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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Western ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ University is offering more than 60 courses, trips, and special programs and events during its 2017 fall session.

These short-term, noncredit activities are fee based and designed for passionate learners age 50 and over. Registration is open for both institute members and nonmembers.

The Osher Institute at WMU was developed to provide intellectual and cultural learning experiences for mature adults from diverse backgrounds in an informal and stimulating environment. Programming is developed by institute members with the support of WMU's Extended University Programs staff.

Scheduled courses

The fall courses began in early September and will conclude at the end of November. They run for one or more weeks and take place on varying dates at WMU and other sites in the local community. There are no tests or papers to write. Among the 49 courses being offered are:

• 5,000 Years of Recording Humankind Stories
• ABC's of Investing
• Distracted Driving Epidemic
• Ordinary Men—Extraordinary Deeds: Local Men in a World War
• Physics of the Impossible: The Quantum Enigma
• The Antebellum Period and the Rise of the Northern Rebellion

Scheduled trips

The Osher Institute's three fall trips are all one-day excursions, and registration for one—ArtPrize 2017 on Sept. 25—has closed. The dates, destinations and titles for the remaining trips are:

• Thursday, Oct. 12—Wine and Chocolate: Oh My, a trek to the byways of southwest ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ for a wine and chocolate tour; register by Tuesday, Sept. 12.
• Thursday, Dec. 14—Holiday Musical Joy, a magical evening with the Grand Rapids Symphony as it performs its annual holiday concert; register by Nov. 14.

Lecture series

The Osher Institute's lecture series, the Eclectic Hour, is offering six programs on a wide range of topics. The programs are free and open to the public and will be held from 11 a.m. to noon every other Friday in the Fountains at Bronson Place. Registrations will be accepted at the door, but space is limited so preregistration is recommended. The lectures scheduled are:

• Sept. 8—"Suicide in the United States: What We Know"
• Sept. 22—"Structured Inequality in Kalamazoo: A Look at How It Matters"
• Oct. 6—"Rocks and Minerals Are a Valuable Economic Resource in ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§"
• Oct. 20—"Childhood Obesity: A Generation at Risk"
• Nov. 3—"Life Participation Approach to Aphasia"
• Nov. 17—"School Reform Isn't Complicated, It's Complex"

For full details about offerings and ways to register, visit wmich.edu/olli/courses or call (269) 387-4200.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.