What is Senior College?

Designed to encourage community members to participate in academic learning opportunities beyond a single field of study, ATCC established the series in 2006 in response to community interest in informative and challenging college learning without the pressures of tests, grades or degrees. The Distinguished Lecture Series brings noted speakers and college faculty from across the state and beyond to share their expertise on a range of topics of thought.  Individual sessions delve into Community, International Affairs, History, Humanities & the Arts, Literature, Nature & Ecology, Science, Travel, Personal Interest and context relevant to our world today.

Senior College: The Perfect Gift

What do you get for the person who has everything? Give the gift of lifelong learning with a Senior College gift membership! Open to all ages.

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  • Senior College Winter Program Explores the Future of Food

    Oct 24, 2023 by Senior College   Updated: 10/24/23

    The Future of Food: The Rapidly Evolving Field of Cellular Agriculture
    January 16, 18, 23, and 25, 3:15-5:00 pm

    The Winter Program will tackle the provocative topic of cellular agriculture in a series on the ‘Future of Food’.  In other words, the new ways we can use scientific techniques to create foods that traditionally come from animals and the opportunities and challenges this presents for agriculture. 

    Examples of foods include dairy, eggs or meat. In this series you will explore the problems with our current food systems, the advancements in alternative ways of creating food using cellular agriculture and the science of some of those techniques and societal impacts. You are encouraged to consider the issues with foods that traditionally come from animals and draw your own conclusions as to the extent to which alternative proteins would be an impactful way to mitigate each of these.  Will the world embrace the rapidly evolving field of Cellular Agriculture?

    The Winter Season course dates are Tuesdays & Thursdays, January 16, 18, 23, 25.  All sessions are held from 3:15 pm to 5:00 pm, live via ZOOM. Watch together in ATCC Auditorium 743, or via Zoom from the comfort of your home.

    The registration fee is $60. Winter Season requires a minimum of 30 people registered by Friday, December 31, 2023. For more information or to register, please contact the Customized Training Center at 762-4510 or 888-234-1313 or register using the link below:

    Register for Senior College >> 

    New Harvest Fellow and University of Vermont PhD researcher, Irfan Tahir will present this four-session program. Irfan is a Mechanical Engineer, holding a Master’s degree from the University of Minnesota and current Ph.D. candidate and New Harvest fellow at the Biomaterials lab at the University of Vermont. Previously, he studied at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey for his Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering.  Apart from all things science, Irfan loves finding new ways to stay fit, trying out new recipes, and mentoring students aspiring to study in internationally renowned universities for free.

About Senior College

Distinguished Lecture Series

Three “seasons” of programming include fall and spring lecture series and a winter short course.  All lectures are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-5:00 p.m. - typically in the auditorium of the ATCC Information and Technology Center. 

Admission is by Season membership only.  Season membership registrations may be purchased on-line or by phone.  For more information or to register, please contact the Customized Training Center at 320-762-4510 or 888-234-1313 or register online.

The program has hosted some of Minnesota’s best educators. From the flagship University of Minnesota, the program has featured cutting edge research and initiatives underway to develop solutions that affect our lives, including Dr. Michael Osterholm on infectious disease and Mark Seeley on climate change in our own back yard. Professors also come from University of Minnesota Morris, University of Minnesota Duluth, College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, St. Thomas University, St. Olaf College, Carleton College, Hamline University, Macalester College, Augsburg College, and Alexandria Technical and Community College. It is an exhilarating experience to be in the presence of public intellectuals who demonstrate a care for and attention to lifelong learning.

Additional Resources:

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Senior College Winter Season Flyer Download Senior College Winter Season Flyer Document pdf

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Contact Senior College

Customized Training Center: 320-762-4510

Toll Free: 888-234-1313

Email Senior College seniorcollege@alextech.edu