What's New?
Maricopa CARES Overview
MS PowerPoint (862KB)
What people say...
"This has inspired me to add a unit on seniors in my intercultural class."
2002 How Older Adults Learn and Work Dialogue Day participant
College Programs and Initiatives
Sun Lakes Education Center
Sun Lakes Education Center
The Sun Lakes Education Center is an extended campus of Chandler-Gilbert Community College serving the greater surrounding Sun Lakes communities, i.e. Ocotillo, Ahwatukee, Chandler, Gilbert, and Queen Creek since 1996.
Its mission is to serve the needs of the expanding mature adult population of the Southeast Valley through program offerings of credit and noncredit instruction. All program offerings are designed to be conducive for mature adults' physical needs.
The facility's programming serves to provide mature adults with a connection to resources, education, and services.
Major areas of programming are --
- Computer literacy classes (both noncredit and credit) have served thousands of students over the past ten years. From 1996 through 2000, approximately 85% of all instruction was represented in this area. From 2001 to date, this form of instruction has seen a change in focus to a more sophisticated level of registrants.
- The membership organization, New Adventures in Learning, is a self-directed, peer-led organization sponsored by Sun Lakes Education Center. These classes developed by the organization's curriculum committee are selected primarily on the basis of surveys and input from interested individuals, as well as available facilitators. Approximately 80% of membership participate in 8 or more classes each session representing 30 hours of instruction over an 8 week period. Over 75% of participants are ages 60-79. 70% of the participants are female.
- To meet the varied interests of the "boomer" generation, the SLEC has partnered with Chandler Public Library to sponsor the Chandler "Boomerang" Project (one of four projects under the umbrella of Maricopa County "Next Chapter Initiative"). Through this partnership, the SLEC is designated a "Next Chapter" Center. Accordingly, the Center will also focus to serve the "boomer" generation with connectivity to resources, education, and services which will meet the "boomers" varied needs and interests as they plan the "next chapters" of their lives.
- Challenges faced today include a 5000 gsf facility being expanded by an additional 6000 gsf. March through August, 2006, the initial facility will be closed for expansion. During the first phase of construction, all programming has been suspended. Plans call for partial use of space September, 2006. The entire newly expanded facility is scheduled to open January, 2007.
Although there will be more space providing larger classroom enrollment, the challenge will be to continue to utilize the space in the most affective manner to best meet the needs of the overall constituencies.
With the additional space, there will no additional staff. As much as ever, volunteers will be needed to assist existing board approved staff with facility operations.
