MUW Expands Life Enrichment Classes

COLUMBUS, Miss. — Those interested in forensics, sign language or even playing the dulcimer will find Mississippi University for Women is the place to learn this fall.
A variety of classes will be available through the Life Enrichment Program, with the first term starting Aug. 25 going through Oct. 6 and the second term being held Oct. 13-Nov. 21.
The LEP offers non-credit courses for adults (age 18 and over) who share a love of learning and/or teaching.
New courses being offered this fall include forensic science applications instructed by Ret. Col. John Ross and sign language 101 instructed by Theresa Riddick.
“These courses are taught by volunteers who are experts in their field and have a passion for teaching others,” said Janie Shields, LEP coordinator.
In the forensics course, students will learn how a Russian spy got a United States security clearance, how some creative citizens used the same technique to perpetrate entitlement fraud and how forensic psychologists were instrumental in the successful Israeli raid on Entebbe to free hostages.
“I hope students will have a greater appreciation for the wide range of expertise that can be brought to bear in forensic science. For example, physical and cultural anthropologists have played key roles in solving some of the most difficult cases involving skeletonized human remains,” Ross said.
The objective of the sign language class is to teach each student to sign 300 or more sign vocabulary words that will make them sufficient to have functional conversations.
“I expect that this class will build a person’s confidence in interacting with the deaf community, allow students to bring questions about deafness and leave with answers and inspire students to further pursue their passions for signing,” Riddick said.
The LEP started in fall 2009 with six courses and 24 participants. Last fall there were 39 courses with 263 participants.
Classes are offered during each term and there will be on and off campus locations. There is a $35 registration fee which will allow a student to enroll in up to five classes.
For more information, contact Janie Shields at lifeenrichment@muw.edu, call (662) 329-7150 or the Office of Outreach & Innovation at (662) 241-6101. A full list of courses is available at www.muw.edu/lep.