Miami University
EN-12: Continuing Education

Fall 2017:

-Hamilton Urban Core Tour
Take a stroll through Downtown Hamilton on this guided walking tour of High Street, showcasing the results of the last 10 years of revitalization efforts. This tour stops in at a number of shops, eateries, and community spaces along High Street and takes about 2 hours.

-Hamilton Downtown Revitalization Tour
Put on your walking shoes for this big picture tour of both High Street and Main Street! You will see the results of our revitalization efforts and learn about the vision for the future of downtown. This tour stops in at a number of shops, eateries, and community spaces.

-The Institute for Food Tour
Miami University’s farm, located on the university-owned, historic Austin-Magie Farm is the heart of The Institute for Food, serving as a research and learning laboratory and functioning business. It
brings together students, faculty, and community members to forge new connections between food and farming, health and wellness, and environmental and economic sustainability.

-A Congress That Serves the People
Congress has had a very high disapproval rating for almost a decade, no matter which party has been in the majority. They have raised the deficit every year since 2000 and excluded themselves from laws they pass for us. Many people want to see Congress work together on the nation’s problems but feel Congress puts party, personal, or donor interests first. Have you had enough of “politics as usual”? Are you ready to see big changes made in our national government processes? Are you willing to be part of the “Change Generation”?

-The Constitution of the United States: Origins and Evolution
Our common understanding of US history tends to leap from Jamestown to Plymouth Rock to the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, ignoring the interstices. Let’s fill in the gaps to see what forces were operating on the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and then unpack the meaning of the original words in both historical and changing political contexts. We will touch on the landmark decisions between the ratification of the Constitution and the Warren Court and then examine more closely a few of the decisions that have proved most transformative.

-Womanly Pursuits: Social History of Women in Science
Women have been active in astronomy, physics, geography, microscopy, geology, biology, and many more disciplines for hundreds of years. Discover for yourself the range and depth of women’s participation in the sciences. The history is not a story of conditions simply getting better and better for women since the 17th century. Changing social conditions in Europe and America have led to increased acceptance of women as workers and leaders in science and sometimes to losses in these roles. Are female biology and psychology compatible with science? Different times and places have given distinct answers to this question

-Healthy Weight Management
Have you struggled with healthy weight management? This course will help you determine a healthy weight and learn a variety of strategies to achieve and maintain it. Recognizing healthy food and determining appropriate amounts in the supermarket, home, and restaurants, as well as recipe modification, will be addressed. Healthy physical activity levels will also be covered. Be prepared for a permanent diet and lifestyle change to achieve success.

-Embracing Immigration: A Call to Action
The course will address issues related to immigration in the context of current political and economic challenges and opportunities and their impact in the schools. Participants will hear the voices of immigrant families and their experiences. Participants will develop civic engagement strategies for full inclusion of immigrant families into the community.

-Walking in the Fall Through the Natural Areas
The wonders of fall are seen all around us in the Natural Areas. Come walk and see some of these beautiful trails and be amazed by their beauty, all so close to home. See beautiful woods, streams, birds, and much more. Hikes last about 1-½ hours. Dress for the season. The earth trails may be slippery from rain; hiking boots are recommended. Expect to hike up to two miles on hilly terrain. For the first hike, meet I the Dewitt Log Homestead parking lot just east of the Miami horse stables on Route 73. Maps with directions to future hikes will be distributed at the first hike. Weather cancellations will be announced via email by 1:00 p.m. on each hiking day. Those without email should call the ILR office for cancellation information.

-An Eye-Opening Look at Coffee
You don’t have to drink coffee to take this class! Coffee is intimately connected to cultural history, current issues in agriculture, climate change, social justice, globalism, ecotourism, and health. Coffee has been a vital ingredient in social and political life. It now appears to be a kind of wonder drug—seriously—especially as people age. Where does coffee come from, what must be done to this tropical product to make it into beverages? How has coffee once again become a great cultural symbol here and abroad? Who makes money on coffee, and what is the situation of coffee farmers today? We will look at coffee from the ground up and will taste various coffees in class. A trip to Oxford Coffee Co. to discuss roasting and its results will be part of the course. We will examine the social and economic life of coffee from its early days in Africa and the Middle East through the first English coffeehouses and, finally, to coffee at the cutting edge of shop design and sophistication today. In January, there will be an optional trip (at a reasonable cost) to see where and how coffee is grown and to meet with the farmers in Costa Rica.

-Yoga Fundamentals
The practice of yoga helps increase flexibility, mobility, circulation, and mind-body coordination. Some positions are done standing, seated, or on the floor. Adaptations are given as needed so participants can be relaxed and can focus on their breathing. Each class will end with either guided or silent relaxation. Please bring a yoga “sticky” mat to class.

-The World Around Us: Nature Revisited
Explore a sampling of nature’s creatures, features, and wonders through the eyes of four experts in their fields. The fifth week will include the viewing of a beautiful film.

Spring 2018

-Trash Talk and Tour of Mt Rumpke
In November 2013, Rumpke unveiled its largest, fastest, and most technologically advanced recycling plant, a $32 million, 100,000 square foot facility that houses technology capable of sorting 55 tons of recyclables every hour. In all, the system has the potential to process one and a half million pounds of material daily and serve more than 4.5 million residents in Cincinnati and beyond. Join us as we tour Rumpke’s gem for an up-close, eye-opening look at what it takes for a city to “go green.”

-Healthcare and Medicine
This course is meant to be a bit of history, a bit of autobiographical storytelling, and a look towards the future. Interaction with members of the class, questions, and perspectives are welcome.

-Understanding the US Constitution
Five class sessions will take us from the intellectual and social origins of the U.S. Constitution, through its adoption and early “settling in,” from the Civil War through the first half of the 20th century, and then into the critical post-World War II era in the 21st century. Spoiler alert: last class ends with a question mark.

-Spring Neotropical Migrants
In the spring, most neotropical migrants are beautifully garbed as they wing northward to their nesting grounds. We will use the AREI bird banding stations to get an up-close look at these challenging species. The class will emphasize both bird identification and neotropical bird conservation.

-Educating from the Ground Up: Learning about Sustainability through Food Peggy Shaffer, Coordinator of the Miami Institute for Food and Professor of History and American Studies

-Legacies in the Landscape: Plants, People, and Invisible Ecology Nanci Ross, Associate Professor of Ethnobotany, Drake University

-Age-Friendly Oxford: Growing Older in the Oxford Area? What Will You Need?
Ann Garrison Whelpton, Oxford VillAGE Network, Co-Chair

-Yoga Fundamentals
The practice of yoga helps increase flexibility, mobility, circulation, and mind-body coordination. Some positions are done standing, seated, or on the floor. Adaptations are given as needed so participants can be relaxed and can focus on their breathing. Each class will end with either guided or silent relaxation. Please bring a yoga “sticky” mat to class.

-Food Production: Humans Vs Planet Earth
The class will explore the sobering realities of industrial agriculture, issues of sustainability, and the future of food. Human population growth has put a strain on the planet. Agriculture in all its forms is the most important driver of environmental degradation and natural resource depletion. We will focus on the details that led us into the current situation and discuss what we can do to improve the likelihood of being able to produce food far into the future.

-The Changing Male Image
How have views of masculinity changed since 1900? We will focus on American males, their history, their stories, and the changes and challenges from the model European patriarch to current American concepts of fatherhood and masculinity. Through a variety of media that include literature and essays by historians, biologists, sociologists, and psychologists, Web pages, advertisements, and video clips/music, we will examine the perception of the male image in the latter 20th century and early 21st.

-Philosophy and Contemporary Moral Issues
We will center our discussion meetings around a number of the very short essays in Peter Singer’s Ethics in the Real World: 82 Brief Essays on Things that Matter. Specific issues include philosophical and religious distinctions between ethics and morality; cheating; when may doctors kill; and the moral status of other animals. For the final class meeting, issues will be chosen by those enrolled based on other of Singer’s brief essays.

-Introduction to I-Rest Yoga Nidra Meditation
This is a meditation based on ancient yogic teachings but made accessible for modern day life. It is designed to bring the healing benefits of yogic and meditative practices to a wide variety of people. I-Rest can be practiced by anyone, regardless of whether you are a lifelong meditator or have never tried meditation before. Please bring a yoga mat and blanket (or two).

Nature Walks in the Woods
Ahh, the joys of spring—especially after the long, gray, cold days of winter. Come explore with us in the Miami University Natural Areas that include over 1000 acres and 17 miles of trails. Each walk will last about 90 minutes, including stops along the way as we see emerging wildflowers, trees, and other delights. The earth trails may be slippery from rain; hiking boots are recommended. Expect to walk up to two miles on hilly terrain. For the first walk, meet in the Dewitt Log Homestead parking lot just east of the Miami stables on Route 73. Maps with directions to future walks will be distributed at the first walk. Weather cancellations will be announced via email by 1:00 p.m. on each walk day. Those without email should call the ILR office for cancellation information.

Miami offers non-credit online career and professional development programs through our partnership with ed2go, a national leader in accessible online education. Through the professional development online instruction center, many sustainability-themed certificates. An example of two are listed below:

-Start Your Own Edible Garden
Grow delicious, nutritious fruit and vegetables in your own backyard! In this course, you'll learn how to give your garden a healthy start and keep it growing strong all season. You'll begin by figuring out which type of garden is right for you. Not everyone has the same amount of time, space, or sunshine, so the first step to a great harvest is selecting the right crops. You'll explore climate considerations, learn how to read a zone hardiness map, and find out how to spot a micro-climate in your yard. After that, you'll discover how to properly prepare a garden bed so your crops have the best opportunity to thrive. Since healthy soil is the key to a great garden, you'll see how to identify problems in pH and drainage and fix them. You'll even learn to understand fertilizers and make compost! Along the way, you'll delve into the variety of crops you can select leafy greens, root vegetables, fruit, herbs, and more. Each type of crop has specific needs, so you'll get tips on starting seeds, transplanting, pruning, and using container gardens and support structures. In addition, you'll learn what to watch out for so you can spot pests and diseases before they destroy your bounty. And you'll take the guesswork out of watering your garden as you explore a variety of irrigation options. Whether you want to provide your family with nutritious food, save money, get some exercise, or just be more self-sufficient, this course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to be on your way to a successful harvest.

-Certificate in Healing Environments for Body, Mind, and Spirit
(16 contact hours) The design of a health care facility can contribute greatly to the well-being of patients, staff, and the wider community. In this innovative certificate program, you'll examine how Optimal Healing Environments (OHEs) impact the health of individuals and communities on a physical, social, psychological, and spiritual level. You'll learn how evidence-based design can create environments that foster healing and support the mission of health care facilities. You'll explore the effect of all the elements of an environment, including color, light, sound, and art, and the role they play in supporting physical and emotional health. In addition, the program examines how a facility can use a focus on nature to create a sense of connection, how to benefit from the use of technology while mitigating the emotional stress that can result from it, and the importance of such environmental aspects as clean air and water. At the end of this program, you'll appreciate all aspects of a healing environment and be able to describe methods of enhancing personal and work environments so they support the health of individuals and surrounding communities in a sustainable, healing manner.