about
what is CARES?

feature articles
highlights about senior learners

college programs and initiatives
special programs

opportunities
service opportunities

lifelong learning contacts
college connections

resources
more information

What's New?
Maricopa CARES Overview
MS PowerPoint (862KB)

What people say...
"This was an pportunity to meet and share information with others involved in senior adult learning."
2002 Lifelong Learning Dialogue Day participant

more quotes...

College Programs and Initiatives

Senior Adult Educational Program

This is a well-established 9-month program in existence for more than 20 years. Staff includes a Coordinator, an Administrative Secretary, two program assistants and a student assistant, all of whom have less than a 100% appointment. The SAE Program is part of the College's Adult Education Dept, which also serve adult students of all ages.

Non-credit course programming is done in six areas: Health & Wellness; Computers (credit); Language & Communication; Political & Social Science; Religion & Philosophy; Arts & Humanities/Travel Series. Course fees range from around $3.50 to $10.00 per contact hour, with most in the $3.50 – $5.50 range. Some instructors donate their time; others receive a small honorarium. Course emphasis is on personal interest and self-development themes, with no career/work focus. Currently all courses are offered only during the daytime, Monday-Friday, with no summer or evening courses. The revenue for the popular Senior Computer courses was recently transferred to the Computer Dept., while advertising and enrolling students remained the responsibility of the Senior Program.

Statistics

Supplied for the SCC Office of Institutional Research, Planning & Development and cover Senior Program enrollments for the last five years, Fall 2001 – Spring 2006.

Enrollment by Age: Statistics include an age range from 19 to 86 & above. The majority of SCC senior students fall in the 60 – 79 range, but enrollments include more than 11% above 80 years old and 8% - 9% in their 50's. Age 60 – 69: 31%-32%; Age 70 – 79: 33% - 37%.

Enrollment by Ethnicity: 55% - 64% of students did not indicate their ethnicity. Of the minority that did indicate ethnicity, 94-95% identified themselves as White.

Enrollment by Gender: 40% - 60% or students did not identify gender. Of the minority that did indicate gender, the proportion of men to women students averaged about 1 to 2.

Enrollment by Zip Code: 74% - 81% of the students have Scottsdale zip codes, followed by 8% - 12% from Phoenix zip codes 85016 & 85018. Fountain Hills follows with 2% - 3%.

Enrollment Growth (5 Years):

Fall enrollments over the last four years have declined at a slow rate. Spring enrollments, traditionally higher than fall enrollments, possibly due to the arrival of winter residents, have increased over the last four years, then dropped in Spring 2006.

Boomerz Program

Boomerz' mission is to connect baby boomers to opportunities for civic engagement that improve our communities by providing them with life-planning and life-long learning resources in warm and welcoming places. The Boomerz Program empowers boomers to think differently and more creatively than previous generations about mid-life options and provide a catalyst for action.