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Discover the history of medical ethics in the United States as we examine many of the challenging ethical dilemmas faced by doctors, nurses, and other care providers. We’ll discuss diverse topics, including genetic and reproductive technologies, end of life care, AI in medicine, the conflicts between protecting patients’ health while safeguarding their autonomy, and more.
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Instructor: David Paul
Capacity Remaining: 4
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Dates: 9/3/2026 - 12/15/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:40 AM
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Sessions: 30
Days: Tu Th
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Building: WMU Moore Hall
Room: Room 1121
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Registration Fee: $130, Members Only
You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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The accepted view of the path humanity has taken from hunter-gatherers to modern nation states is a linear path from barbarism to high culture. Recent thought has changed with the accumulation of knowledge of ancient cultures. It is shown that there was a wide diversity of human organization, and some even changed structure for different tasks. One example is the story of the Huron orator Kandiaronk. He had many discussions with the French Governor in which he criticized European social organization. These discussions were published in books that were a major influence on the Elightenment ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. We will discuss the conclusions from this new perspective on history, and how we might use it to navigate the multiple crises that face humanity
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Instructor: Robin Skitt
Capacity Remaining: 26
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Dates: 9/2/2026 - 9/9/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Sessions: 2
Days: W
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Building: Sangren Hall
Room: 2510
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Member Rate: $20, Non-Member Rate: $40
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Step into a quiet moment of tea and presence. A Taste of Chinese Teas invites you to slow down and experience the elegance of traditional Chinese tea through a simple tea ceremony and guided tasting of six classic teas. As the water warms and the leaves unfold, discover the subtle aromas, flavors, and centuries-old wisdom carried in each cup. This class offers a peaceful introduction to tea as both an art and a meditation—an invitation to pause, sip, and savor the beauty of the present moment
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Instructor: Tao Ping
Capacity Remaining: 12
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Dates: 9/2/2026 - 10/7/2026
Times: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
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Sessions: 6
Days: W
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Building: Portage Zhang Senior Center
Room: Meeting Room 1A
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Member Rate: $60, Non-Member Rate: $120
Supplies Fee: $39
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The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is proud to celebrate America’s 250 Anniversary with an exhibition showcasing works that speak to our illustrative history. The displayed art will be primarily from the KIA’s permanent collect with a few select loans from other sources. The course will be led by Dr. Jim Carter. Jim is an experienced docent at the KIA and thoroughly enjoys working with small groups of students using an interactive teaching style. There is no better way to honor America than observing our history through the eyes of multiple artists. Expect to see excellent art and have lively discussions. The experience will be one two-hour long session at the KIA. The group will be limited to ten (10) students so that everyone can examine the art and participate in the discussion
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Instructor: James Carter
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Dates: 9/3/2026 - 9/3/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: Th
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Building: Kalamazoo Instute of Art
Room:
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Member Rate: $10, Non-Member Rate: $20
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This class is full. Please use the button below to be added to the waitlist.
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The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is proud to celebrate America’s 250 Anniversary with an exhibition showcasing works that speak to our illustrative history. The displayed art will be primarily from the KIA’s permanent collect with a few select loans from other sources. The course will be led by Dr. Jim Carter. Jim is an experienced docent at the KIA and thoroughly enjoys working with small groups of students using an interactive teaching style. There is no better way to honor America than observing our history through the eyes of multiple artists. Expect to see excellent art and have lively discussions. The experience will be one two-hour long session at the KIA. The group will be limited to ten (10) students so that everyone can examine the art and participate in the discussion
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Instructor: James Carter
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Dates: 9/10/2026 - 9/10/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: Th
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Building: Kalamazoo Instute of Art
Room:
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Member Rate: $10, Non-Member Rate: $20
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This class is full. Please use the button below to be added to the waitlist.
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Self-care, we've all heard about it, but what does it mean for caregivers and how can we practice it with our busy schedules? In Self-Care for Caregivers: Practical Ways to Put Yourself First we will address top concerns raised by adult caregivers, discuss real concerns regarding caregiving, and offer tried and true tips to incorporate self-care into your every day
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Instructor: Heather Mauney Pershing
Capacity Remaining: 15
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Dates: 9/8/2026 - 9/29/2026
Times: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
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Sessions: 4
Days: Tu
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Building: College of Health and Human Services
Room: 1035
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Member Rate: $40, Non-Member Rate: $80
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Golden Information for the Golden Years: MI Options, a Person-Centered Options Counseling Program for MI Aging Adults – There are many choices to be made when looking for long-term care and support for aging adults. MI Options is a new program that explores the spectrum of long-term care and support options, including in-home and community based services. Come and learn more from Charisma Kye, the MI Options Councilor as Milestone Senior Services. This free service is available to any adult, come and learn some details about how it can help you!
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Instructor: K. Lynn McFarlen
Capacity Remaining: 6
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Dates: 9/8/2026 - 9/8/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: Tu
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Building: Milestone Senior Services
Room: 918 Jasper St, Kalamazoo MI 49001
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Fees: Free to members, registration is required. You must sign in to your account to verify membership before the add to cart button will appear.
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Come learn a new way to plan for the life you want to live as you age through Visual Facilitation. This course will teach you new ways to consider planning for your later years of life. Many people have made financial plans, chosen a power of attorney, and other technical things that need to be in place for smooth transitions as they age, however, many families have not had intentional conversations about the wishes of their elders or how family members can support them. You’ll learn about a simple visual tool called a Solution Circle that you can use to facilitate your own future planning with family and friends.
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Instructor: Allison Hammond
Capacity Remaining: 13
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Dates: 9/10/2026 - 9/10/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: Th
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Building: Walwood Hall
Room: Connable Room - East Wing
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Member Rate: $10, Non-Member Rate: $20
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This course will prepare players to compete in Duplicate games at both the club level and in tournaments with others at their rank. Players will learn how to evaluate and bid their hands and will be introduced to play of the hand. There will be two practice games of 12 hands each to round out the lesson series where instructors will demonstrate the mechanics of a game and assist players with their bidding and play as they would experience it during a game. No additional materials need to be purchased but participants should plan to take notes
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Instructor: Emily Subers, Dave Farrell
Capacity Remaining: 8
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Dates: 9/10/2026 - 10/29/2026
Times: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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Sessions: 8
Days: Th
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Building: Kalamazoo Bridge Club
Room: 648 Maple Hill Dr, Kalamazoo MI 49009
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Member Rate: $60, Non-Member Rate: $120
Book Fee: $12
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Master contemporary glass artist Dale Chihuly’s exhibit at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids has created a lot of interest in him and that specific medium. This is a two day session class that hopes to provide insight and appreciation into both contemporary glass art and Chihuly’s unique contributions. The first class will meet on the WMU campus and focus on a broad range of glass art techniques and issues provided by local glass artist guest speakers John and Sue Rath. It will also include background on Chihuly and highlights of his current exhibit at Meijer Gardens. The second class session will be held at Glass Art Kalamazoo studio in the Park Trades Center where we will have a 45 min demonstration of fundamental hot glass techniques, a tour of the facility and an opportunity to examine pieces created by local Kalamazoo artisans. Participants may want to informally travel in groups to Meijer Gardens to view the extensive Chihuly Radiant Forms exhibition but there will not be a formal travel component to Grand Rapids for this class.
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Instructor: Phil VanderWeg
Capacity Remaining: 2
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Dates: 9/11/2026 - 9/18/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 2
Days: F
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Building: Richmond Visual Arts Center
Room: Room 2008
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Member Rate: $20, Non-Member Rate: $40
Exhibit Fee: $2
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This session is for those who identify as or wish to know more about solo-agers. A solo-ager is an older adult who is aging without a partner, adult children, close friends/neighbors, etc. for significant support for critical decisions like healthcare, finances, transportation, estate planning, end-of-life decisions, pet care, etc. In this course, we will share strategic planning options and community resources available for solo-agers as well as support each other through the solo-aging journey.
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Instructor: John Hulsebus
Capacity Remaining: 15
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Dates: 9/14/2026 - 9/14/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: M
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Building: Portage Zhang Senior Center
Room: Meeting Room 1B
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Member Rate: $10, Non-Member Rate: $20
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This course will analyze the frameworks, or structures, of world history from the emergence of the modern human species through the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions to the present day. We will focus on deep patterns and broad developments, often conveyed through visual models of economic connections, social structures, and cultural outlooks, or Networks, Hierarchies, and Cultural Frames and Screens. Coverage is global and aims to provide analytical tools that students can use to understand both the past and today's world
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Instructor: Stephen Morillo
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Dates: 9/14/2026 - 10/5/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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Sessions: 4
Days: M
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Building: Heritage Community of Kalamazoo
Room: Memory Care Auditorium
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Member Rate: $40, Non-Member Rate: $80
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This class is full. Please use the button below to be added to the waitlist.
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There have always been groups and individuals who have dissented from mainstream political, economic, and social views. In this course, we will explore labor advocates, civil rights activists, and supporters of women's rights, such as the Mollie Maguires and the Industrial Workers of the World. Emma Goldman and Victoria Woodhull offered differing perspectives on women's role in society, prolific writers Ida Barnet-Wells and W. E. B. DuBois were vigorous champions for African American rights, and Robert Ingersol’s challenge to the status quo led him to be dubbed the 19th Century's "Great Agnostic." We will explore these and others who raised their voices to create change and the impact their actions have had on American society.
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Instructor: Tom Dietz
Capacity Remaining: 16
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Dates: 9/15/2026 - 9/29/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 3
Days: Tu
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Building: College of Health and Human Services
Room: 1035
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Member Rate: $30, Non-Member Rate: $60
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Recent changes to Michigan election laws coupled with concerns regarding accuracy at the ballot box has led to confusion among voters—and in this course, you’ll walk away with a sense of clarity and better understanding about the checks and balances built into our election process. You’ll learn about the processes local election administrators use to conduct safe, secure, and accurate elections, as well as how inspectors are trained to administer a polling location and safeguard the integrity of these spaces. We’ll also examine the technology used to count votes, chain of ballot custody, the mechanics behind tallying election results, and more.
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Instructor: Meredith Place
Capacity Remaining: 19
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Dates: 9/17/2026 - 9/17/2026
Times: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
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Sessions: 1
Days: Th
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Building: College of Health and Human Services
Room: 1035
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Member Rate: $10, Non-Member Rate: $20
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Born premature in the American west, Gladys Mathew survived in a makeshift incubator and went on to perform with a “who’s who” of the 1920s-40s music scene. She also married a descendant of the British gentry and inherited the Mathew Family estate in England. This program shares her tale of survival, musical excellence, and historical preservation, including a collection of historical documents that are bound for a British archive in 2027.
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Instructor: Maggie Murphy
Capacity Remaining: 26
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Dates: 9/17/2026 - 9/17/2026
Times: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: Th
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Building: College of Health and Human Services
Room: 1057
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Member Rate: $10, Non-Member Rate: $20
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The emergence of rock and roll after World War II was a significant historical event and powerful cultural moment, Blending with other forms of music (blues, country, folk, and pop), rock was an often controversial reflection of the economic changes, social conflicts, and political protests of the post-1945 world. The new musical genre was also a driving force behind the rise of a broad youth culture and a distinct counterculture during the Vietnam War era. This course explores the evolution of rock and roll music as a cultural phenomenon and its widespread social and political impact in the Long Sixties (1955-1975)
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Instructor: Ron Kramer
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Dates: 9/22/2026 - 10/6/2026
Times: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Sessions: 3
Days: Tu
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Building: Sangren Hall
Room: 2510
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Member Rate: $30, Non-Member Rate: $60
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This class is full. Please use the button below to be added to the waitlist.
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In the early 20th century, downtowns were central to community life, creating opportunities for connection and experiences through city-sponsored events and innovations. These lively centers offered spaces for shopping, socializing, entertainment, and enjoying local food. By the 1970s, however, cultural shifts, increased car ownership, and the rise of suburban shopping malls led people away from downtowns. As a result, these changes often hurt a region’s image and triggered declining economic activity, prompting cities to focus on revitalization efforts. In the early 2000s the “Cool Cities” movement emerged, emphasizing the creation of vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable communities by enhancing public spaces, supporting arts, promoting walkable neighborhoods, and establishing green spaces. Many Michigan cities—including Detroit, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Traverse City—have embraced the “Cool Cities” movement, with city planners turning their focus toward neighborhood revitalization, attracting entrepreneurs, and building intentional spaces that energize both the economy and community. The first session will take place indoors, while the second and third sessions will be outside walking tours in the downtown areas of Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Be ready for moderate to high physical walking. Please dress for the weather and for outside activity (sturdy shoes, hat, water, umbrella). Parking permits will be issued for the classroom session. Parking for both downtown walking tours is free, but you must park in a specific location; details will be provided to participants.
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Instructor: Christopher Hodshire
Capacity Remaining: 9
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Dates: 9/24/2026 - 9/27/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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Sessions: 3
Days: Su Th F
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Building: College of Health and Human Services
Room: 1035
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Member Rate: $20, Non-Member Rate: $40
Thursday, 9/24 at College of Health and Human Services, Room 1035
Friday, 9/25 in Downtown Kalamazoo
Sunday, 9/27 in Downtown Grand Rapids
NOTE: These are the correct dates, they are not listed on the printed catalog
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Routines and habits make or break our peace and contentment. We know this, but still, it is so difficult to change our ways. It’s not just the New Year resolutions. It is the everyday tiny actions that we take or don’t take that affect our momentum, progress, and joy. Habits don’t create or break themselves. We are the common denominator. But how can we change existing habits, create new ones, then sustain and benefit from them? We will explore proven strategies that researchers and others have found useful. This will be an opportunity to discover how to tame those daily routines so that they are working for rather than against us. Anyone can attain a rhythm that supports happier days, better health, and more relevant connections with others. If you seek to find a way to beef up your life in your senior years without having to remake yourself entirely, this class is for you. Please join us for a fun, challenging, and rewarding journey into ourselves and our habits!
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Instructor: Niki Nimmo
Capacity Remaining: 7
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Dates: 9/24/2026 - 10/8/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 3
Days: Th
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Building: College of Health and Human Services
Room: 1035
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Member Rate: $30, Non-Member Rate: $60
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For at least two decades, “local food” has been a mainstream trend, with farmers markets leading the charge for consumers to “vote with their forks” for small producers and start-up businesses. Despite considerable buzz, however, local food purchases remain a tiny percentage of the overall food economy, and the longevity and financial sustainability of small farms and local food businesses remains precarious. Why? This course will explore the concept of The Food System, the benefits and dangers of our modern food system, and the reasons why it is challenging - but also critical for our collective wellbeing - to participate in a local food system. We will discuss examples of initiatives in Kalamazoo and beyond, and provide opportunities for course participants to get as engaged and involved as they would like to be in building our robust and resilient food system in Southwest Michigan
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Instructor: Rachel Chadderdon Bair
Capacity Remaining: 13
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Dates: 9/25/2026 - 10/9/2026
Times: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Sessions: 3
Days: F
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Building: College of Health and Human Services
Room: 2089
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Member Rate: $30, Non-Member Rate: $60
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What can transform an unknown product or company into a cultural icon, turn a struggling company around or permanently change the way we see the world? Great advertising. In this immersive three-day course, you’ll explore some of the most celebrated advertising campaigns in history. You’ll trace the history of advertising from the very first ads ever published to the complex, multi-media campaigns of today. You’ll examine classic campaigns from the Golden Age of Madison Avenue, to iconic campaigns from more recent history. Taught by WMU Executive in Residence Greg Gerfen— drawing on his 30+ years in the advertising industry, the course will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how campaigns are created, and you’ll even get the opportunity to create an ad campaign of your own. Day 1: A History of Advertising from the very first American ad to today’s complex media landscape, we’ll look at some of the most famous ad campaigns in the world. Day 2: How Great Campaigns are Made—Pull back the curtain on the creative process: how agencies think, how strategies are built, and how a simple idea becomes a cultural icon. You’ll also receive your of campaign assignment and a chance to put it all into practice. Day 3: Pitch Day. You’ll get to “pitch” your campaign to the class, get feedback and experience what it feels like to stand behind your big idea
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Instructor: Greg Gerfen
Capacity Remaining: 18
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Dates: 9/30/2026 - 10/14/2026
Times: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
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Sessions: 3
Days: W
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Building: Sangren Hall
Room: 2510
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Member Rate: $30, Non-Member Rate: $60
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When you feel frustrated with the headlines, don’t retreat but retool. Social Media algorithms purposefully create anxiety and anger. Outrage is a commodity but the skills to bridge differences are scarce. If you want to rise above the noise and have real impact, this course will examine case studies of successful organizations and individuals that will inspire you to follow suit. Successful advocacy requires finding commonalities and common ground. The course will provide tools, resources and suggestions on how you can have meaningful impact at the local, state and federal level. Learn from a veteran lobbyist, community leader and university administrator how to listen to understand and engage with family, friends, neighbors and elected officials when differences seem too overwhelming. The course will engage participants in group discussions on difficult conversations without making it a debate. Differing viewpoints will be respected and encouraged during course discussions
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Instructor: Jeffery Breneman
Capacity Remaining: 29
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Dates: 9/24/2026 - 11/5/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
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Sessions: 4
Days: Th
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Building: Walwood Hall
Room: Connable Room - East Wing
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Member Rate: $40, Non-Member Rate: $80
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