School in Session for People of All Ages
Published Apr 16, 2006
James K. Broomall says more than 2,100 people are enrolled in courses at the University of Delaware Academy of Lifelong Learning.
Retirement for some means no alarm clock, plenty of nap time and maybe a little fishing or golf.
For many in New Castle County and the surrounding areas, retirement is also an opportunity for more education. Judging by the increasing enrollment at the University of Delaware Academy of Lifelong Learning, education ranks high as an active pursuit for retirees and other seniors.
“It was established in 1980 with around 200 members enrolled in 31 courses,” says James K. Broomall, the university’s assistant provost for professional and continuing studies. “Today it serves over 2,100 members enrolled in 150 courses.”
The enthusiasm for the Academy of Lifelong Learning, known as ALL, is indicative of how important education across all age groups is here. From preschool through high school, from college through retirement, strong emphasis is placed on quality lifelong learning.
ALL, which is operates from UD’s Wilmington campus, is open to people 50 or older. “It draws members from the surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey,” Broomall says. “The program is also a factor in retirees making the decision to stay in New Castle, and it draws retirees to the area from other states as well.”
Youth is also being served through schools that are good and showing improvement from year to year.
The county is home to eight charter schools – independently run public schools that operate free of many regulations that govern more traditional schools. Newest among these is Pencader Charter High School, which opened in fall 2006 with an academic emphasis on business and finance.
The school was founded by Dave Jones and Brad Catts, former teachers at Glasgow High School. It occurred to them how few students had a good understanding about the world of business.
“I said to Brad (when both were at Glasgow), ‘There is not a kid in school that knows why Delaware doesn’t have a sales tax or why our corporation laws are so important,’ ” Jones says. “I said, ‘What if we started a charter high school with the electives focused around business and finance courses?’
“After three mind-boggling years of hard work, here we are.”
Pencader opened with approximately 350 students, and Jones says the goal is for enrollment to reach 800 within three years.
The college scene also is vibrant, with seven institutions of higher learning situated here. One example is Barley Mill Plaza Learning Center, which offers an M.B.A. program through Drexel University. Other colleges and universities include Delaware Technical & Community College, Goldey-Beacom College, Wesley College, Widener University School of Law, and Wilmington College.
At the core is the University of Delaware, which ranks among the nation’s top public universities. It has an enrollment of more than 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students – most of them at the main campus in Newark.
“The faculty and staff of the university are a major strength,” says President David P. Roselle. “They are accomplished, caring and supportive of the students. Facilities are another strength, and those include a modern, well-maintained physical plant, excellent computational facilities and a highly ranked library.”
Story by John McBryde
Photo by Antony Boshier
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