Indiana University Northwest’s Center for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE) offers free learning opportunities for those aged 55 and better through its Senior University program. Sessions take place on the IU Northwest campus in Gary.
IU Northwest is enrolling now for spring classes. The offerings include:
Introduction to Computers
Noon to 2 p.m., Mondays, Mar. 2, 9, 23, and 30
If you are interested in learning the basics of operating a personal computer (PC), this is the series for you. Designed for those who have little to no knowledge about using computers, this four-part series will introduce participants to the fundamentals. Join us and learn to identify the primary parts of a computer, understand common terms, and access basic programs (such as Microsoft Word) as well as the Internet.
IU Expand Training (Choice of the following sessions):
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 5
11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Friday, Mar. 13
Noon – 2 p.m., Wednesday, Mar. 25
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 31
In order to improve the Senior University experience, CURE is introducing an online catalog and enrollment system. Supported by IU Expand, this system will provide immediate confirmation of enrollment as well as session location and other important details. No longer will you need to wait for a phone call or for the confirmation letter to show up in the mail. Join us for a free, hands-on session and learn how to register for Senior University offerings online. Participants will learn how to access the CURE online catalog, as well as the many other IU catalogs in IU Expand. Participants will also learn how to enroll in an offering, view location and other relevant details, and cancel an enrollment.
Social Security Seminar (Open to anyone age 18 and older)
1:30 – 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 10
It is never too early, or too late, to learn about your benefits. Seminar participants will get a crash course in Social Security 101, which will cover retirement, disability, Medicare, supplemental security income (SSI), and widow benefits. We will also cover the easiest way to get a replacement Social Security or Medicare card and tips for handling social security-related fraudulent phone calls. To get the most out of this learning experience, create a social security account at ssa.gov and bring your retirement estimates with you to the session. Adults of all ages are welcome to attend.
My Credit: My Score and More (Open to anyone age 18 & older)
11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 24
The need for financial credit is a reality in today’s world, as are the many questions surrounding credit. How do I obtain credit? What is a credit score and how important is it? How do I develop a good credit score? If I have bad credit, is there any hope? During this credit journey session, IU Credit Union Branch Manager, Doug Achterhof, will answer these questions and more. Participants will learn about techniques for establishing credit, creating a strong credit score, and getting back on track if your credit score has had some bumps or bruises. Adults of all ages are welcome to attend.
1960: Year of Crisis for Rock and Roll Music
10 a.m. - noon, Friday, Mar. 27
Just a few years after bursting onto the airways and into the hearts of teenagers, rock and roll music seemed in crisis and its future shaky as the 1950s was coming to an end. The so-called Payola scandal broke, riot erupted at numerous live concerts, Elvis Presley was drafted into the U.S. Army, Jerry Lee Lewis’s records were being banned from the airways, and a plane crash took the lives of Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper. This session, led by Professor Emeritus of History James B. Lane, will concentrate on artists who kept rock and roll alive and hopefully will inspire some in the audience to sing along and dance.
Enrollment and Parking
To enroll inany of these sessions, contact the Center for Urban and Regional via email at curesu@iun.edu or by calling 219-980-6907. Participants requiring wheelchair assistance should make a request for support at the time of enrollment, or at least 48 hours in advance.
Parking permits are available through the IU Northwest Parking Permit Kiosks for a fee of $2 per day (exact change and credit cards accepted). Parking Permit Kiosks are located in parking lot 2 (north side of IU Northwest), in front of the John W. Anderson Library, and in parking lot 13 (near the Arts & Sciences building). Parking permits are not required for workshops that run on Fridays. Parking permits are required for disability parking spaces.
About the Center for Urban and Regional Excellence
The Center for Urban and Regional Excellence at Indiana University Northwest engages the university and the community in partnerships that jointly formulate programs and policies to support thriving Northwest Indiana communities. The Center works collaboratively with organizations in all sectors to address challenges and co-create solutions in diverse areas including economic development, government efficiency, nonprofit leadership development, public safety, transportation policy, environmental sustainability, health disparities, and arts and culture.
About Indiana University Northwest
One of eight campuses of Indiana University, IU Northwest is located in metropolitan Northwest Indiana, approximately 30 miles southeast of Chicago and 10 miles from the Indiana Dunes National Park. The campus has a diverse student population of approximately 4,000 degree-seeking students and 1,500 dual-credit students. The campus offers Associate, Baccalaureate and Master’s degrees in a variety of undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional degree options available from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the School of Business and Economics, the School of the Arts and the School of Education. The campus is also host to IU School of Medicine-Northwest-Gary, which actively involves students in research and local healthcare needs through its four-year medical doctorate program. IU Northwest emphasizes high-quality teaching, faculty and student research and engagement on campus and in the community. As a student-centered campus, IU Northwest is committed to academic excellence characterized by a love of ideas and achievement in learning, discovery, creativity and engagement. Indiana University Northwest is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to achieving excellence through diversity. The University actively encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups.
