Center for Urban and Regional Excellence courses for November, December 2025

Range of free and low-cost courses includes finance, health, technology, travel and more

Indiana University Northwest’s Center for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE) offers a variety of non-credit courses and educational programs that aim to assist people of all ages gain skills and enrich their lives as we face today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities.

CURE offers a variety of learning opportunities for all ages through its Community Garden, Senior University/Senior Planet, Reading Skills and Adult Education programs. CURE is now enrolling for the following offerings:

Senior University/Planet and Adult Education Courses

For Senior University/Senior Planet and Adult Education Courses, register online at the link below or call 219-980-6907 unless otherwise noted.

Register for classes here

Senior University: Gathering Generations: Collecting a Family Health History

12-1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5
In-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: Nov. 4
Free and open to adults ages 55+

OR

1-2 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18
In-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: Nov. 16
Free and open to adults ages 55+

OR

12-1 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3
In-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: Dec. 2
Free and open to adults ages 55+

Family health history is a powerful tool in preventing and managing chronic conditions. Led by students from the School of Nursing, this session will explore how sharing stories and health experiences can help families build a legacy of wellness and awareness. Participants will learn how to start conversations about family health history and how to document information that can help future generations understand their risks and make informed health decisions.

Participants will receive a conversation guide with sample questions, a simple health history form (printable or fillable) and tips for making the discussion warm and respectful.

Senior Planet: Protecting Your Personal Information Online

1-2:15 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7
In-person at the Banta Center, Valparaiso
Registration deadline: Nov. 5
Free and open to adults ages 60+

This lecture will cover the ins and outs of how to protect your personal information online. We’ll cover tips for staying safe in cyberspace, such as safe browsing, how to recognize online scams and when it’s OK – or not – to share your personal information online.

Senior Planet: Managing Privacy Settings on Your Android Smartphone

2- 3:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10
In-person at the Crown Point Community Library
Registration deadline: Nov. 6
Free and open to adults ages 60+

With so much to explore online, it’s important to keep in mind some basic precautions that everyone can take to safeguard the privacy of their online activities. In this workshop, we’ll review Android basics and then learn to manage privacy settings in the Chrome browser app and on your Android smartphone. We’ll explore Chrome’s Incognito mode and look at how to manage app permissions and tracking on your Android. Please note that this workshop focuses on specific privacy features and will not cover every smartphone question.

Prerequisite: Participants should have an Android smartphone.

Adult Ed/Senior U: The Empowered Caregiver: Exploring Care and Support Services

12- 1:15 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12
Concurrent: Zoom and in-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: Nov. 10
Free and open to adults of all ages

Join Linda Curley, Purdue Extension Educator and Alzheimer’s Association Community Educator, for the fifth presentation in the Empowered Caregiver education series. This series teaches caregivers how to navigate the responsibilities of caring for someone living with dementia. This session will examine how best to prepare for future care decisions and changes, including respite care, residential care and end-of-life care.

Register online (link above) or call 219-980-6978.

Senior Planet: Intro to Booking Vacation Stays Online

1-2:15 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13
In-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: Nov. 10
Free and open to adults ages 60+

Do you love to travel but miss the comforts of home when you’re away? Thanks to a variety of websites and apps, you can find your perfect home away from home almost anywhere in the world! This lecture introduces popular vacation rental sites, their common features and how to find great deals. Additionally, you’ll learn how to choose your vacation rental wisely and stay safe while traveling. Need to travel on a budget? We’ll also discuss alternatives to rentals, such as online platforms for home exchanges and housesitting!

Senior Planet: Online RX Drug Resources

12:30- 1:45 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14
In-person at the Duneland Family YMCA
Registration deadline: Nov. 11
Free and open to adults ages 60+

This lecture offers an overview of useful online prescription drug resources. Attendees will learn about MedlinePlus, a reputable website that provides information about the uses and side effects of prescription medications, as well as other health topics. We will also discuss other helpful tools for understanding medication costs, comparing pharmacy prices and finding discounts and coupons, including GoodRX, FamilyWize and SingleCare.

Senior Planet: Tech Tips for Disaster Preparedness

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19
In-person at the Whiting City Hall
Registration deadline: Nov. 16
Free and open to adults ages 60+

Did you know that technology is an essential part of being prepared for emergencies and natural disasters? In this session, we’ll explain how technology can help you prepare. We’ll discuss and demonstrate useful features of the FEMA and Red Cross apps, including setting alerts. Additionally, we’ll review built-in smartphone features that can come in handy in the event of an emergency and explore how to keep phones and essential devices charged during a prolonged power outage. Finally, we’ll discuss how you can use social media to get emergency and other important information from local and national authorities.

Senior Planet: Navigating Medicare Resources Online

10-11:15 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 20
In-person at Hammond Senior Center at Pulaski Park
Registration deadline: Nov. 17
Free and open to adults ages 60+

Medicare is a complex topic, but there are online resources to help! In this lecture, we’ll discuss ways to find information about Medicare online. We’ll explore medicare.gov and an example private insurance website to learn about the tools and resources they offer. You’ll learn how to navigate these websites confidently to find what you need, including using the search bar and Chat features. We’ll also introduce the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, which is a great resource for getting trusted 1:1 guidance on Medicare. Note: this lecture focuses on how to find reliable information on Medicare and does not provide advice on Medicare enrollment or plans.

Senior Planet: How to Choose a New Computer

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Friday, Nov. 21
In-person at the Merrillville Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: Nov. 18
Free and open to adults ages 60+

Looking for a new computer? This lecture addresses some of the most common questions surrounding how to choose a new computer: Where to start? What’s a reliable brand? How much should you budget? What technical specifications? We will also cover operating systems and compare alternatives to the traditional computer, such as tablets and Chromebooks.

Senior Planet: Emojis, GIFs and More!

1-2:15 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5
In-person at the Banta Center, Valparaiso
Registration deadline: Dec. 2
Free and open to adults ages 60+

OR

12:30-1:45 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12
In-person at the Duneland Family YMCA
Registration deadline: Dec. 9
Free and open to adults ages 60+

In this lecture, we’ll review what some of the most common emojis mean, where to find them on your smartphone keyboard and when to use them. We’ll also cover how to create an avatar using Bitmoji and Memoji. GIFs and memes are additional ways to add some color to your communications, so we’ll demonstrate where to find and create those as well!

Senior Planet: Intro to Chatting with AI

1-2:15 p.m., Monday, Dec. 8
In-person at the Munster Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: Dec. 4
Free and open to adults ages 60+

Curious about using ChatGPT or Google Gemini but not sure where to start? In this lecture, we’ll explore tips for using generative AI chat programs so you can make them work for you. You’ll learn how to write questions or prompts, that are specific and effective at getting helpful responses. Whether you plan to use them at work, for personal projects or just for fun, we’ll show you how this tech can help you with all sorts of tasks. We’ll also cover best practices for privacy and security so you can be a confident user.

Senior Planet: Virtual Museum Tours

1-2:15 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9
In-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: Dec. 7
Free and open to adults ages 60+

Tour world-famous museums from the comfort of your home! Did you know many of the world’s leading museums have been making their collections and exhibits available to view virtually? In this lecture, we’ll explore some of these virtual galleries, as well as digital tools that help bring art, architecture and history to life!

Senior Planet: Digital Tools for Brain Health

2-3:15 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15
In-person at the Crown Point Community Library
Registration deadline: Dec. 10
Free and open to adults ages 60+

Stay sharp with technology! In this lecture, we’ll explore digital tools to support habits that can help you stay sharp, including wearable devices, engaging websites and informative podcasts. Discover practical resources to keep your mind active and enhance your cognitive wellbeing in today’s digital world.

Senior Planet: Understanding Fraud & Scams

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 16
In-person at the St. John Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: Dec. 12
Free and open to adults ages 60+

The ability to spot a scam is an essential digital skill. In this lecture, we’ll review some of the most common scams, offer tips for avoiding them and go over what to do if you do get scammed. We’ll look at sample emails, texts and deepfakes to see how AI contributes to the increased spread and complexity of scams. We’ll also provide helpful resources for staying informed about the latest scams.

Senior Planet: Online Shopping

10-11:15 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 18
In-person at Hammond Senior Center at Pulaski Park
Registration deadline: Dec. 15
Free and open to adults ages 60+

Online shopping lets you buy products on the internet from your computer and have them shipped to your home or anywhere! Online stores often have larger inventories and lower prices, so you can quickly find the best deal. This lecture will provide a general introduction to shopping online using the popular website Amazon.com. You’ll learn how to search for products, make comparisons and add items to an online shopping cart.

Reading Skills Programs

Schedule and cost vary
Programs for all grade levels

Offered in partnership with the Institute of Reading Development, programs are specifically designed to give students the skills, motivation and individual support they need at each grade level. Students attend weekly classes that build skills and provide great experiences with terrific books. Between classes, students practice reading and complete fun, interactive lessons that develop core skills and build confidence.

Enroll or learn more

Adult Education: Fundamental Courses

24/7 Access; All classes start new every month
Cost varies; Courses for adults and young adults/teens

Online fundamental courses are informative, fun and convenient. Fundamental courses include instructor-led courses and self-paced tutorials. Instructor-led courses run for six weeks with monthly start dates and feature an instructor-moderated discussion board allowing you to interact with your classmates. Self-paced tutorials are designed for completely independent learning, without instructor moderation and can be started at any time. Complete any course entirely from home, at any time of the day or night. Popular courses include Speed Spanish, Accounting Fundamentals, Introduction to Microsoft Excel and A to Z Grant Writing.

Enroll, learn more or view all fundamental courses

Adult Education: Career Training Programs

24/7 access; start at any time
Costs vary; courses for adults

The online, open-enrollment Career Training Programs are designed to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional-level positions for many in-demand occupations. Our programs are designed by a team of professionals from each respective field, providing you with effective web-based learning programs. Instructors/mentors are actively involved in your online learning experience, responding to any questions or concerns, encouraging and motivating you to succeed.

Enroll, learn more or view all Career Training Programs

Adult Education: Comprehensive Career Tracks

24/7 access; start dates vary
Costs vary; courses for adults

These online Career Track programs offer students an opportunity to hone their skills in a variety of professions — from the arts to healthcare to web development. All programs are available in a self-paced format and offer opportunities for national certification, externship placement and/or career support.

Enroll, learn more or view all Comprehensive Career Tracks