For senior adults who are interested in starting or completing a college degree, there are many options available in Alabama. Some are even free.
The Center for Adult Programs (www.umobile.edu/um4you/) at the University of Mobile (UM) offers several degrees from business administration to biblical studies to nursing, said center dean Karen Delzell.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity for someone who wants to complete a degree or understand the Bible or learn how to do ministry better,” Delzell said. “We’ve built this program around knowing what adults want. There is less lecturing and it’s more collaborative.”
The program is only offered to adults over 25 years of age, and Delzell said about 10 percent of the students are in their 60s.
“The driving force behind most senior adults who pursue degrees is personal,” she said. “They have devoted their lives to helping their children achieve their goals, and now they are ready to invest in their own education.”
The classes are offered at night and on Saturdays so students can still manage a full-time job. Students take one class for six weeks and gradually work their way through the curriculum.
After retiring from his 30-year military career, Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Herring enrolled at UM to finish his bachelor’s degree. “I didn’t have to get a degree, but it was a personal goal,” said Herring, who lives in Mobile. “It was like putting a cap on what I went into the Army for in the first place — to get the GI Bill.”
Because Herring taught school during the day, he took night and weekend classes. “The adult program was like a tailor-made suit — it was real comfortable,” he said. “The people I dealt with all had a common goal. In these classes, when you had a group project or work, everybody participated.”
Samford University in Birmingham has a similar course of study called Metro Programs (www.samford.edu/schools/metro/), which is part of the Orlean Beeson School of Education and Professional Studies and offers credit classes for nine-week terms.
“It’s an undergraduate program designed for working adults that offers night and weekend courses,” said Cindy Kirk, executive director for Metro Programs.
Although most of the adults in the program are younger than the traditional retirement age, there are a few senior students, Kirk noted.
“There is a wide range of ages … among our students,” she said. “To qualify, a student must have been out of high school for at least three years.”
Metro Program students don’t have exactly the same requirements as traditional students, such as convocation attendance, but for the most part, it is the same, and upon completion, they receive a Samford degree. “Tuition is about half the rate for residential students and is based on credit hours taken that semester,” Kirk said.
Mary Burkhart, coordinator of the Auburn University Academy for Lifelong Learners (AUALL) who also served as Alabama’s Elderhostel director for 20 years, said there are many educational opportunities available for senior adults.
Auburn University, the University of Alabama and Judson College in Marion are among the colleges that provide independent distance-learning courses for adults who want to take credit classes and pursue degrees. Although this style of learning doesn’t always appeal to senior adults who want interaction with others, the challenges and atmosphere of a four-year college may frustrate older adults, Burkhart said.
For those who are interested in obtaining an associate’s degree, attending a two-year community college provides another option. “A community college is generally much more supportive and encouraging for degree seekers,” she said. “Most people in the state live within driving distance of a community college, and they should contact their local one to find out what they offer for senior adults.”
Harriott Calhoun, director of institutional research at Jefferson State Community College just outside Birmingham, said thanks to a state policy, seniors can waive tuition for classes, gaining the opportunity to get a tuition-free degree at any of the state’s community colleges. Course fees are not included in the program, she noted.
“Over the past five fall semesters, we’ve averaged 170 seniors who have taken advantage of the senior adult scholarship program,” Calhoun said. “There is a special registration for seniors after regular registration, and as long as space is available in the class, they can take it [tuition-free].”
Another option is to take noncredit courses that focus on personal enrichment. Many senior adults take advantage of Samford After Sundown. The program, which is administered through Metro Programs, offers certification and continuing education credits in a variety of areas, Kirk said.
“These professional and personal development courses tend to be shorter and more skill-specific. I believe that is one reason they are more appealing to older adults, who seek to address a specific learning need,” she said.
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