Students in a UC Communiversity welding class are enjoying one of more than 200 continuing education courses that help people achieve goals and continue to discover their passions.
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Fulfilling the yearn to learn
From stargazing at the observatory to earning continuing education credits, all ages can learn new skills through UC Communiversity adult education courses.
By Melanie Schefft
513-556-5213
Photos: Provided
Nov. 14, 2017
UC Communiversity is bringing a world of learning through classes taught by skilled professionals at UC’s Victory Parkway campus or at dozens of locations all around the city. And now there's new online course options for those who want to learn at their own pace.
From its modest beginning with just a few night courses in 1949, UC Communiversity now partners with other local colleges and builds progress in community education, now including new classes that award continuing education credits for students and professionals in law and medicine.
As director of UC Communiversity since 2016, Janet Staderman has rolled out a variety of new course categories on a broad range of subject matter. And UC faculty and staff can take a class for half price.
In 1950, the evening program was known as Short Term Courses and was part of the Cincinnati Evening College, with only 15 courses offered annually. The program was renamed in 1968 to Communiversity by Thomas Beach, director from 1964-76.
There are over 120 face-to-face, as well as online courses every quarter that span every genre and subject matter. Some of the most popular face-to-face classes include golf, tennis, photography and travel classes.
Popular online certificates include Social Media for Business, Six Sigma Green Belt and Data Analysis, adds Staderman.
Learning new skills through continuous training and development can give young people a competitive advantage to new careers and opportunities, especially in the ever-expanding online world, says Staderman.
For those who are technically savvy or for those who aren’t –– but hope to be –– there are certificates in web marketing, podcasting and computer skills for the workplace. There are even a series of classes that may help launch a new pastime in basic video game design.
In the Introduction to Beer Recipe Building class, Allen Moellman, Listerman's pilot brewer, makes one-of-a-kind beers and shares secrets for reverse engineering commercial beers so students can make them at home.
"Our primary age group was 35 to 55 years old, but we are now equipped for a younger group with several excellent travel, financial planning, wine, beer and cooking classes. We hope that new college graduates look to Communiversity for their personal enrichment and professional development needs, and continue to learn throughout their life and career."
‒ Janet Staderman, director of UC Communiversity
Janet Staderman, director of UC Communiversity, has expanded UC's adult education learning to include partnerships with other local colleges, all four UC campuses, locations around the city and online learning at your own pace.
Learn and earn
Staderman describes several Communiversity courses offering certificates and continuing education credits for those looking to add to their professional merits.
“Among our courses that award certificates of completion, we now offer continuing education credits to nurses and clinical pharmacists with our medical marijuana class offered twice a year,” says Staderman. The class, Medical Marijuana: The Health Care Professional’s Perspective, is “taught at a high level clinically because it is geared for medical workers. It is not politically pro or against but rather educational, focusing on the contraindications with some patient’s co-occurring medications.”
New classes added this winter also include a Complete Financial Management Workshop in February that awards CLE credits for law students and legal professionals. “So we offer community education and professional development along with the other exciting topics,” adds Staderman.
In addition, this February, Communiversity offers its second session of Project Management Professional® Certification (PMP®) course in collaboration with Cincinnati State Workforce Development. This course satisfies the requirement to sit for the PMP® exam and students may earn academic credit from Cincinnati State.
Students seeking to improve their scores on upcoming SAT/ACT, GRE/LSAT or GMAT tests can boost their test-taking techniques through UC Communiversity bachelor's and graduate level Test-Prep courses.
Life-changing impact
Glynnis Reinhart, a UC Communiversity finance instructor has a surprising story, says Staderman.
”She initially began her career as a physical therapist, but after taking one of our Communiversity classes in finance she changed her career to finance," Staderman says. For the last 30 years, Reinhart has been a financial advisor and now teaches a popular Personal Finance for Women workshop each quarter offered at no charge.
John Ventre, historian at the Cincinnati Observatory and adjunct astronomer at UC for more than 25 years, has taken stargazers on tours to the moon and Mars by way of powerful telescopes.
“Students and novice astronomers love hearing the history of the Cincinnati Observatory and enjoy our celestial tours,” says Ventre. “For over two decades, I have introduced folks to nearby planets through our telescopes, some of which are more than 100 years old.”
CULINARY CLASSES AT FINDLAY KITCHEN - Inspiring cooks will experience two hours of hands-on learning and create a meal during class. UC partners with Cincinnati’s Findlay Kitchen and Lindsey Cook, owner of the Jaded Fork, to whip up new culinary delights from cooking with coffee, cooking with herbs, spices and seasoning, mindful meal prep and a special night of Raviolis and Romance on Valentine’s Day. Additional info
Half-priced classes
UC faculty and staff can take courses for half off the regular price once per term.
Classes are on quarters starting in fall, winter, spring and summer, however, many options like culinary and travel classes start every week or every month, and others run the whole quarter.
While Communiversity’s adult education courses are geared for people of all ages, UC also offers Osher Lifelong Learning (OLLI) courses traditionally targeted for ages 50 and over, and both programs have some crossover of classes and instructors.
And Communiversity courses are a popular holiday gift, adds Staderman. Gift certificates are available.
Sample offerings from Communiversity:
ASTRONOMY - Explore space from the Earth and beyond. Fly past the moon, the planets, the stars and galaxies to the edge of what is known. Bring your questions about the cosmos, and the Cincinnati Observatory scientist will answer as many as he can. View through the oldest operational telescope in the country.
PHOTOGRAPHY - From beginner to advanced, point-and-shoot and smartphone to DSLR and full-frame cameras, students get hands-on training from the professionals. Learn to enhance your knowledge of camera operation, photo composition and secrets for the most efficient lighting techniques. Enjoy classes taught at UC's Victory Parkway campus or go at your own pace with in-depth online courses. Read more
MEDICAL MARIJUANA - Join thoughtful discussions on: qualifying medical conditions for medical marijuana; which doctors will be allowed to recommend cannabis; who will monitor the growers and dispensaries; what are the potential side effects or drug interactions with marijuana; and many other safety concerns for patients and caregivers. CEU credits awarded for registered nurses and clinical pharmacists. Photo credits
BACHELOR’S AND GRADUATE-LEVEL TEST PREP - Taking these courses will provide you with test-taking techniques and methods for improving your score and saving time on all SAT/ACT, GRE/LSAT/GMAT test question types. This series will prepare you to excel in all sections of the undergraduate entrance and graduate college exams and provide you with the means to achieve your best potential score.
COMPLETE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP - This course addresses real-life concerns and provides tools that will last a lifetime. Instructor Gary E. Hollander, CFP® is a practicing financial professional who conducts educational workshops to help people steer clear of common roadblocks to financial success and develop healthy approaches to personal finances and retirement planning. This course has been approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 6.00 total CLE hour(s) instruction. Read more
PERSONAL FINANCE FOR WOMEN - This workshop helps women take the right steps toward personal retirement and estate planning strategies. Financial advisor Glynnis Reinhart helps students create strategies for their portfolio; set short- and long-term goals; and potentially gain tax advantages for today. Ultimately, the goal is for women to have a better probability of achieving their goals during and beyond their working years and work successfully through their life-stage milestones.
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WELDING - This welding class is perfect for anyone who has an interest in welding and making creative metal art. After an introduction to workshop and personal safety, along with equipment instruction and sculptural design instruction, you will learn the basics of MIG and Stick welding while creating your own one-of-a-kind welded sculpture.
PIANO BASICS I & II - During this class, students will learn to read music and play by chords. No previous musical experience needed. Success is attributed to the comfortable pacing and logical sequencing of the materials. Classes meet in a state-of-the-art piano facility; each piano has headphones. Students progress with the aid of some home practice, but the learning is relaxed, fun and guilt-free.
Zumba Toning or Fitness - Tone up or go all out with targeted body-sculpting exercises for a "feel-happy" approach to fitness. Great for the body and mind, this workout combines fast and slow Latin and International rhythms to sculpt the body and tone you up. Pat Woellert, ACE-certified in personal training/group fitness and licensed Zumba ® Instructor.
TRAVEL HACKING 101 - Use points, memberships and bonuses and learn how people travel for almost free. Instructor Simone Kuzma specializes in travel education and experiential trips and is the founder of Wanderlust:Wanderlearn. She shares tips on using popular travel offers and incentives, memberships and points to earn free flights, free hotel rooms, free trips and more — often without even stepping out of their living room. Learn how to put opportunities to work for you and get on your way to free travel.
ON-SCREEN IN CINCINNATI - With the Ohio film tax incentive, feature film production continues to flourish throughout our region. Learn tips and tricks from veteran film and documentary producer Chris Hilsabeck on how to sell yourself in front or behind the camera, or feature your home as a film location on the next Hollywood film or commercial.
QUEEN CITY GOTHIC AND THE ARMCHAIR DETECTIVE - Think you’re an ace amateur sleuth or crack armchair detective? Then, come match wits with local crime historian and “Queen City Gothic” author, J.T. Townsend, as he exhumes Cincinnati’s most infamous murder mysteries in this riveting four-week class. Help Townsend thaw out these cold cases, scrutinize the evidence and name the killers. Along the way, you will learn the rules for armchair detectives. Rule #1: A mystery can’t be solved, but a puzzle always has answers.
For information on UC Communiversity and their courses: