Osher Institute announces spring courses, events


LAWRENCE — The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Kansas has released its spring schedule of courses and special events.

A unit of KU Continuing Education, the Osher Institute offers courses that stress the joy of learning for participants 50 and older, but it welcomes lifelong learners of all ages. Instructors are carefully selected for their expertise, passion for the topic and a love of teaching. Courses generally meet weekly for two hours over a three-week period and require no homework or tests. A single three-week course costs $45, but multiple-course discounts are available.

To enroll or to receive additional information, call toll free 877-404-5823 or visit Osher.

 

Lawrence

  • Charlie Chaplin: Cinema’s First Genius, with Cynthia Haines, Tuesdays, Feb. 10, 17 & 24, 2-4 p.m.
  • The Bible and Science, with Barry Crawford, Wednesdays, Feb. 11, 18 & 25, 2-4 p.m.
  • Introduction to Digital Photography, with Mike Yoder, Wednesdays, Feb. 11, 18 & 25, 7-9 p.m.
  • Enhanced Interrogation, with Mike Hoeflich, Thursdays, Feb. 12, 19 & 26, 2-4 p.m.
  • Jane Austen at 200: The Enduring Allure of “Pride and Prejudice,” with Preston Fambrough, Mondays, Feb. 16, 23 & March 2, 2-4 p.m.
  • German Settlements and Culture in Kansas, with William Keel, Mondays, Feb. 16, 23 & March 2, 2-4 p.m.
  • Triumph Over Terror: How Two Men Survived Nazi Horrors, with Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Tuesdays, March 3, 10 & 17, 2-4 p.m.
  • The Santa Fe Division: The Kansas-Missouri National Guard in World War I, with H. David Pendleton, Tuesdays, March 3, 10 & 17, 7-9 p.m.
  • Forensic Breakthroughs: Jesse James, the Romanovs & the Clutter Family, with Sue Salem, Wednesdays, March 4, 11 & 18, 7-9 p.m.
  • Alice Munro, Master of the Contemporary Short Story, with Jerry Masinton, Thursdays, March 5, 12 & 19, 2-4 p.m.
  • The Essence of “Moby-Dick,” with Haskell Springer, Mondays, March 9, 16 & 23, 2-4 p.m.
  • The War of 1812: A Bicentennial Commemoration, with Richard V. Barbuto, Tuesdays, March 24, 31 & April 7, 2-4 p.m.
  • Issues Confronting the U.S. Mental Health Care System, with Dan Warren, Wednesdays, March 25, April 1 & 8, 7-9 p.m.
  • Appreciating Italian Opera, with Jan Kozma, Thursdays, March 26, April 2 & 9, 2-4 p.m.
  • China's Big Digs: The Terracotta Army, the Great Wall and the Grand Canal, with Nancy Hope, Tuesdays, April 7, 14 & 21, 7-9 p.m.
  • Voices of the Prairie: Prairie Fiction Writers from Willa Cather to Kent Haruf, with Elizabeth Black, Wednesdays, April 8, 15 & 22, 2-4 p.m.
  • I Always Wanted to Learn How to Draw—Skill Development with Barbara Solberg, Wednesdays, April 8, 15 & 22, 7-9 p.m.
  • Topics in European Geography: Norway, the Netherlands, and Scotland, with Tom Schmiedeler, Thursdays, April 16, 23 & 30, 2-4 p.m.
  • The “Real” World of Science Fiction, with James Gunn, Tuesdays, April 21, 28 & May 5, 2-4 p.m.
  • Churchill and What People Could Not Know, with Jeremy Taylor, Thursdays, April 23, 30 & May 7, 7-9 p.m.

 

Lenexa

  • Napoleon Bonaparte: the First French Empire and the Limits of Glory, with Mark Gerges, Wednesdays, March 11, 18 & 25, 7-9 p.m.
  • The Life and Times of Harry Truman, with Jim Peters, Mondays, March 16, 23 & 30
    2-4 p.m.
     

Mission

  • Six Thinkers Who Changed the World, with John Mack, Thursdays, Feb. 12, 19 & 26, 2-4 p.m.
  • Thinkers Who Changed the United States, with John Mack, Tuesdays, March 17, 24 & 31, 2-4 p.m.
  • The Bible and Science, with Barry Crawford, Wednesdays, April 8, 15 & 22, 2-4 p.m.

 

Olathe

  • The Civil War in Kansas, with Debra Goodrich Bisel, Mondays, Feb. 16, 23 & March 2, 2-4 p.m.
  • The Golden Age of Radio, with David Wilson, Tuesdays, March 3, 10 & 17, 2-4 p.m.
  • Home Front during WWII, with Russ Hutchins, Wednesdays, April 1, 8 & 15, 2-4 p.m.
  • First Ladies of the Civil War: Mary Lincoln and Varina Davis, with Debra Goodrich Bisel, Tuesdays, April 7, 14 & 21, 2-4 p.m.

 

Overland Park

  • Churchill and His Personal War on Behalf of the British Empire, with Jeremy Taylor, Thursdays, Feb. 26, March 5 & 12, 2-4 p.m.
  • “The Merchant of Venice,” with Alan Lubert, Mondays, March 2, 9 & 16, 2-4 p.m.
  • Miracle Drugs, from Opium to Penicillin and Beyond, with George M. Brenner, Wednesdays, March 4, 11 & 18, 2-4 p.m.
  • Icons of Modern Architecture, with Ann Wiklund, Thursdays, March 19, 26 & April 2, 2-4 p.m.
  • Jane Austen at 200: The Enduring Allure of Pride and Prejudice, with Preston Fambrough, Wednesdays, April 1, 8 & 15, 7-9 p.m.
  • Presidential Assassins: Men and Women Driven to Kill, with Jim Peters, Tuesdays, April 7, 14 & 21, 7-9 p.m.
  • Alice Munro, Master of the Contemporary Short Story, with Jerry Masinton, Thursdays, April 9, 16 & 23, 2-4 p.m.
  • Triumph Over Terror: How Two Men Survived Nazi Horrors, with Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Mondays, April 13, 20 & 27, 2-4 p. m.

 

Prairie Village

  • First Ladies of the Civil War: Mary Lincoln and Varina Davis, with Debra Goodrich Bisel, Tuesdays, March 17, 24 & 31, 7-9 p.m.
  • The Art and History of the Violin, with Douglas Marples, Tuesdays, April 7, 14 & 21, 7-9 p.m.

 

Topeka

  • Miracle Drugs, from Opium to Penicillin and Beyond, with George M. Brenner, Tuesdays, Feb. 17, 24 & March 3, 7-9 p.m.
  • The Soldier State: From Coronado to Ike, with Debra Goodrich Bisel, Wednesdays, Feb. 18, 25 & March 4, 2-4 p.m.
  • China's Big Digs: The Terracotta Army, the Great Wall and the Grand Canal, with Nancy Hope, Wednesdays, March 11, 18 & 25, 2-4 p.m.
  • The Home Front during World War II, with Russ Hutchins, Thursdays, March 12, 19 & 26, 2-4 p.m.
  • Kansas at the Crossroads: The Future of Energy and Water Resources, with Rex Buchanan, Thursdays, March 19, 26 & April 2, 7-9 p.m.
  • Behind the Rainbow: Judy Garland & the MGM Movie, with Cynthia Haines, Wednesdays, April 1, 8 & 15, 2-4 p.m.
  • Introduction to Digital Photography: Know Your Camera and Create Your Shot, with Mike Yoder, Wednesdays, April 15, 22 & 29, 7-9 p.m.
  • Real to Reel: How History Is Portrayed on the Silver Screen, with John Mack, Wednesdays, April 22, 29 & May 6, 2-4 p.m.

 

Special events:

  • Two tours to the Nelson-Atkins Museum’s exhibit, “World War I and the Rise of Modernism,” Fridays, March 6 or April 17.
  • Kansas City Symphony at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Art and dinner, Sunday, March 8.
  • The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival’s production of “The Merchant of Venice” at the White Theatre in the Jewish Community Center of Kansas City, Sunday, March 22.
  • “The Buddy Holly Story” at the Topeka Performing Arts Center, including a pre-performance presentation and dinner, Thursday, March 26.
  • Osher Extended! A Lifetime of Art in Just One Day. A review of highlights of the Nelson-Atkins Museum with art historians Ann Wiklund, Alan Lubert and Allison Smith. KU Edwards Campus, Friday, March 20.
  • Encore Careers: Options after Retirement, presented by Bank of Blue Valley Vice President Lynn McClure, Monday, March 30.
  • A fun-filled daytrip to the new Prairiefire Museum and the Kansas City Automotive Museum with lunch at Pinstripes, Friday, April 10.
  • Elling Swings Sinatra. The Lied Center’s presentation by Kurt Elling as he pays a musical tribute to Frank Sinatra, Sunday, April 19.
  • A three-day, two-night trip to Oklahoma City to visit the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the National Memorial at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the Myriad Botanical Gardens and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Wed.-Fri., April 22-24.

Members of the KU Alumni Association are eligible for a $10 discount on the first course fee of $45. Other participating alumni associations include KSU, Washburn University, Hutchinson Community College and Hesston College.

A unit of KU Continuing Education, the Osher Institute develops enrichment programs that focus on those 50 and over but welcomes lifelong learners of all ages. Bernard Osher Foundation of San Francisco selected KU in 2004 as a site for this nationally acclaimed program to share the rich resources of the university with the general public.

For more information including course fees and discounts, or to enroll, visit Osher or call toll free (877) 404-5823. 

Fri, 01/30/2015

author

Jim Peters

Media Contacts

Jim Peters

Continuing Education

785-864-9142