LIFELONG LEARNERS: GCSU Continuing Ed offers a variety of courses

Published 7:00 am Friday, February 10, 2023

Whether a person is looking to implement a new fitness routine, brush up on their dance skills or even begin a new career, Georgia College’s Continuing and Professional Education Department offers a variety of opportunities for lifelong learners. 

That idea of constantly learning something new and taking on new challenges carries priceless benefits.

“I think that’s the only way to stay young is to stay engaged actively and mentally,” said Angie Woodham, director of Continuing and Professional Education at Georgia College. 

According to Woodham, there are several new opportunities now being offered to help folks do just that.

After kicking off 2023 with an organization class, the department recently began a moms and kids fitness program called Mini Millys that will be held every Saturday morning with instruction from a local fitness instructor. The high-energy course offers activities, games and exercises while allowing parents and children to bond in a special way. In addition, an Active Milly Moms course is also available. This particular fitness class is designed for both pre- and post-natal moms with a goal of increasing overall strength, flexibility and endurance. Woodham said the department has also recently brought back its popular yoga class, which meets every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Woodham said the department is also launching voice lessons and some music classes. For those interested in these courses, the continuing education department will help connect them with the actual instructor so that individual sessions may be scheduled.

Woodham said adult dance classes are also making their way back to campus by popular demand. Social Dance for Adults will kick off on March 1. The classes will be held Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in The Miller Hall Dance Studio. Courses will cover shag, waltz, swing rhythm and foxtrot. Cost is $50 per person or $100 per couple.

While community enrichment is an exciting aspect of what the Continuing Professional and Education department has to offer, services go far beyond just that. 

“We do a lot more than just the community enrichment programming,” Woodham said. “We also have a wide variety of online professional development and personal development courses that you can take.”

 In affiliation with the University System of Georgia, Georgia College is also a Georgia Film Academy partner. The partnership allows people to go through a certificate program with hopes of opening doors into the film industry in Georgia without a college degree.

Woodham said one great aspect of the online professional development and professional certificate programs offered is that they allow participants to move at their own pace online. The department is also preparing to launch a partnership with an online real estate education company next month that will allow students to study for and take their real estate license through Georgia College Continuing Education.

The department also offers conference services, food safety courses for members of the restaurant industry and much more. And during the first week of April, the popular Kids’ U Spring Break will return.  

“We have a lot of stuff in the pipeline and things that are sort of self-paced online educational programming that will open doors for people without having to have the college degree or reskill or upskill because life changes and suddenly what you thought you wanted to do isn’t what you wanted to do…,” Woodham said. “We offer a lot of resources like that too, so I hope people look to us for assistance in that area as well.

For more information including event dates and pricing, visit www.gcsu.edu/cpe, call 478-445-5277 or email continuingingeducation@gcsu.edu.