Spring Break
Waterbury Campus Receives Special Grant
Justin Verrier
Issue date: 9/18/06 Section: News
The Osher Foundation of San Francisco recently awarded the UConn Waterbury campus with a $100,000 grant that will fund a lifetime learning program.
"Lifelong learning is about a broad range of activity," said Brian Chapman, who has been appointed to head the program. "I consider it to be from birth until death and is all about active adult learners."
After getting funds from the Connecticut Community Foundation as seed money, the Waterbury campus won the very competitive grant and became one of nearly 100 colleges and universities from Maine to Hawaii to host the Osher lifelong learning programs.
An assessment was done in the area prior to the submission of the grant application that showed the program may have a great chance of success.
"Retirees, who are likely to have spare time and are interested in learning everything from landscaping to financial management, are a key audience," said a UConn press release announcing the grant. "The assessment found that more than 120,000 people living within 50 miles of the campus are more than 50 years old."
Chapman, an assistant director for the College of Continuing Studies at UConn Avery Point, has a strong background in adult education and feels his strong focus on community outreach is what won him the job.
He will look to use his background as he says his number one goal is to build a strong community that brings together people of all races and socio-economic status.
"It's a great way to really connect with the community and for Waterbury to showcase itself," Chapman said.
And he'll be counting on that community not only to attend some of the new adult education classes, but also to teach them.
Chapman is currently tracking down citizens around the area to come and share their knowledge with fellow Waterbury residents. As of Thursday, teachers are lined up for classes on taxation for retirees, a class based upon the representation of Italians in American films and, tentatively, an architecture class.
"Lifelong learning is about a broad range of activity," said Brian Chapman, who has been appointed to head the program. "I consider it to be from birth until death and is all about active adult learners."
After getting funds from the Connecticut Community Foundation as seed money, the Waterbury campus won the very competitive grant and became one of nearly 100 colleges and universities from Maine to Hawaii to host the Osher lifelong learning programs.
An assessment was done in the area prior to the submission of the grant application that showed the program may have a great chance of success.
"Retirees, who are likely to have spare time and are interested in learning everything from landscaping to financial management, are a key audience," said a UConn press release announcing the grant. "The assessment found that more than 120,000 people living within 50 miles of the campus are more than 50 years old."
Chapman, an assistant director for the College of Continuing Studies at UConn Avery Point, has a strong background in adult education and feels his strong focus on community outreach is what won him the job.
He will look to use his background as he says his number one goal is to build a strong community that brings together people of all races and socio-economic status.
"It's a great way to really connect with the community and for Waterbury to showcase itself," Chapman said.
And he'll be counting on that community not only to attend some of the new adult education classes, but also to teach them.
Chapman is currently tracking down citizens around the area to come and share their knowledge with fellow Waterbury residents. As of Thursday, teachers are lined up for classes on taxation for retirees, a class based upon the representation of Italians in American films and, tentatively, an architecture class.
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anonymous
posted 9/18/06 @ 12:16 PM EST
amazing article. very well written.
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