IU Northwest Center for Urban and Regional Excellence offers non-credit online sessions for learners of all ages

Register now for a variety of free and low-cost summer sessions

Indiana University Northwest’s Center for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE) has expanded its online presence and announces its summer non-credit programs, which aim to assist people of all ages gain skills and enrich their lives as we face today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities.

CURE offers a variety of remote learning opportunities for all ages through its Adult Education, Community Garden, Senior University, and Summer Reading Skills programs.

CURE is enrolling now for summer sessions. The offerings include:

Adult Education: Pharmacy Technician Career Exploration

Choose between the following sessions:

5:30 to 7 p.m., Monday, May 18

1 to 2:30 p.m., Monday, Jun. 15

Free and open to anyone age 18 and older, this program covers what it takes to become a pharmacy technician. In this live webinar, attendees will learn what pharmacy technicians do and the education and skills needed for a career working in the pharmacy. A question-and-answer session will take place during the second half of the presentation. To enroll or learn more, contact CURE via email at cureiun@iun.edu or by calling 219-980-6978.

Adult Education: Fundamental Courses

24/7 Access; All classes start new every month

Cost varies; Courses for adults and youth adults/teens

Online fundamental courses are informative, fun, and convenient. Complete any course entirely from home, at any time of day or night. Popular courses include Speed Spanish, Accounting Fundamentals, Introduction to Microsoft Excel, and A to Z Grant Writing. Fundamental courses include both instructor-led courses and self-paced tutorials. Instructor-led courses run for six-weeks with monthly start dates and feature an instructor-moderated discussion board so that you can interact with your classmates. Self-paced tutorials are designed for completely independent learning, without instructor moderation, and can be started at any time. Enroll, learn more, or view all Fundamental courses at ed2go.com/iunadulted.

Adult Education: Career Training Programs

24/7 Access; Start at any time

Cost varies; Courses for adults

The online, open-enrollment Career Training Programs are designed to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional-level positions for many in-demand occupations. Our programs are designed by a team of professionals from each respective field, providing you with effective web-based learning programs. Instructors/mentors are actively involved in your online learning experience, responding to any questions or concerns, encouraging and motivating you to succeed. Enroll, learn more, or view all Career Training Programs at careertraining.ed2go.com/iun.

Community Garden:

The Negative Impacts of Invasive Plants: How We Can Make a Difference

1 to 2 p.m., Thursday, May 21

Free and open to anyone age 18 and older

Join Erica Luchik, regional specialist of Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management, for this live webinar and learn about the negative impact invasive plants have on us, our natural areas, and wildlife. Common invasive plants, such as those often found in landscaping, will be identified, as will native plant alternatives. Participants will learn what they can do about invasive plants and steps they can take in their own backyards to benefit, rather than harm, their local ecosystem. Adults of all ages are welcome to attend. To enroll or learn more, contact CURE via email at cureiun@iun.edu or by calling 219-980-6978.

Community Garden: Composting from a Permaculture Perspective

12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Friday, Jun. 12

Free and open to anyone age 18 and older

During this live webinar, we will be discussing permaculture, its three guiding ethics, and how composting relates to each of these ethics. Participants will also learn about the basics of composting, including what can be composted, the various methods of composting (bin, pile, pit, blender, vermicompost), and whether to turn or not to turn compost. To enroll or learn more, contact CURE via email at cureiun@iun.edu or by calling 219-980-6978.

Community Garden: To Bee or Not to Bee?

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday, Jun. 29

Free and open to anyone age 18 and older

Come delve into the amazing lives of honeybees and see what these "super insects" can do, from the regal queen, right down to the aptly named worker bees. In words and pictures, Master Naturalist and Master Gardener Victoria Jostes will decode honeybee secrets, and then tie the facets of her story into a neat and fascinating bundle, that ultimately relates to each of us. To enroll or learn more, contact CURE via email at cureiun@iun.edu or by calling 219-980-6978.

Senior University: Social Security and COVID-19

Choice of the following sessions:

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Friday, May 15

5 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 26

Free and open to anyone age 55 and better

Join Social Security Administration (SSA) public affairs specialists for a live Zoom phone session and get the facts about what the SSA is doing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will learn how their benefits—Retirement, Disability, Medicare, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Widows—are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will discuss how you can receive assistance from the SSA, despite offices being closed to the public, as well as how you can protect yourself from fraudulent phone calls and other scams. To enroll or learn more, contact Senior University via email at curesu@iun.edu or by calling 219-980-6907.

Senior University: Introduction to Virtual Calls

5 to 6 p.m., Thursdays, May 21 and 28

Free and open to anyone age 55 and better

Are you seeking to connect with your friends and family members while social distancing? Do you miss seeing the smiles of your friends and family members? Has social distancing made it difficult to communicate? If so, then we are here to help! Join this two-part live webinar series and learn to communicate through virtual video calls utilizing platforms such as Google Duo, FaceTime, Facebook, Instagram, Free Conference Call, and Zoom. Participants will be provided with valuable tools to communicate with friends and family. To enroll or learn more, contact Senior University via email at curesu@iun.edu or by calling 219-980-6907.

Senior University: Talk through Grief

5 to 6 p.m., Tuesdays, Jun. 9, 16, 23, and 30

Free and open to anyone age 55 and better

Are you seeking to work through the grief of losing a loved one, a life change, a career or dream change? Has life turned out differently than you expected? Are you at a different place in life than you expected to be? If so, then “Talk through Grief” was designed with you in mind. The goal of this live Zoom phone series is to help you talk through life after having experienced grief. Participants will be provided with valuable strategies for creating a new normal in life, tools for conquering fears related to life changes, and methods for building bridges and connecting to a support team. To enroll or learn more, contact Senior University via email at curesu@iun.edu or by calling 219-980-6907.

Summer Reading Skills Programs

Schedule and cost varies

Programs for students of all ages: children and adults

Offered in partnership with the Institute of Reading Development, students in this program attend a dynamic, live online class each week. During class, students can see, hear and speak with each other and their teacher in real time. Every class is full of engaging discussions and class activities. Between classes, students complete independent reading assignments and interactive online lessons that build skills and confidence. Enroll, learn more, or view all Reading Skills Programs at iun.readingprograms.org or call 1-800-903-2173.