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Service adds years to your life, and life to your years.
Fr. Louis J Putz, C.S.C - Founder
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Where third agers come together
Our mission is to improve the quality and dignity of senior adult life through continuing intellectual challenge, spiritual reflection, and social interaction.
Forever Learning is the largest senior education non-profit in the South Bend area. We provide a unique opportunity for 3rd agers to be in community with one another, continue learning, and stay physically and socially active. Our teachers share their time and knowledge simply for the joy of giving back and sharing with like minded learners. Forever Learning provides more than just recreation. We provide purpose and a supportive community to help seniors age with grace and dignity.
We were founded in 1974 by Fr. Louis J Putz, CSC, a former Notre Dame professor. Our first semester with 115 students and 20 different classes, today our program offers over 300 classes per year taught by hundreds of volunteer teachers, serving thousands of active students. Our courses don't have homework or tests, they're purely for the joy of learning and growing.
Forever Learning hosts two 10-week semesters each year in Spring and Fall, and two 6-week Summer and Winter sessions. We also host a variety of educational and social events and travel opportunities. Our main campus houses 6 class rooms, 2 lecture halls, a gymnasium, a lounge, a kitchen, and our offices. Additionally we have a variety of satellite locations thanks to our many community partners.
Forever Learning is a welcoming community for people over the age of 50 of any race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, educational background, gender, or orientation.
Location: 54191 Ironwood Road, South Bend, Indiana 46635
Phone: (574) 282-1901
Office Hours During Semester - 8 am - 3:30 pm Monday - Friday
Office Hours Out-of-Semester - 9 am - 1:00 pm Monday - Thursday
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What Our Students Are Saying
"The people that I meet become friends, and then family, and then we all learn together" - James Kane, Student
"It's too good an experience not to try" - "Margaret Whitmer, Teacher and Student
"It fills what work used to fill. Work gave us a reason to do things, a social life, and intellectual stimulation. All of those things are here and better, because we get to choose what we do" - Steven Gable, Teacher and Student
"The participants are intelligent, motivated, and enthusiastic" - James Field, Student
"It keeps me on my toes. It makes me study, and reach, and dig deeper into a subject... into myself." - Barbara Jung, Teacher
"Forever Learning fulfills such a critical role in the lives of seniors, because there's lots of research that shows loneliness and isolation is such a tremendous problem" - William Gilroy, Teacher and Student
"Taking FLI classes each semester has become a very significant and enjoyable activity during my retirement and I look forward to each semester. It is not only the ability to expand my knowledge in an area of interest, but it's the social interaction with the other students and with the instructors. I've made new friends and over the years have gotten to know many who share similar interests." - Dennis Wasikowski, Student
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