Wesleyan Academy for Lifelong Learning
Staff Report From Middle Georgia CEO
Tuesday, August 13th, 2019
Continuing Wesleyan’s commitment to support the diverse needs of the Middle Georgia community, the College offers the non-credit adult learning program Wesleyan Academy for Lifelong Learning (WALL). WALL provides an exciting range of educational and social interactions for mature learners in central Georgia. Men and women who are interested in intellectual stimulation, personal growth, and networking opportunities can choose from a wide variety of courses designed to expose adult learners to new ideas and activities in a relaxed and congenial setting, without concern for tests or grades.
The lifelong learning movement is growing at an exceptional pace nationwide, and the maturing of the baby boom generation will further accelerate the trend. Roughly 15 percent of America’s population is sixty-five and older and entering retirement years. The US Census Bureau estimates that approximately 77 percent of people in this age range completed high school or higher education, and 20 percent earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. Regardless of prior educational experience, WALL has something for everyone with natural curiosity and a willingness to learn.
Most sessions are held in classrooms on Wesleyan’s campus. The instructors comprise an impressive list of Wesleyan College faculty as well as experts from the community at large. Previous community instructors have included Terry Holland, Mark Ballard, Terrell Sandefur, Vivia Fowler, Nadine Cheek, Rabbi Larry Schlesinger, and Katherine Walden, to name a few.
Fall 2019 semester offers fifteen courses ranging in topics that include ‘Advances in Medicine’ (Mercer Medical School faculty); ‘Reckless Misfortune: How WWI Hostaged our Century’ (Christopher Blake, president, Middle Georgia State University); ‘The Real Game of Thrones: The British Royal Families (Jan Lewis); ‘A History of Heaven and Hell’ (Richard Davies); ‘Macon Moments’ (Jim Barfield); ‘Beer: History, Brew Process and Tasting’ (Brian Whitley).