IU Northwest Center for Urban and Regional Excellence offers non-credit online courses for learners of all ages
Register now for a variety of free and low-cost summer courses
Monday Jun 07, 2021
Indiana University Northwest’s Center for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE) continues to expand its online presence to offer non-credit courses and educational programs throughout the year, 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 online learning opportunities for all ages through its Community Garden, Senior University, Reading Skills, and Adult Education programs.
CURE is enrolling now for summer sessions. The offerings include:
Reading Skills Programs
Schedule and cost varies
Programs for all grade level
Our popular summer reading program is now open for enrollment. Offered in partnership with the Institute of Reading Development, programs are specifically designed to give students the skills, motivation, and individual support they need in each grade level. Students attend a dynamic, live online class each week, during which they 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.
Adult Education/Senior University: Social Security Frequently Asked Questions
Noon to 12:45 p.m., Monday, June 14
No registration required
Free and open to adults of all ages
How do I apply for a replacement Social Security card? How can I get a Social Security Benefit Statement? What should I do if I receive a call from someone claiming there is a problem with my Social Security account? These are just a few examples of questions frequently posed to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Join Daniel Summer and Josephine Mueller, SSA Public Affairs Specialists, for this Facebook Live event and learn the answers to their most asked questions! No registration required. Visit the Facebook event page to watch the live stream: facebook.com/events/480416049680462
Adult Education/Senior University: Social Security Seminar
Noon to 1:00 p.m., Mondays, July 19 and 26
Registration Deadline: noon, July 16
Free and open to adults of all ages
Join Public Affairs Specialists with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for this two-part seminar and get crash course in Social Security 101! Participants will learn about Retirement, Disability, Medicare, SSI, Widows Benefits, and more. They will also discuss how you can receive assistance from the SSA during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how you can protect yourself from fraudulent phone calls and other scams. Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
IUN Community Garden: Wetlands: The Ordinary and the Extraordinary
Noon to 1 p.m., Friday, June 11
Registration Deadline: noon, June 10
Free and open to adults of all ages
What is a wetland really? Just a slough? Or a scary swamp? Or some waterlogged land that should be filled in? Let's do a bit of investigating, dispel the myths, and figure out what an ordinary wetland is. In this live Zoom session, we'll see why folks "in the know" say wetlands are among the most important spots on the planet. And finally, a step back in time will reveal unexpected and extraordinary findings! Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
IUN Community Garden: Wildflowers: Food for Pollinators and People
Noon to 1 to 2 p.m., Friday, June 25
Registration Deadline: noon, June 24
Free and open to adults of all ages
Permaculture and wildflowers and food, OH MY! Join this live Zoom meeting and learn a dozen native wildflowers you can plant in your garden to provide nourishment for yourself and the beneficial pollinators that support our ecosystems. We'll weave in permaculture ethics and honorable harvest to this discussion as well. Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
IUN Community Garden: Preserving Nature’s Bounty
1 to 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 14
Registration Deadline: noon, July 13
Free and open to adults of all ages
When done correctly, home food preservation can produce a bounty of safe and delicious food. If done incorrectly, it can lead to severe illness. Purdue Extension’s Mastering Home Food Preservation team provides the most recent, research-based information to help people safely preserve foods at home. Join Linda Curley, Health and Human Sciences Educator from Purdue Extension – Lake County to discover ways to safely preserve foods in your own home kitchen. Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
IUN Community Garden: Fermentation: Preserves Food and Takes Care of your Gut!
1 to 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 21
Registration Deadline: noon, July 20
Free and open to adults of all ages
Looking for ways to preserve your cabbage harvest? Ferment and transform that cabbage into sauerkraut. Also consider fermenting other vegetables like cucumbers, carrots, radishes, garlic, or beets. Fermentation has the added benefit of producing microorganisms that aid in digestion and support your gut health! Join Linda Curley, Health and Human Sciences Educator from Purdue Extension – Lake County to discover ways to safely ferment foods in your own home kitchen. Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
Senior University: Canva Success: Graphic Design Simplified
4 to 5 p.m., Tuesdays, June 8 through 22
Enrollment Deadline: noon, June 7
Free and open to anyone age 55 and better
In these live Zoom sessions, Tavetta Patterson will introduce participants to Canva, an online platform that enables users to easily create professional-grade graphic designs. Canva Success participants will receive templates for flyers, inspirational posts, Zoom backgrounds, and strategies to create impactful designs. Register for Canva Success today and learn how to design on a dime! Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
Senior University: Computers II: Microsoft Word
4 to 5:30 p.m., Mondays, June 14 and 21
Enrollment Deadline: noon, June 11
Free and open to anyone age 55 and better
Designed for those ready to move beyond the basics of computer use, this two-part live Zoom series will delve into the details of using Microsoft Word. Lead by veteran instructor, Chelsea Whittington, these sessions will teach participants not only the terms and functions used in Microsoft Word, but how to navigate the software program and utilize templates to format documents. Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
Senior University: Managing Stress
1 to 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 29
Enrollment Deadline: noon, June 28
Free and open to anyone age 55 and better
Over the past year, the deadly coronavirus, mandated shutdowns, social isolation, economic devastation, and civil unrest have dramatically increased stress levels for all of us. This workshop will introduce you to a set of simple, easy to use, research-supported techniques to control your stress level and effectively calm yourself. These strategies can be very empowering to you and others in your family. Register today to join us for straight-talk about how to successfully combat stress. Participants will have the option to join by phone call. Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
Senior University: Orientation to Social Media
4 to 5:30 p.m., Monday, July 12
Registration Deadline: noon, July 9
Free and open to anyone age 55 and better
Interested in getting a comprehensive introduction to social media? Then this is the live Zoom session is for you! Join seasoned social media strategist, Chelsea Whittington, for an informative presentation covering social platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Learn the basics of each platform and how to get started developing your own profiles, including privacy settings and social media etiquette. Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
Senior University: Zoom: Beyond the Basics
4 to 5 p.m., Tuesdays, July 13 through 27
Registration Deadline: noon, July 12
Free and open to anyone age 55 and better
Led by Tavetta Patterson, these live, online sessions will equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct valuable conversations through Zoom. Participants will receive instruction regarding scheduling Zoom meetings, sharing Zoom meeting information via email, and acting as host for Zoom meetings, including tips for engaging participants with the platform’s various features, such as screen sharing. Participants will also receive strategies to help them show up professionally when communicating virtually from their remote home/office location. Previous participation in the Introduction to Virtual Calls series is strongly advised, though not required. Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
Senior University: Cyber Security
2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Thursdays, July 15 through 29
Registration Deadline: noon, July 14
Free and open to anyone age 55 and better
Are you concerned about the security of your social media accounts? Not sure how to determine if an email is fraudulent? Would you like to ensure you are making a transaction on a secure site? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then look no further because this is the workshop for you! This three-part, live Zoom series will cover cyber security fundamentals with a focus on securing personal information, safely conducting online transactions, and identifying scams and phishing attempts. Register today so that you can learn to protect yourself while online! Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
Senior University: Information Literacy for Life-Long Learners
11 a.m. to noon, Friday, July 23
Registration Deadline: noon, July 22
Free and open to anyone age 55 and better
Join this session and learn to protect yourself against misinformation and disinformation practices! Never before had we have this much instant access to information. We get our news from social media in real time, search engines have widely replaced phone books, and wikis have transformed our way to get reference sources. It can be challenging to sort through it all especially with bad actors disseminating misleading information. Presented by Nico Casas, a librarian from IU Northwest, learn how to identify misinformation on the web and protect yourself. Examples will include viewing news on popular social media networks, navigating Wikipedia, and using the easy and popular SIFT Method. This Zoom session will include the option to join by phone call and listen to the presentation. Register online at: https://go.iu.edu/3AVG
Adult Education: Fundamental Courses
24/7 Access; All classes start new every month
Cost varies; Courses for adults and young adults/teens
Online fundamental courses are informative, fun, and convenient. Fundamental courses include 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. Complete any course entirely from home, at any time of the day or night. Popular courses include Speed Spanish, Accounting Fundamentals, Introduction to Microsoft Excel, and A to Z Grant Writing. 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
Adult Education: Comprehensive Career Tracks
24/7 Access; Start dates vary
Cost varies; Courses for adults
These online Career Track programs offer students a chance to hone their skills in a variety of professions—from the arts to healthcare to web development. All programs are available in the self-paced format and have opportunities for national certification, externship placement, and/or career support. For select healthcare programs, there is also the option for the instructor-led format, in which content is facilitated by live instructors with scheduled webinars and interactive activities. Enroll, learn more, or view all Comprehensive Career Tracks at iun.edu2.com
