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Academic Outreach: It's not just for seniors

By Dave Evans
Associate Provost


Not too long ago, Academic Outreach at Coastal Carolina University was synonymous with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). However, our academic outreach programs have recently expanded to include the newly rejuvenated Continuing Education section and supervision of both the Summer Arts Academies and Summer Youth Mini-camps. Continuing Education is planning for a variety of noncredit courses next fall for those who don’t pass muster to join OLLI (i.e., those younger than 50).

OLLI continues to grow strong providing noncredit activities for those 50 years and older. The courses range from digital photography to yoga to Spanish, trips and even Middle Eastern Cooking! These activities are scheduled at the following off-campus sites: the Foundation Center in Conway, the Myrtle Beach Education Center at 79th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach, and/or the Waccamaw Higher Education Center in Litchfield.

The Summer Arts Academies, which Coastal Carolina University has organized in conjunction with the Horry County School District for several years now for the area's artistically gifted and talented, have run this year under our supervision with camps being presented in the visual, performing and musical arts. All of these are residential programs with students living in University housing. They run anywhere from 7 to 12 days. This summer we will educate 235 middle/high school students.

This year’s Youth Summer Mini-Camps entertained more than 250 students, ranging in age from 6 to 12. Their activities can be anything from “The Amazing Human Body” to “The Fantastic Flower Child,” photography to musical theater, fingerprinting to pirates. One of the most popular camp experiences that even had a waiting list was "Sugary Chef,: which brought in 58 students eager to make healthy smoothies, dessert sushi, fruit kabobs and more.

If you have any activity you think would be appropriate to run under the auspices of Academic Outreach, especially in the Continuing Education realm, please contact Kelli Barker (kbarker@coastal.edu or 843-349-4003) or me, Dave Evans (devans@coastal.edu or 843-349-2209).

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