West campus news Releases Archive
ASU's lifelong learning program receives $100,000
Mar. 31, 2005
Arizona State University will receive a second-year funding gift of $100,000 from the Bernard Osher Foundation to enable continued development and enhancements to lifelong learning programs administered university-wide for older adults.
ASU’s lifelong learning programs are educational partnerships involving the university, local communities, and sponsoring corporations and foundations designed to create "learning communities" across the Phoenix metropolitan area and to encourage learning across the lifespan. Programs are guided by ASU faculty and staff, with emeritus faculty and community volunteers providing much of the instruction and program staffing.
In March 2004, ASU received a gift of $100,000 from the Bernard Osher Foundation to support the development of lifelong learning programs. With the first Osher contribution, ASU more than doubled the number of older adult learners participating in lifelong learning programs, founded new community-based lifelong learning programs, and increased the involvement of retired and current faculty substantially. In spring 2004, for example, about 315 seniors were enrolled in the ASU lifelong learning program at Sun City Grand—the original program site. As of February 2005 the overall number of participants had increased to 796 seniors involved in 59 courses at multiple sites.
“This generous additional funding from the Osher Foundation allows us to build on the important work of helping older residents develop new skills and insights and become active resources and leaders in their communities,” said Vince Waldron, faculty director, Lifelong Learning Initiatives, based in ASU’s College of Human Services.
A variety of ASU’s lifelong learning programs supported by Osher funding are currently in place around the Valley in Sun City Grand,
The Bernard Osher Foundation in
“The rapid changes in our society require all of us to learn continuously at every stage of our lives,” Waldron said. “ASU’s goal is to reach out beyond our campus borders by building connections between our best teachers and researchers and older learners in their communities.”
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