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Brown: Back in the classroom — finally

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After more than a calendar year of virtual experience and a plethora of Zoom video conferences, presenters and students for the Rio Institute for Senior Learning, programs are scheduled to be back on the brick-and-mortar campus.

When the fall semester commences Monday Sept. 27, doors of the classroom will swing back open.

Though safety protocols are still to be determined — such as class size, mask requirement and distancing among students — many associated with the RISE program expressed relief. In conjunction with the rest of American society, the requirements for physically locating on campus have relaxed and the reality now is RISE classes can resume with in-person learning.

“We are happy to welcome students back in the classroom once again,” said Dr. Michael Moore, RISE governing council president. “We have been away for far too long and look forward to the classroom experience.”

Students attend RISE classes for several reasons. Two which gather the most attention is the intellectual quality of the classes and social interaction. Many friends were made and the opportunity to meet and greet old friends and make new friends is an important part of the RISE appeal.

When students convene beginning with the fall semester, class offerings continue to expand. A recent poll among RISE students indicated a desire for more academic-oriented classes, such as history, economics and political science.

For the fall semester, a standing curriculum committee created “a history block,” and three classes on the Holocaust are offered throughout the semester. As well, more classes in art, world history, finance and travel are part of an expanded curriculum.

Now, the campus on Smokey Drive in Surprise is open for the resumption of classes and many expressed the need to maintain RISE as a vital part of their intellectual and social experience.

Registration for the fall semester is easy and seamless. Tuition for the entire academic year, July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, is $50 per student and can be accomplished online.

Cathy Sheredy is the RISE coordinator and can be reached by phone at the above number or e-mail catherine.sheredy@riosalado.edu.

Editor’s Note: Mark Brown is a RISE Governing Council board member and serves on the Curriculum and Public Relations Commitee, in addition to being a presenter on travel and history.