Project 60/Active Minds: Cleveland State University Offers Free Class Audits for Senior Citizens

"Project 60/Active Minds" is the Cleveland State University program for Ohio senior citizens, aged 60 and older. Any Ohio resident who's old enough can enroll as a not-for-credit student in the university.

There are limitations, but not many. Some classes fill up with degree students, and don't have room for senior citizen auditors. Some have special permissions required. But for the most part, you sign up and go. You don't even have to take the prerequisites!

As far as tuition goes, it's free. You still have to pay for your parking or bus fare and your books. Parking for students is $4.00 a day, with no guarantee of a spot. And check out the prices of the books; textbooks are more expensive than ever.

Okay, no, they're not more expensive than ever, when you take inflation into account. But there's something about getting almost no change for your hundred dollar bill, and taking only one used book home.

Kaye Grospitch is in charge of the program, and does all the entering of students into the system. (Fee-paying students can enroll online, but the online enrollment generates a bill, and you wouldn't want that.

My husband and I are taking a course called "The Psychology of Aging," because it interested both of us, and was available in the time-slot we wanted. It's a 400 level course, but not difficult. In fact, the only complaint we have so far is that the professor spends a lot of time babying the students, explaining what will be on the tests. We aren't going to take the tests. Nyah, nyah!

There are two big differences between going to college as a degree student forty years ago, and going as an auditor now. One difference is that all the requirements have become privileges. Tests, papers, homework - whether you are allowed to do those depends on the professor and the workload carried by the professor's assistant. Class participation, too, is a privilege, again depending on the instructor, usually okay as long as you don't overdo,. The room is full of kids who want to get to their next class.

The other difference is that all talk of graduate school, of GRE's, of how this or that will look on your C.V., is totally irrelevant. It's delightful -- you are doing this for fun! No worry about getting a job in your field, about getting into honorary societies - no worry about anything at all, except how badly the textbook is written and how close you can park to the building.

Taking courses for fun may not appeal to everyone, but the courses offered are various enough to appeal to many. If listening to lectures isn't your thing, there are exercise classes and arts classes that are more active.

For me, though - this is what I wished I could do, back when I was in college. Just learn. Just for fun.

Hey, dementia comes soon enough; while I've got a brain, I want to use it!