Reflecting on 25 Years of University of Iowa Senior College

PHOTOS: SETH DIEHL Senior College participants attend a lecture this past spring in a course titled Mythology of Otherworld Journeys.

At the University of Iowa, lifelong learning isn’t just a tagline—it’s a commitment.

Twenty-five years ago, Emeritus Professor of Education Al Hood, together with a small group of retired University of Iowa faculty and staff members, set out to make learning accessible beyond the typical school-age years.

More than 1,000 people took part in Senior College programs this past spring.

Hood and his colleagues devised the idea of Senior College, a program offering older adults a path toward continued learning. Each year, community scholars—many of them retired UI professors—teach a slate of courses spanning subjects from international literature to brain health.

“At the time Senior College was founded, there weren’t many organizations that provided educational opportunities for seniors,” says Emil Rinderspacher (70BA, 74MA), Senior College chairman and former UI director of admissions.

“Keeping your mind active as your age is really important, and this is a great way to do it,” Rinderspacher says.

Senior College is also committed to staying affordable. When the program launched 25 years ago, the course registration fee was $30; today, it’s still $30.

Robert Cargill, a UI classics and biblical studies associate professor, gives a lecture this past spring in his course titled Mythology of Otherworld Journeys.

Impact of Senior College

The program has become increasingly popular. Over the past 25 years, more than 31,000 course registrations have been recorded across 433 courses. Adding Zoom courses during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed the program to expand class sizes and its geographic reach: In fall 2020, 420 people participated, and this past spring, that number shot up to 1,001 participants.

“Our reach has extended beyond what we ever imagined,” Rinderspacher says. “Our enrollment has exploded.”

This past spring's Senior College offerings included the course titled Strong, Steady, and Sharp: Define Your Aging Experience Through Movement.

Now, about a dozen courses are offered each spring and fall semester, including five to seven online courses that allow people to participate from home wherever they live. Instructors from across the United States have taught classes.

Courses cover a wide range of subjects, but organizers make sure to focus on local topics, too. This year, students will dive deep into Iowa’s religious diversity, prairie restoration, immigration, and arts.

There are no grades at Senior College. The program’s primary focus is academic rigor, but organizers emphasize community connection, accessibility, and local interest as well.

“The people are enjoying these classes, and some of them have pretty profound experiences with them,” Rinderspacher says.

Students in one course based on The Moth Radio Hour wrote and performed personal essays. Sharing these stories formed a close bond between participants, and they continued to meet after the class ended.

Another session focused on the history of Iowa City during the 1960s.

“People shared personal stories about facing the draft, campus protests, and going to Vietnam,” Rinderspacher says. “There was a lot of conversation from people who didn’t know each other, and it was pretty moving.”

Senior College participants take part in mobility exercises this past spring in a course titled Strong, Steady, and Sharp: Define Your Aging Experience Through Movement.

How to Get Involved

Anyone can register for a Senior College course regardless of age, location, or educational background.

To register, visit www.foriowa.org/senior-college. Course descriptions for the upcoming fall semester will be posted July 27, and registration opens at 9 a.m. CDT Aug. 3.

Courses fill quickly, sometimes within the first hour. A reminder is sent out one week before registration for those on the mailing list. To be added to the mailing list, send a request to alumni.seniorcollege@foriowa.org.

“Iowa City is now a great place for people to be retired,” Rinderspacher says. “There’s so much to do, so many free things—we’re just one of many opportunities.”