A Collaborative Venture with Schooner Estates

The University of Southern Maine Senior College at Lewiston-Auburn College and Schooner Estates Retirement Community have entered into a collaborative venture to work together to expand the offering of courses to seniors in the area.

USM Senior College at Lewiston-Auburn College is a program for adults over 50 to take courses purely for interest, and are taught by other seniors volunteering their time.  These courses cover a wide range of interests with no tests or quizzes.  Subjects are greatly varied from how-to-do to academic topics. Classes may be one-day classes in winter or run four to eight weeks in the fall and spring. Membership for the academic year is $25.  Courses cost $25 each for the first two courses and $10 each for each course beyond that.

Schooner Estates is a first-class multi-level rental retirement community in Auburn, offering independent apartments, studio apartments, and residential care. A broad spectrum of services and amenities are available for older adults, including an emphasis on lifetime learning. 

The agreement between the two organizations will benefit tenants at Schooner Estates with free transportation for tenants to classes at the College in the spring and fall.  In addition at least one course each semester will be taught at Schooner Estates. This course will be open to Schooner Estates tenants first with open enrollment for any senior in the area after a pre-determined date.   

In addition, Schooner Estates has created the Schooner Estates Scholarship Fund which provides scholarship money for any senior interested in joining Senior College and taking courses.  Seniors interested in courses but feel they cannot afford membership or the cost of the courses can apply for this scholarship by Schooner Estates when they make application to Senior College.

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