Fitness classes, such as yoga, are among the classes offered at by the Lone Star College Academy for Lifelong Learning program. (Courtesy Lone Star College)
Founded over 20 years ago, the Lone Star College Academy for Lifelong Learning program offers free and low-cost classes, events and activities for adults age 50 and older taught by volunteer teachers.
Amy Duval, coordinator of the program at the Cy-Fair campus, said the program offers a $25 annual membership allowing participants to take classes at seven campuses, including University Park, Cy-Fair, Tomball, Kingwood, Houston North, Montgomery and North Harris.
About the program
Founded at the Montgomery campus in 2000, Duval said other campuses soon followed and began offering the Academy for Lifelong Learning program at the Cy-Fair, Kingwood and North Harris campuses in 2004. Later expanding to other campuses, the program has remained an influential opportunity for seniors who want to continue expanding their skills.
With over 23 categories of courses offered, Duval said art, history and culinary classes are among the most popular. Other subjects offered include computer and technology, philosophy, financial and legal, reading and photography.
The Lone Star College Academy for Lifelong Learning program offers several art courses. (Courtesy Lone Star College)
Prospect students can register ahead of time during annual open houses held prior to the start of the fall semester or register online. While students can register at any time during the year, Duval said she recommends students register ahead of time to ensure spots are available.
The impact
Aside from allowing senior residents to continue expanding their skills and furthering their education, Duval said the Lone Star College Academy for Lifelong Learning program allows them to stay connected with their community.
“Once you're retired, a lot of people just don't know what else to do. They don't know where to go to hang out, or they lose contact with some of their friends who are still working,” Duval said. “So our goal is to keep them active and help them make new friends and keep them engaged with other people who have similar interests.”
While the number of students enrolled at the program decreased after COVID-19 from 8,111 total enrollments in spring 2021 and 5,010 in spring 2022, the enrollment rate has since increased with 8,739 students enrolled in the fall of 2024.
LSC-Cy-Fair, 9191 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress; LSC-University Park, 11521 Compaq Center W. Drive, Houston; LSC-Tomball, 30555 Tomball Parkway, Tomball; LSC-Kingwood, 20000 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood; LSC-Montgomery, 3200 College Park Drive, Conroe; LSC-Houston North Victory, 4141 Victory Drive, Houston; LSC-North Harris, 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, Houston
