ILR fall registration opens: Continue learning journey with dozens of options
Older adults can sign up for dozens of course offerings through the Institute for Learning in Retirement this fall, including one focused on local journalism.
Miami University’s Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) is open for fall registration now.
The ILR, a nonprofit organization founded in 1997, offers noncredit classes and events to adults ages 50 and older who wish to continue their educational experiences. According to the organization’s website, courses don’t include tests, grades or homework but may have suggested reading.
Classes this fall run Oct. 7 through Nov. 8. Most classes meet once a week for four to six sessions lasting an hour and 15 minutes. Anyone who wants to sign up should visit the ILR’s homepage. Some classes are remote or offer hybrid options, while others are taught in-person.
In addition to classes, the ILR offers several special events, lectures and field trips throughout the county. The field trips, branded as “Frolicking Not-So-Far Afield,” are open to ILR members only and include tours of a Butler County wastewater treatment plant, Spooky Nook and more.
ILR membership costs $145 per term, and members are free to take as many courses as they want with the one-time fee. Some courses do charge additional fees for materials, travel costs or other expenses. Nonmembers can participate in special events by paying one-time fees but cannot take classes.
Courses and events for the fall term
The ILR is offering dozens of courses and events this fall. To get you started, here are just a few of the options available to enroll in. For a full list of offerings, visit the ILR’s website.
Fall Kickoff Party
Time: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4
Location: Jungle Jim’s Oscar Event Center, Fairfield
The ILR’s fall kickoff party at Jungle Jim’s will feature food, a cash bar and live entertainment from Hamilton’s Prestige Enharmonix Show Choir. Event costs $25 for both members and non-members and requires separate registration.
Journalism, Misinformation and the Crisis in Local News
Time: 9-10:15 a.m. Mondays, Oct. 7 - Nov. 4
Location: Boyd Hall, Room 117
Join Richard Campbell, professor emeritus and Board Secretary of the Oxford Free Press for this course addressing the state of local news both in Oxford and nationally.
Pickleball: A Beginner’s Guide
Time: 12:30-1:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 1 - Nov. 5
Location: Week 1: Online; Weeks 2-6: Lefferson Park, Middletown
Looking to pick up a new sport? This course is made for new students without previous experience playing pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S.
Hospice and End of Life Doula Work
Time: 10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 9 - Nov. 6
Location: West Chester, VOALC, Auditorium
Maria Lees-Dunlap, a certified End of Life Doula, will help students have conversations about death and how to advocate for comfort care for those approaching the end of their lives.
Oxford Area Solutions for Housing (OASH): Local Advocacy
Time: 2:15-3:30 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 10 - Nov. 7
Location: Boyd Hall, Room 132
OASH formed in 2023 to discuss strategies to prevent homelessness in Oxford and connect people to resources. Founding facilitator Ann Fuehrer will lead this course focused on OASH’s planning process and local advocacy work.
Exploring the Controversy of Book Banning
Time: 9-10:15 a.m. Fridays, Oct. 11 - Nov. 1
Location: Hamilton, Lane Administration Center, Large Conference Room
National discussions about book banning have spiked in recent years. This course will put book bans in context, and each participant will choose a banned or challenged book to read for a final group discussion.
