Liberal Arts and 55+ Program celebrates 50 years of inspiring older learners

At 76 and 79 respectively, Linda Davis and Judy Thomsen may not look like typical university students.

But together with hundreds of other older learners, they’ve found a welcome place for themselves at SFU in the long-running Liberal Arts and 55+ Program.

On October 30, the program will host a special event on Harbour Centre campus to celebrate its 50th anniversary of inspiring lifelong learners.
 
Between them, Davis and Thomsen have taken nearly 220 courses. A political science major, Davis says her retirement plan had always been to continue her learning. She considered auditing university courses but chose the 55+ program so she could join students in her own age group.
 
“I think there are a lot of people like me, who enjoy learning liberal arts subjects,” says Davis, who took her first course in 2014. “What I wasn’t looking for—but what I found—is that I’ve made a lot of friends here. There’s such a good social component to this program. It’s a real bonus.”
 
Back in 1974, the program was launched as the SFU Program for Senior Citizens. Jack Blaney, who later served as president of SFU, was then dean of the Division of Continuing Studies and a strong advocate of the program.

“One of the greatest needs of older adults is the challenge of an important personal goal,” Blaney wrote in a memo that year. “Such a program, the first of its kind on this continent, could serve that need and others.”
 
By 1977, SFU had indeed become the first North American institution to create a series of university-level courses specifically for older adults. For a nominal fee, learners aged 60 and older could take a course for credit towards a certificate or even an undergraduate degree.
 
“In the 1970s, ‘seniors classes’ typically meant recreation rather than education, but SFU recognized that many older students were seeking a richer experience,” says Julia Denholm, dean of Lifelong Learning (which includes Continuing Studies). “From the outset, the intent of the Liberal Arts and 55+ Program has been to help learners achieve their intellectual goals.”

While some students were interested in a degree, many more wanted to learn for the sake of learning. So it was the enduring demand for non-credit courses that carried the program forward into the 21st century. Last year, more than 1,100 students registered for Liberal Arts and 55+ classes.

Some went a step further and opted to write essays in their courses, a requirement for earning the Liberal Arts for 55+ Certificate. Since its introduction 20 years ago, nearly 170 enthusiastic learners have enrolled in the certificate program, as a way to engage more deeply in their learning.

Although the Liberal Arts and 55+ program presented just 12 offerings in its inaugural non-credit term, this year it boasted close to 100 courses, on topics ranging from art history to the use of AI.

“Course topics have evolved over time, but our focus on arts and sciences has never wavered,” notes program director Susan Rhodes, “Each term, we strive to deliver a selection of courses and events that will appeal to a wide variety of academic interests.”
 
For student Judy Thomsen, it’s this variety that has kept her coming back for the past 14 years. Music and literature may be her first loves, but she’s enjoyed branching out into topics like archaeology and philosophy, and courses that dig into current events.
 
With popular courses sometimes selling out in minutes, Thomsen says she’s learned to register as soon as possible. “We’re keeners,” she laughs. “Even now I’m already wondering what you’ll offer next spring. We really cherish this program.”
 
In the early days, classes ran in local community centres and churches due to lack of space at SFU’s Burnaby campus. In 1989, the program found a home in the newly opened Vancouver campus, and some programming later moved beyond classroom walls, taking students on field trips to the opera or theatre, and even overseas to study in Greece and Spain.
 
Through the decades, the program has continued to look for ways to reach a wider community. In 1975, the program ventured into TV with a quirky cable show exploring aging.

The next screen foray followed in 2006, with a series of educational DVDs provided free to seniors’ organizations. The growth of online learning has now broken more barriers, allowing students anywhere in the world to access the program.
 
Today, even the age requirement for courses has been dropped, although learners 55 and older continue to benefit from a tuition discount.
 
“We’ve made the program more accessible than ever,” explains Rhodes. “Our oldest student last year was 95, but we welcome adult learners of all ages. Education truly has no age limit.”