Washtenaw County. ALI is a Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN), a group of 320 similar organizations. We conduct our programs in cooperation with Washtenaw Community College.