News

Lee University’s Encore Program, which offers people age 60 and over the opportunity to take university courses, has announced its fall 2021 offerings, consisting of both in-person and online options.

With a fee of $25, Encore students may choose up to two of the following courses: Ageless: New Research on Health and Well-Being in Later Years; Choral Union; Church History and Theology 101: From Jesus Until Now; Dead President’s Society: Discovering Lives Through Death; Fads, Foibles, and Collective Behavior; Fitness for Seniors; Introduction to Christian Apologetics; Japan: Land of the Rising Sun; Joint Conditioning; Making Sense of the Middle Ages; Oil Painting; The Book of Judges Part II: An Enduring Biblical Message for a Modern World; The Golden Age Mysteries of Margery Allingham; The Great War, 1914-1918; Tennessee in Tennis Shoes; and Walking With God and Living by Faith.

In Ageless: New Research on Health and Well-Being in Later Years, students will consider the process of healthy aging. The course examines the narratives of “coming of age,” both medically and culturally, and will review current research. Other topics include sociability, work, nutrition and exercise, and antiquated ideas of age, searching for ways to enjoy life and find purpose. The five-week course will be taught by Dr. Karen Mundy-Judkins and Dr. Ben Judkins from 4-5:30 p.m. beginning Oct. 12.

Choral Union is a large, mixed-voice ensemble dedicated to the performance of new choral music as well as major masterworks for choir and orchestra. This ensemble is a unique blend of the Lee University community involving music majors, non-music majors, faculty, staff, and members of the local community. Choral Union is a non-auditioned ensemble and is open to all who are interested in choral music. Dr. Cameron Weatherford will lead this course, which meets on Thursdays from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. for the entire semester.

Church History and Theology 101: From Jesus Until Now explores how Christianity developed from a faith centered around Jesus in the first century to a worldwide movement and how the contemporary church ended up with the various practices and beliefs it now has. The four-week class, led by Dr. Lisa Stephenson, will take place from 2:45-3:45 p.m. on Tuesdays, beginning Sept. 7.

Dead President’s Society: Discovering Lives Through Death is designed for anyone desiring more information about the past presidents of the Unites States. Highlights include an in-depth analysis of presidents’ lives, exploration of leadership styles, and review of final resting places. It will include a day trip to Nashville, and guest speakers and video presentations will be incorporated. Cameron Fisher leads this six-week course on Tuesdays from 4-5:30 p.m., which starts on Oct. 5.

The new class Fads, Foibles, and Collective Behavior will explore what sociologists call “collective behavior,” or changes in society from the bottom up and how they come about. The class will begin with the French and Industrial revolutions and will then move to contemporary society to consider trends that have shaped America over the last few decades. Mundy-Judkins and Judkins will lead this five-week course on Tuesdays, from 4-5:30 p.m. beginning on Sept. 7.

The course Fitness for Seniors is designed to help strengthen and build core muscles, balance, and rhythm in a group setting. Students will need light hand weights, a small ball, and a resistance band with handles. The course, led by Roxanne Tyson, starts on Aug. 25 and spans 10 weeks, from 1-1:50 p.m. each Wednesday.

Introduction to Christian Apologetics tackles questions concerning why Christians accept and believe the principal things they do about God, revelation, and humanity. It explores the foundation for Christian beliefs and what it means to always be ready to give a reason or defense for the belief with gentleness and respect. This six-week course will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning Aug. 31, from 4:15-5:30 p.m., and is taught by Kevin Nordby.

Japan: Land of the Rising Sun is a course that will survey the twists and turns of Japan’s rich history and culture. Juxtaposed and interwoven with traditional Japan, the story of modern Japan is one that is profoundly influenced and constructed by outside influences and is marked by dramatic ascendancy on the world stage. Taught by Dr. Timothy Lay, this five-week course will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15-5:45 p.m., beginning Oct. 19.

Joint Conditioning is designed to help with strength, flexibility, and breathing by incorporating continuous flowing movements, which are intended to help the student in performing everyday activities. The class, taught by Tyson, will take place on Wednesdays, from 2-2:50 p.m.

Making Sense of the Middle Ages is a survey of the historic trends of medieval Europe from the fall of Rome through the Renaissance, tracing how these trends conform (or not) to modern notions of the Middle Ages and in what ways the modern world is an inheritance of European Middle Ages. J. David Schlosser teaches this 10-week course on Wednesdays, beginning Aug. 25, from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Oil Painting is offered for beginning and intermediate level painters. The goal is to gain targeted skills pertaining to drawing, paint manipulation, color mixing, and an introduction to composition. This course, taught by Gary McDonald, runs six weeks beginning Nov. 1 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m.

The Book of Judges Part II: An Enduring Biblical Message for a Modern World will continue from Part I. It is a close analysis of the book of Judges chapters 9-21 in their ancient Near Eastern and biblical context with a close eye to the importance of the ancient message for the modern world. Dr. Brian Peterson will teach the class on Thursdays from 2:45-3:45 p.m. The six-week course begins on Aug. 26.

The Golden Age Mysteries of Margery Allingham will offer students the opportunity to read five mysteries from the famous Allingham, who wrote during the Golden Age of British detective fiction 1920s-40s. This 10-week course will begin Sept. 22, led by Dr. Christopher Coulter, and will run Wednesdays from 3:35-5 p.m.

The course on The Great War, 1914-1918 will provide a survey of the tragic and compelling years that so profoundly shaped and determined the course of the 20th century. It will examine the issues and never-ending questions surrounding causation, as well as the major figures and the pivotal moments that made the Great War what it was. Lay will teach the seven-week course on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15-5:45 p.m., beginning Aug. 24.

Tennessee in Tennis Shoes is a traveling course that will include visits to historical sites and/or points of interest in Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, or Alabama. Options for traveling include Knoxville Zoo, Fort Dickerson, Ruby Falls, Buttonwillow Civil War Theater, and Nashville Overnight. Dr. David Altopp will lead this course.

Walking with God and Living by Faith will deal with the Christian walk with God as outlined by the apostles Paul, Peter, and James. It will also focus on the heroes of faith as presented in the book of Hebrews. Led by Dr. Henry Smith, this five-week course will take place Mondays at 4:30-6 p.m., beginning Aug. 30.

All courses are on a first-come, first-served basis, and spaces are limited. Students may choose up to two courses from the list of traditional courses or special lecture topics. All enrolled students will have free entry to campus concerts, plays, and athletic events.

Registration will take place Aug. 18–20, 4-6:30 p.m., in the Centenary Room, located in the Higginbotham Administration Building on Lee’s campus. Registration will continue from Aug. 21–31 in Room 211 of the Higginbotham Administration Building, with varying hours.

Lee University’s Encore Program is a part of the institution’s commitment of service to the community.

For more information about Encore or to schedule an appointment, contact the Encore Office at (423) 614-8310, email [email protected], or visit www.leeuniversity.edu/encore.