Courses

Lifelong Learning Institute Membership

SIUE offers programs designed for a lifetime of learning and personal growth. Expert presenters provide insight on a range of topics covering history, culture, art, current events, health and nutrition. Membership for the semester is $45 per person, per semester with the option to buy campus parking.

July 21, 2025 to December 17, 2025, Morris University Center

Catching Up with the Lifelong Learners

Lifelong Learning Members are encouraged to attend this first session. Not only will we take some time to catch up with one another, welcome new members, and discuss Lifelong Learning Institute updates for the semester, but we will also complete administrative tasks and paperwork so you can make the most of your membership.

Wednesday, August 27, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Living History: "It was a Crime to be German"

Barb Kay will present about the anti German hysteria in this area during World War I. She portrays her great grandmother, and she uses a power point presentation with pictures, editorial cartoons etc. German Americans were tarred and feathered, had the homes destroyed, and one was even lynched.

Wednesday, August 27, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Democracy and Its Discontents: Intellectual Freedom and the Last Library

The people of the United States are grappling with a profound tension around the context for discovery and access to information and the base "instinct" for domination by regressive political interests seeking to separate libraries from their most critical role

Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Morris University Center, Oak/Redbud Room

The Nature of Pleasure: Ethics, Science, and the Ancient Greeks

Pleasure is a familiar and normal part of everyday life, and has three important features: (1) perceptual (felt through one or more of the five senses), (2) evaluative (it feels good, not neutral or bad), and (3) motivational (we are naturally motivated to seek pleasure).

Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Morris University Center, Oak/Redbud Room

Prisons in western society - historical and modern use

This presentation will discuss the historical development of prison in western society. From their beginnings in the late 1700s through modern issues in prisons today.

Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Abraham Lincoln and the Puzzle of the Emancipation Proclamation

For 163 years, the Emancipation Proclamation has been both condemned and praised. Some historians say the Emancipation Proclamation didn't free a single person while other historians argue that the Proclamation forever changed America.

Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Willoughby Farms Food Waste Solutions

Discover clever methods to save money and help the environment with simple and effective strategies to reduce food waste. For the food waste you can't avoid, explore various efficient composting techniques.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Human Presence in Outer Space

Jack Glassman, Ph.D., will discuss our presence in outer space.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

The Future of Media, Radio and WSIE 88.7 The Sound

General Manager for WSIE 88.7 The Sound Jason Church will discuss the changes that are occurring within the media landscape and how those changes are impacting traditional media outlets like radio, television and print.

Wednesday, October 1, 2025, International Room, Morris University Center

Abolitionism and the Underground Railroad in Southwestern Illinois

Mr. Dunphy will speak on abolitionists such as Elijah Lovejoy, the newspaper editor murdered in Alton in 1837 for his condemnations of slavery.

Wednesday, October 1, 2025, International Room, Morris University Center

From Founder to Franchise: My Journey with Chick-fil-A

The presenter shares a personal and inspiring account of building a Chick-fil-A franchise from the ground up. The presentation explores the challenges, lessons, and pivotal moments that shaped their entrepreneurial path, from initial startup struggles to establishing a successful, community-centered business.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

The Honey Bee, You, and Me

In this speaker session, we explore the important role honey bees play in our environment and how they affect our lives. Gain insight into bee behavior, the challenges they face, and ways we can help protect them.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

"Faces Not Forgotten" project

Christine shares the powerful story behind her "Faces Not Forgotten" project, a heartfelt initiative honoring the lives of children lost to gun violence in the U.S. Through hand-painted portraits gifted to grieving families, she aims to offer comfort while preserving each child's memory with dignity and love.

Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Empowering the Future: Tackling the Rising Cost of College

Representative Stuart will discuss the recent measures aimed at making a college education more affordable and accessible.

Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Beyond the Grave

Explore how factors like urban growth, technology, and health care have changed how death shows up in our lives-and how these changes show up in unexpected ways.

Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

An Introduction to the Arabic Language

This session will introduce participants to written Arabic. It's not as difficult and complicated as many assume. You'll discover that Arabic is logical and, compared to English, relatively simple. We'll cover the basics: history, script, basic word formation, and calligraphy. We'll top it off by writing our names in Arabic script.

Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Estate Planning with Elder Law - What to Plan For

The topic will focus on the key aspects of why Estate Planning should include Elder Law and the unique elements to focus on including necessary forms, legal aspects, and appropriate documents.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Hold the salt - Winter Pollution Solutions

Snow and ice removal on roads, sidewalks, parking lots, and driveways can make getting around a lot easier during winter. Poorly maintained icy surfaces can cause debilitating falls and car accidents, and even create liability issues.

Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Mid-Mod Mayor: How Raymond Tucker Shaped St. Louis

Raymond R. Tucker epitomized mayoral leadership during the Midcentury Modern era. He was a professional, not a politician. He was an engineer, not a deal-maker. He was the right man at the right time. As mayor, he dragged St. Louis (sometimes kicking and screaming) into the twentieth century.

Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Native Americans and Land Acknowledgement at SIUE

Like many public-facing institutions, SIUE has formulated a Land Acknowledgement Statement "to recognize and honor the original inhabitants" of our region - Native Americans (see https://www.siue.edu/diversity/guiding-frameworks/land-acknowledgement-statement.shtml).

Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Morris University Mississippi Illinois Room

Food of Holidays Past

Using menus from the Missouri Historical Society Collections, this presentation explores the food traditions of holidays past. From hotels and clubs to cafés and department stores, we'll look at what Christmas and New Year's Eve tasted like in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Morris University Center - Legacy Room

Generational Politics: Understanding Gen Z

Generations are frequently talked about but poorly understood. Join one of the authors of The Political Voices of Generation Z to explore how this generation is distinct from earlier generations in some ways and similar in others.

Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Morris University Center - Legacy Room