A REPORT ON THE
SADDLEBACK EMERITUS PROGRAM.
We have done research on this issue, and here is a report on our findings.
We hope it will answer some of your questions and ease some of your concerns.
It is our intent to bring you important up-dates in the future and look forward
to hearing back from you through ‘Letters to the Editor”.
- LWV does not receive any funds from Saddleback or the State.
- The State pays for instructors, not the facility.
- LWV receives a free instructor and the convenience of on-site classes.
- Saddleback gets the use of GRF facilities.
- Saddleback supplies a great deal of equipment to the various classes.
- Emeritus is a State-funded program administered by Saddleback.
- For over three decades, Saddleback College Emeritus Program has existed in LWV.
- Emeritus classes are taught at 25 off-campus sites.
- Saddleback Emeritus Program has over 10,000 students - one of the largest in the State.
- State funds used to fund Emeritus are separate from other educational funds.
- The Emeritus Program must be open to the public.
LWV residents in turn receive up to 100 Educational Classes each semester at
no cost - (some classes charge a unit and/or material fee) and we do not have
to leave the Village.
Many say an additional value is the interaction with non-residents who bring a
creative vitality, philosophical differences, ideas and social interchange.
LWV residents account for 82-85% of the enrolled students
- Presently there are 6,007 total student enrollments in classes offered within LWV.
- Total number of LWV residents enrolled in Spring 09 (5,776) – Fall 09 (4,942).
- Total number of non-resident students in Spring 09 (1112) – Fall 09 (1065).
Due to limited state funding, there are changes taking place in 2010 for
registration.
Catalogues will no longer be mailed and on-line registration is preferred.
Limited number of catalogs will still be available at the Community Center and
CH 1, 3, 4, 5. Telephone registration (following the mailing of Registration,
day and time forms) is still an option.
Regarding Non-resident use of facilities when not in class: Non-resident
class members are required to leave the facility 15 minutes after their class
dismisses. Staff checks resident IDs wherever possible to discourage
non-residents from unauthorized use of GRF facilities. At this time, our gate
system does not offer another option.
Classes are offered for 16 weeks in the spring/fall and 8 weeks in the
summer.
All instructors are highly qualified, approved by the South Orange County
Community College District (SOCCCD) Board of Directors, and evaluated every two
years.
Laguna Woods Village Classes are offered in all disciplines
- Art: Sketching, Watercolor, Pastels, Oil Painting, Chinese Brush, Portrait, Life Drawing and Mixed Media
- Kinesiology: Aerobic Exercise, Phys. Fitness/Circuit, Chair Exercise, Back Exercise, Pilates, Yoga, Pool Exercise
- Health – Weight Control, Weight Maintenance, Health Issues
- Jewelry - 7 classes - Lapidary, Intarsia, Stained Glass
- Fashion: Beg. Inter. Adv. Clothing Construction, Wearable Art, Quilting, Knitting & Crocheting
- Ceramics – Slip casting – Sculpture
- Improving Investments
- Art History
- Russian History
- Bible as Literature
- Film as Literature
- Non Fiction Writing
- Photography – 5 classes
- Music – 6 classes
- Introduction to Opera
- Introduction to Philosophy
- Spanish
Check the Emeritus website for more information: www.saddleback.edu/emeritus
Because the entire program is dependent on state funding, if the state
reduces the funds to support this program, we could see a reduction in the
number of classes offered.
To do away with this program would limit if not terminate all classes. The
suggestion that residents would volunteer to teach is not plausible. Hiring
staff or teachers would cause extremely high tuition and/or added assessments.
The question of the parking fees will be addressed as more information is
available.
The program is not in jeopardy at this time.
Pat Wilkinson