Indiana University Northwest’s Center for Urban and Regional Excellence courses for July, August 2026

Free and low-cost community courses in business, finance, gardening, health, technology and more

Indiana University Northwest’s Center for Urban and Regional Excellence (CURE) offers a variety of non-credit courses and educational programs to help 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 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 courses here

Senior Planet: Is that AI?

12:30-1:45 p.m., Friday, July 10
In-person at the Duneland Family YMCA, Chesterton
Registration deadline: July 8
Free and open to adults age 60+

With the advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, AI programs can now create text, images and much more. At first sight, it may be hard to tell if what you see was created or altered by AI. In this session, we’ll teach you tips and tools to help you determine if AI generated an image or piece of writing. We’ll also discuss what tech companies like Google are doing to create systems to detect the use of AI.

Community Garden: Plant Propagation from Stem Cuttings, Layering and Divisions

1-2 p.m., Monday, July 13
Zoom meeting
Registration deadline: July 12
Free and open to adults of all ages

Join Dolly Foster, Purdue Extension Horticulture Program Assistant, to learn about one of the best garden practices you can do – propagating plants. Make more plants for free! What’s not to love? Propagating at home can be tricky. This program will cover the procedures and pitfalls of making your own plants.

Register online or call 219-980-6978.

Senior Planet: Passwords, Passkeys and More

2-3:15 p.m., Tuesday, July 14
In-person at the Crown Point Community Library
Registration deadline: July 12
Free and open to adults age 60+

OR

1-2:15 p.m., Friday, July 17
In-person at the Banta Center, Valparaiso
Registration deadline: July 15
Free and open to adults age 60+

Protecting your online accounts starts with strong password practices. In this lecture, we’ll review password basics before exploring options such as single sign-on, passkeys, multi-factor authentication and password managers. Learn why these password alternatives are safe ways to simplify your digital life and keep your personal information secure.

Senior Planet: Tech Basics for Caregiving

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Monday, July 20
In-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: July 16
Free and open to adults age 60+

Caregiving is challenging in different ways for both the caregivers and the recipients of care. Thankfully, there are a variety of tech tools that can make caregiving easier for both and allow people to do more on their own. In this lecture, we’ll explore ways to integrate technology into your daily routine: from scheduling reminders with your phone or home assistant to accessing self-care resources and making the most of telehealth appointments. We’ll also explore options for ordering and receiving essential items like groceries and prescription drugs from the comfort of your home.

Senior U: Budgeting to Get What You Want!

1-2:30 p.m., Tuesdays, July 21 through August 4
Zoom meetings
Registration deadline: July 19
Free and open to adults age 55+

Take charge of your money with confidence! Led by Rebecca Kendall, this 3-part series is designed to help you understand your spending, set priorities and make your dollars work toward what truly matters. Participants will learn how to build a simple and effective budget, understand needs versus wants and navigate common spending challenges. We will also discuss tips for saving money and for avoiding financial scams.

Senior Planet: AI & Disinformation

1-2:15 p.m., Thursday, July 23
In-person at the Maria Reiner Center, Hobart
Registration deadline: July 21
Free and open to adults age 60+

Disinformation refers to false information created to mislead people and it’s nothing new. But today’s AI-powered tools and social media have made it easier and faster to create and spread disinformation. In this lecture, we’ll explore how AI is used to create convincing deepfakes and clone voices, making it challenging to distinguish between real and fake content. We’ll also review best practices for evaluating information and explore tech tools that can help identify content created with AI.

Senior Planet: Cloud Storage

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Friday, July 31
In-person at the Merrillville Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: July 29
Free and open to adults age 60+

OR

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Thursday, August 27
In-person at the St. John Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: August 25
Free and open to adults age 60+

In this lecture, you’ll learn the basics of cloud storage – a technology that lets you store documents, images and other media files remotely while giving you greater accessibility, reliability and protection for your important data. We’ll discuss what it is, why it’s the future of data storage and demonstrate a few of the most popular services currently available to consumers.

Senior Planet: Understanding Fraud & Scams

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

OR

10:45 a.m. to 12 p.m., Tuesday, August 11
In-person at Trinity Church of Christ, Gary
Registration deadline: August 6
Free and open to adults age 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 U: Business Building: Benefits of AI

2-4 p.m., Fridays, August 7 and 14
In-person at IU Northwest
Registration deadline: August 5
Free and open to adults ages 55+

This two-part series is designed to introduce older adult entrepreneurs to the practical, everyday advantages of using artificial intelligence (AI) to work smarter and grow their businesses. Led by Tavetta Patterson, these sessions will cut through the hype and jargon to show how AI can streamline repetitive tasks, strengthen branding and marketing, support team productivity and help businesses stay ahead in a changing digital landscape. Participants will explore use cases, discover where AI can make the biggest impact and gain access to four proven AI platforms for turning ideas into action.

Senior Planet: Facebook

2-3:15 p.m., Tuesday, August 11In-person at the Crown Point Community Library
Registration deadline: August 9
Free and open to adults age 60+

Curious about Facebook but concerned about privacy? Interested in learning how to set up a profile or a page? Want to learn more about Facebook Live? This lecture offers an overview of Facebook’s evolution, its most popular features and tips for getting in on the action. It will also cover privacy settings as well as the role of advertising on Facebook.

Senior Planet: How to Choose a New Computer

1-2:15 p.m., Wednesday, August 12
In-person at the Munster Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: August 10
Free and open to adults age 60+

Looking for a new computer? This lecture introduces questions to ask yourself when buying a new computer and discusses some differences between desktops, laptops, Chromebooks and more. We’ll also cover technical specifications, popular operating systems and costs. Finally we’ll go over considerations for deciding whether to buy a new or refurbished device and tips for maintaining your device.

Senior Planet: Intro to Chatting with AI

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

Curious about using ChatGPT or 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.

Community Garden: Invasive Species: From Awareness to Action in Your Landscape

12-1 p.m., Tuesday, August 18
Zoom meeting
Registration deadline: August 17
Free and open to adults of all ages

Join Jean Bernius, Co-Chair of the Lake County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA), for a deeper exploration of invasive species and their impact on urban and suburban environments. Building on the introductory session presented by AJ Popovic in June, this presentation will focus on why invasive species are problematic in urban and suburban gardens and landscaping. We will cover the human and pet risks associated with invasives, how invasives hide/crowd out native and other plants and suggestions for alternative plantings that promote beauty, habitat and pose less risk to our pets, our trees and ourselves. Register online or call 219-980-6978.

Senior Planet: Digital Tools for Brain Health

10-11:15 a.m., Thursday, August 20
In-person at the Hammond Senior Center at Pulaski Park
Registration deadline: August 18
Free and open to adults age 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: Technology for Aging in Place

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Friday, August 28
In-person at the Merrillville Branch of the Lake County Public Library
Registration deadline: August 26
Free and open to adults age 60+

In this lecture, you’ll learn how home assistants, smart appliances and wearables can save you time and money, help you manage health conditions and even give you greater peace of mind. We’ll also discuss best practices for maintaining your privacy and security when using this technology.

Reading Skills Program

Schedule and cost vary
Programs for all grade levels

Help your child become a confident, enthusiastic reader with the Raising Skilled Readers Tutoring Program from the Institute of Reading Development and endorsed by CURE. The program provides research‑based, school‑aligned instruction for students from Pre‑K to 12th grade through live, online tutoring sessions. 

Reading Programs: Enroll

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. 

Fundamental Courses: Enroll

Adult Education: Career Training Programs

24/7 Access; Start at any time
Cost varies; 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. 

Career Training Programs: Enroll

Adult Education: Comprehensive Career Tracks

24/7 Access; Start dates vary
Cost varies; 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.

Comprehensive Career Tracks: Enroll

All Indiana University events/programs, groups, activities, educational, cultural, and historical observances are open to all members of the Indiana University community.

IU 2030: Service to our State and Beyond

IU Northwest will improve the lives of the people and economic vitality of Northwest Indiana and beyond by fostering and strengthening collaborative relationships that promote, build and sustain the well-being of the campus and our communities.

About IU Northwest

One of nine campuses of Indiana University, IU Northwest is located in metropolitan Northwest Indiana, approximately 30 miles southeast of Chicago and 10 miles from the Indiana Dunes National Park. The campus has a student population of approximately 3,000 degree-seeking students and more than 30,000 alumni, most of whom remain in the Northwest Indiana region, and has been recognized by the Department of Education as a minority and Hispanic serving institution. The campus offers Associate, Baccalaureate, and Master’s degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the School of Business and Economics, the School of the Arts, and the School of Education. The campus is also home to IU School of Medicine-Northwest-Gary, the region’s only four-year medical doctorate program. As a student-centered campus, IU Northwest is committed to academic excellence characterized by a love of ideas and achievement in learning, discovery, creativity, research and community engagement. Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring.