Wichita State University Community Education

Happy Summer Lifelong Learners. Our office is preparing for an amazing lineup of Fall classes, beginning mid-August.
I want to start sharing some upcoming classes with you. Be on the lookout for more highlights in the next few weeks. Registration will open early/mid July! An exact date will be announced in a few weeks.
Class Highlight - The 1970s and 1980s: Precursors of the Present
Class Dates: Tuesdays - September 1, 8, 15, 22, 2026
Instructor: Gretchen Eick
Class time: 1-3pm
Class Location: In person Hughes Metroplex 5015 E 29th St N, Wichita or Online
Course Description: The 1970s and 1980s are a time few adults have studied. They just lived through them. But they were the decades of older Americans’ child-raising, when life was happening and allowing little time for reflection.
This course will examine these important decades in the U.S. past, looking at the political and social/cultural developments they saw and the changes they made in Americans’ ways of seeing issues, political parties, and politics. In both decades international events profoundly shaped the U.S. political response and the message politicians put out re: how to regard protesters, wars of liberation, the U.S.S.R (Soviet Union), environmental change, and popular culture.
What is Lifelong Learning at WSU: Lifelong Learning courses cater specifically to individuals aged 60 and above, offering both in-person and online options. The courses, taught by qualified university faculty, consist of four classes held once a week for four weeks, with each class lasting approximately two hours. These courses operate on an audit basis, allowing students to participate without paying tuition fees, and scholarships are available to cover application and course fees for those who enroll before a specified deadline. There are no textbooks to purchase as all required materials are provided by WSU, and there are no tests or grades. The coursework encourages cohort-based learning, offering seniors the opportunity to engage in genuine college-level learning experiences.
All course work will be offered in-person and online.
In person classes will be held from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Wichita State University Metropolitan Complex located at 5015 E. 29th St. North.
Online classes will be available. Students who select this option will receive a link via email each week to view the class on their own device.

Santa Fe trip travel log day 1- Wichita to Santa Fe. We left super early Tuesday morning. It was a little chilly but sunny skies. We stopped for lunch in Clayton NM at the Hotel Eklund. The Hotel Eklund is a historic, three-story sandstone boutique hotel located in Clayton, New Mexico. Built in 1892, it features 24 guest rooms, fine dining, and an iconic Wild West-era saloon. It is a registered historic property and serves as a popular, charming stopover for travelers. We had a fantastic lunch of red and green enchiladas, fajitas, rice, guacamole and all the fixings. As the afternoon passed we saw the mountains and gained elevation as we arrived into Santa Fe. We ended our long journey with a wonderful dinner at Plaza Cafe South. As we arrived at the Drury Hotel Santa Fe (a converted old hospital) we all rested the night away looking forward to what Wednesday will bring.

Meet Hank. Our trip travel companion! He’s the best good boy ever!!!