Coastal Senior College is looking to add students, teachers, volunteers, and board members to its already successful program. The college, which conducts courses for seniors at various locations in Knox and Lincoln counties, has over 300 members, 50 years and older.

Since its inception in 2001 and based at the University of Maine in Thomaston, the program has expanded within the two counties. Courses are now taught in libraries, senior residences, and schoolrooms from Boothbay to Camden.

“About two thirds of our classes are now in Lincoln County,” said board president Kay Liss.

She said the program has allowed her to take courses in music and art history that she did not have the opportunity to take in college.

David Bailey of Newcastle said that he has taken great value from the courses. He was instrumental in moving course sites to several locations in Lincoln County.

“The program grew exponentially,” he said. “I have learned things that I never would have learned in school.”

Terry Marsh of Bremen, a teaching assistant at the college, said that in addition to the academic programming, the classes are a good way of meeting seniors with similar interests.

“It is a way of socializing without any demands,” said Marsh, a Yale graduate and professional paper conservator.

Paul Kando, a former chemical engineer who has taught several courses on alternative energy, said that the courses offer teachers total academic freedom.

“No one is telling you what to teach or how to teach it,” Kando said.

He believes that the seminar-style classes bring out a form of democratic exchange not found at many college campuses. The senior students often have knowledge that can challenge the teacher, he said.

Jack Farlow, a retired federally employed scientist, is now teaching a beginning course in oceanography. 

“There is no homework. There are no grades. It is great. It maintains the joy of learning,” said Farlow. The teachers are not paid. The cost to the student is membership at $25/year and tuition is $30 per course.

Chris Frost has been on the board of Coastal Senior College for three years and has both taught and taken classes. A former Head of School at Lincoln Academy, Frost co-chairs the speakers committee for the college. His committee schedules talks open to the public. 

He has taken a course from architect Arnie Aho of Boothbay.

“It has become a big part of my life,” said Frost.

Liss, a former teacher of literature at the Round Top Center for the Arts in Damariscotta, came to the senior college when the center closed. Her term as board president will end in June and she wants to leave a strong board of directors to maintain the growing program.

“We need volunteers and instructors from a variety of areas,” Liss said.

For more information, visit the CSC website at coastalseniorcollege.org. Call URock at 800-286-1594