Indiana University Bloomington
EN-12: Continuing Education

IU offers continuing education experiences to the local community in two ways.
1. IU Lifelong Learning (40 courses offered in Spring 2019, 3 address sustainability), offered by the IU Alumni Association and open to any participants. Featuring courses, workshops, and tours. Fees vary.
2. MIni-University (106 courses offered in Summer 2019, 13 addressed sustainability): Over 100 noncredit classes are taught by some of IU’s most accomplished faculty. Courses include the arts, sciences, humanities, current events, and technology—from the latest world events to developments in the arts and healthy lifestyles.
Mini University is open to adults of all ages, and you do not have to be an IU graduate to attend. On-campus lodging is available in the Indiana Memorial Union Hotel. You may also make other arrangements; those who live nearby may participate as commuters.

IU Lifelong Learning:
Running in High Gear, The Opioid Crisis in Sociological Perspective: This session will address the sociocultural causes and consequences of the opioid crisis in the United States. Dr. Perry will discuss how and why this crisis differs from previous drug epidemics, including the distinct sociodemographic and behavioral profiles of people addicted to opioids. She will discuss the stigma and downward mobility associated with opioid addiction for individuals, and will examine the broader effects of the opioid crisis on families, communities, taxpayers, and on future generations of Americans. The session will conclude with a discussion of potential social and health policy solutions.This session will examine the socio-economic explanations behind the causes and consequences of the opioid crisis, paying particular attention to the scope of state and federal policies that are seen as having contributed to the current situation as well as those being used as solutions. Dr. Simon will also address the role of the pharmaceutical industry, and the economics behind the evolution of addiction pathways. This session will conclude with a look at the empirical evidence on the effectiveness of policies, and the data and methods by which they are judged.

Noon At Noodles: Includes guided conversations with IU Professors. Topics in Spring 2018 will include Animals and Human Cognition, the Future of Literary Archives in a Digital Society, and the Changing Country of Vietnam led by Professor Emeritus Ron Osgood, whose research expertise lies in socio-geographical shifts in Vietnam, including those resulting from the Vietnam War, and the effects of climate change in public American parks.

The Forests Are Burning!: Have you ever wondered what is happening in the western part of our country with all the recent forest fires; why are they so bad and so frequent? Perhaps you would like to learn how authorities deal with such a monumental issue.  Did you know that not all forest fires are destructive? Some are actually good for the environment. Many people are surprised to learn that land managers will actually burn areas on purpose, known as a “prescribed fire.”  Get the answers to these questions and more with this two-part class conducted by ex-wildland firefighter, Les Wadzinski and Hoosier National Forest fire personnel. In a pre-field trip lecture, we will learn the basics of wildland firefighting, why prescribed fire can be beneficial, learn a little about fire ecology, and see the lifesaving “fireshelter” in action.

Mini University (Course descriptions not available)

Head in the Clouds: Why Does It Rain? Cody Kirkpatrick, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Pollinators Under Threat: Implications for the Food Chain
Geology, Theology, and Foreign Policy
Understanding Global Cultures: The United States of America
From Slavery to Mass Incarceration: Tracing the History
*Bloomington on Foot: 200 Years of Urban Change
Race, Caste, and Status: Discrimination in the 21st Century in a Global Context
Religious Roots of Environmentalism
Accessibility in National Parks: Exploring the Features That Can Maximize Your Visitor Experience
Climate Change and the Media: Are We Doing Our Job?
Agitate! Agitate! Agitate! Why Civic Engagement – and Civic Education–Is so Important Today Paul Helmke, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free: The Economics of Immigration and Refugees Gerhard Glomm, Department of Economics
Betwixt and Between: Regulating the Sharing Economy Abbey Stemler, Kelley School of Business
*Evolution in Style: Changes in Architecture on the IUB Campus from 1920 to 2020 -- Including modern LEED buildings

Public Health and You, a free professional development certificate, begins with a unit on environmental health. This is part of "IU Expand," portal for online non-credit and continuing education coursework offered to the IU community as well as the general public. Some IU Expand courses result in certificates. To receive a certificate in Public Health and You, participants must score 80% or higher on a post-course assessment.

https://expand.iu.edu/browse/publichealth/publichealthandyou/professionaldevelopmentcertificate/programs/certificateinpublichealth