Emeritus Scholars keep their minds fit in WCC classrooms
It may be the best-kept secret at Washtenaw Community College. Residents of Washtenaw County who are 65 and older can attend college for free.
Students who qualify must apply for the Emeritus Scholar status at the Student Connections and show a driver’s license with a current address to verify their age and residency.
Once admitted as students, Emeritus Scholars can enroll for free noncredit or credit classes. There is one hitch for the credit classes: on the last day to register, there must
be empty seats remaining, or the student will have to pay tuition. Emeritus students
also pay applicable course
fees.
Peggy Jones is the Special Populations Technician at Enrollment Services and assists seniors with their applications. According to Kathy Currie, Director of Student Records, Winter Semester has 80 Emeritus Scholars enrolled in credit classes, and 174 in noncredit classes.
WCC’s senior-friendly policy is unique among colleges in the area. The Board of Trustees originally voted to institute the program about 25 years ago. According to the published Admissions Policy, the addition probably came in with a revision in 1988, not long after the college had created an Emeritus status for staff and faculty with 15 or more years of service.
Emeritus students praise the education made possible by the scholarship. Judy Bonnell-Wenzel, of Ann Arbor, has four degrees, including an associate’s earned when she was past the age of 65.
“WCC is by far the best school I have attended,” she said. “I have always been treated well here. The teachers are excellent—they really help you.”
Her first experience, a B.S. in biology from the University of Texas, left her “shell-shocked.” A master’s program later left her with a bad taste of ageism. The late Richard Bailey, a WCC trustee, encouraged her to try Washtenaw, where she found other older students, free tutoring in chemistry, and refreshers in her old subjects.
Dan Ayres, of Ypsilanti Township, likes the opportunity for environmental education from adjunct teachers who are working in the field. He started with classes in small-engine repair as a youngster in his 50s and enjoyed the group of Emeritus students who returned every semester.
“They contributed to the training of the younger students, and had a great social benefit, as well as unique access to facilities,” Ayers said.
Jerry Kruse, of Ypsilanti, a retired university department head and veteran college teacher, takes classes in a broad spectrum of subjects. He likes to challenge himself and explore new worlds of knowledge that the hustle-bustle of his career had left him no time for.
With studies showing that mental functioning does not have to decline with age, given brain stimulation from learning new and difficult skills, Washtenaw Community College is poised to add another accomplishment to its long list of community contributions.
Former President Gunder Myran once told Bonnell-Wenzel: “We take students with trouble in school, and make them into good students.”
Now he could as well claim: “We take students at all stages of life, and keep them sharp and healthy.”
Interested students can contact Jones at (734) 973-3607.
