ASU West, in partnership with the Phoenix Del Webb Corp., is starting an extended education learning program for retired seniors who live in Sun City Grand, with classes set to start on Oct. 15.
The program, entitled "The ASU Lifelong Learning Academy," will include basic classroom instruction and a series of guest speakers and lecturers who will present on a weekly basis.
John Waldron, spokesman for Del Webb, said the program was started after looking at a number of the studies conducted by Del Webb, which showed that retiring baby boomers wanted to continue their education.
"These classes that are being offered are non-credited classes which will be held specifically in Sun City Grand," Waldron said.
ASU West will be funding a yearlong, part-time program coordinator, while Del Webb will give a similar financial contribution by providing the location, classrooms and teaching materials.
According to Waldron, any professors who are recruited to teach at Sun City Grand will be working on a volunteer basis.
Bill Arnold, director of gerontology at ASU Main, said extended learning for seniors originally started when ASU Main set up a program two years ago for East Valley retirees.
"Their model is a little different because from what I have been told, they are working from the inside to set up a facilitation program," Arnold said. "They might find someone who is a retired historian to teach."
Arnold also emphasized that ASU Main's program was designed to have current and retired professors to teach at various participating East Valley retirement homes. However, this year the program is currently not ongoing because of lack of funding.
The duration of the fall, spring and summer sessions at Sun City Grand, will vary depending upon each class and their professor.
Waldron added that currently more than 200 students have registered for the program and Del Webb expects to have nearly 250 residents of Sun City Grand registered by the time classes begin.
"Residents who enter into this program will go to ASU West to get their ID card and after that, they receive full benefits of a regular undergraduate," Waldron said.
The requirements that Del Webb and ASU West has set up in order for seniors to be eligible for this program is that they must have at least one household member who is 55 or older and must be a resident of Sun City Grand.
The tuition for residents at Sun City Grand will be a flat rate of $99 and an additional $5 per class.
Reach Tony Ku at thatsku@hotmail.com.
