Gary, Ind. — Indiana University Northwest’s Center for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE) offers a variety of non-credit courses and educational programs that aim to assist people of all ages to gain skills and enrich their lives as we face today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities.

CURE offers a variety of learning opportunities for all ages through its Community Garden, Senior University/Senior Planet and Adult Education programs. CURE is now enrolling for the following offerings.

Senior University, Senior Planet and Adult Education Courses

For Senior University/Senior Planet and Adult Education courses, register online at the link below or call 219-980-6907 unless otherwise noted.

Register for courses here

Senior Planet: AI & Disinformation

1-2:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 8
In-person at the Munster Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: April 6
Free and open to adults age 60+

OR

2-3:15 p.m., Tuesday, May 12
In-person at the Crown Point Community Library
Registration deadline: May 10
Free and open to adults age 60+

Disinformation refers to false information created to mislead people and it’s nothing new. But today’s AI-powered tools and social media have made it easier and faster to create and spread disinformation. In this lecture, we’ll explore how AI is used to create convincing deepfakes and clone voices, making it challenging to distinguish between real and fake content. We’ll also review best practices for evaluating information and explore tech tools that can help identify content created with AI.

Senior Planet: Everyday Uses of AI

12:30-1:45 p.m., Friday, April 10
In-person at the Duneland Family YMCA, Chesterton
Registration deadline: April 8
Free and open to adults age 60+

Everyone is talking about AI. Come to this class to be a part of the conversation! This lecture will show you the ways AI is already present in everyday tasks and how it is used in everything from voice assistants to customer service and healthcare. We’ll look at common applications of AI across multiple industries and discuss ways you too can take advantage of this influential technology.

Senior Planet: Intro to Chatting with AI

2-3:15 p.m., Tuesday, April 14
In-person at the Crown Point Community Library
Registration deadline: April 12
Free and open to adults age 60+

Curious about using ChatGPT or Gemini but not sure where to start? In this lecture, we’ll explore tips for using generative AI chat programs so you can make them work for you. You’ll learn how to write questions, or prompts, that are specific and effective at getting helpful responses. Whether you plan to use them at work, for personal projects, or just for fun, we’ll show you how this tech can help you with all sorts of tasks. We’ll also cover best practices for privacy and security so you can be a confident user.

Senior Planet: Fitness Apps

10-11:15 a.m., Thursday, April 16
In-person at the Hammond Senior Center at Pulaski Park
Registration deadline: April 14
Free and open to adults age 60+

OR

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Wednesday, May 20
In-person at the Whiting City Hall
Registration deadline: May 18
Free and open to adults age 60+

Think that fitness apps are only for athletes? This lecture covers many different types of fitness apps, regardless of your health and wellness goals. We’ll discuss free apps that can help you track your nutrition and activity, plan your workouts and stay motivated. You’ll learn about the benefits of fitness apps and popular apps in each category.

Community Garden: Meet the Trees: An Intro to Urban Forestry and Tree Identification

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Friday, April 17
In-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: April 12
Free and open to adults of all ages

Join us for an engaging and practical introduction to Urban Forestry led by Certified Arborist Ryan Bennett. We will learn about the trees in our neighborhoods and the positive impact they have on our daily lives. This workshop is designed for those who desire to become better acquainted with their local canopy.

It will begin indoors with a short talk, followed by a walking tour of the trees located on the IUN campus. Urban forestry is more than just trees – it’s about cultivating connection, stewardship and the shared responsibility to ensure quality of life for future generations. Trees are our neighbors. In this session, we will explore the basics of tree identification skills and how strategically planted and properly maintained trees add value to our natural ecosystem.

Register online or call 219-980-6978.

Senior Planet: Intro to AI

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Thursday, April 23
In-person at the St. John Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: April 21
Free and open to adults age 60+

OR

1-2:15 p.m., Friday, May 1
In-person at the Banta Center, Valparaiso
Registration deadline: April 29
Free and open to adults age 60+

OR

1-2:15 p.m., Thursday, May 7
In-person at the Maria Reiner Center, Hobart
Registration deadline: May 5
Free and open to adults age 60+

Curious about AI? Want to know more about ChatGPT? This lecture will introduce some of the basic concepts around artificial intelligence. We’ll talk about how AI is being used today, what its current limitations are and how it will shape the future!

Senior Planet: Understanding Fraud & Scams

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Friday, April 24
In-person at the Merrillville Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: April 22
Free and open to adults age 60+

OR

10-11:15 a.m., Thursday, May 21
In-person at the Hammond Senior Center at Pulaski Park
Registration deadline: May 19
Free and open to adults age 60+

The ability to spot a scam is an essential digital skill. In this lecture, we’ll review some of the most common scams, offer tips for avoiding them and go over what to do if you do get scammed. We’ll look at sample emails, texts and deepfakes to see how AI contributes to the increased spread and complexity of scams. We’ll also provide helpful resources for staying informed about the latest scams.

Senior U: The Marsalis Jazz Family

6-7:30 p.m., Monday, April 27 and Wednesday, April 29
Zoom meetings
Registration deadline: April 23
Free and open to adults ages 55+

Join Billy Foster, jazz pianist and composer, for this two-part Zoom series about the story of the Marsalis family – one of the most remarkable in jazz. In these sessions, we will explore the careers and music of the father Ellis Marsalis (piano) and his sons Wynton (trumpet), Branford (saxophone), Delfeayo (trombone) and Jason (drums and vibraphone) from their beginnings up to today. It is unusual for one family of musicians to reach the top level of playing as these gentlemen have in the last forty years. We hope you will join us for these exciting sessions.

Senior U: Mixed Media Collage

1-2:30 p.m., Mondays, May 4, 11 and 18
In-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: April 26
Free and open to adults ages 55+

Join Marsha Browne at IUN to learn mixed media collage. During this series, we will explore color and texture and create two-dimensional works that reflect your personality and creativity. Art materials will be provided.

Senior Planet: Digital Tools for Brain Health

12:30-1:45 p.m., Friday, May 8
In-person at the Duneland Family YMCA, Chesterton
Registration deadline: May 6
Free and open to adults age 60+

Stay sharp with technology! In this lecture, we’ll explore digital tools to support habits that can help you stay sharp, including wearable devices, engaging websites and informative podcasts. Discover practical resources to keep your mind active and enhance your cognitive wellbeing in today’s digital world.

Senior Planet: AI Voice and Video Generators

1-2:15 p.m., Wednesday, May 13
In-person at the Munster Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: May 11
Free and open to adults age 60+

Have you heard about voice-cloning, digital avatars or text-to-video? This lecture will explain how artificial intelligence programs can turn scripts and even just ideas/a few sentences into realistic voices and videos in a matter of minutes. We’ll explore AI voice and video generators, their common features and the wide range of content they can produce. You’ll also learn tips and considerations for using these tools so you can get started!

Senior U: Smartphones III for Androids

4:30-6 p.m., Tuesdays, May 19, 26 and June 2
Concurrent: Zoom and in-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: May 10
Free and open to adults age 55+

If you’ve taken Smartphones I and II, then get ready because the advanced smartphones course you’ve been waiting for is now open for enrollment! Led by technology wizard Brittany Taylor, these sessions are designed for those who are ready to do more than just send texts and make phone calls with their Android smartphones. Participants will learn how to use GPS, type directly on PDFs, lock apps and so much more!

Prerequisites: An Android smartphone and completion of Smartphones II for Androids within the past year. Registration Priority: Those new to Smartphones III for Androids.

Senior U: Smartphones III for iPhones

4:30-6 p.m., Thursdays, May 21, 28 and June 4
Concurrent: Zoom and in-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: May 12
Free and open to adults age 55+

If you’ve taken Smartphones I and II, then get ready because the advanced smartphones course you’ve been waiting for is now open for enrollment! Led by technology wizard Brittany Taylor, these sessions are designed for those who are ready to do more than just send texts and make phone calls with their iPhone smartphones. Participants will learn how to use GPS, type directly on PDFs, lock apps and so much more!

Prerequisites: An iPhone and completion of Smartphones II for iPhones within the past year. Registration Priority: Those new to Smartphones III for iPhones.

Senior Planet: Intro to Estate Planning Resources & Tools

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Friday, May 29
In-person at the Merrillville Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: May 27
Free and open to adults age 60+

Estate planning may sound intimidating or something that requires a lot of resources. Creating an estate plan just means making sure that your health, finances and anything you own is handled according to your wishes. In this case, a simple plan is better than no plan! In this lecture, you will get an overview of some common documents found in an estate plan. We will also cover free or low-cost resources and digital tools to help you get started with a simple estate plan.

Adult Education: Fundamental Courses

24/7 Access; All classes start new every month
Cost varies; Courses for adults and young adults/teens

Online fundamental courses are informative, fun and convenient. Fundamental courses include instructor-led courses and self-paced tutorials. Instructor-led courses run for six weeks with monthly start dates and feature an instructor-moderated discussion board allowing you to interact with your classmates. Self-paced tutorials are designed for completely independent learning, without instructor moderation and can be started at any time. Complete any course entirely from home, at any time of the day or night. Popular courses include Speed Spanish, Accounting Fundamentals, Introduction to Microsoft Excel and A to Z Grant Writing.

Enroll, learn more or view all Fundamental courses

Adult Education: Career Training Programs

24/7 Access; Start at any time
Costs vary; Courses for adults

The online, open-enrollment Career Training Programs are designed to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional-level positions for many in-demand occupations. Our programs are designed by a team of professionals from each respective field, providing you with effective web-based learning programs. Instructors/mentors are actively involved in your online learning experience, responding to any questions or concerns, encouraging and motivating you to succeed.

Enroll, learn more or view all Career Training Programs

Adult Education: Comprehensive Career Tracks

24/7 Access; Start dates vary
Costs vary; Courses for adults

These online Career Track programs offer students an opportunity to hone their skills in a variety of professions—from the arts to healthcare to web development. All programs are available in a self-paced format and offer opportunities for national certification, externship placement and/or career support.

Enroll, learn more, or view all Comprehensive Career Tracks

IU 2030: Service to our State and Beyond

IU Northwest will improve the lives of the people and economic vitality of Northwest Indiana and beyond by fostering and strengthening collaborative relationships that promote, build and sustain the well-being of the campus and our communities.

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