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 Spring Series Begins March 16

Jan 27, 2021, 08:00 AM by Senior College
The Spring 2021 Senior College Season begins Tuesday, March 16 and continues Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 29. All lectures will be held live on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:15-4:45pm. A single registration fee of $99 covers all 14 lectures.

From the safety of your home, we can still join in learning about our world.  Senior College faculty are ready to offer their lectures via Zoom. 

College-level scholars from around Minnesota will provide provocative lectures on a variety of topics – from history, economics and political science to music, philosophy, biology and astronomy (see this season’s line-up below). 

The Spring 2021 Season begins Tuesday, March 16 and continues Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 29. All lectures will be held live on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:15-4:45pm.

Once registered, you will receive a link to join the program. With a single click, you are joining the group. You can safely connect from ANY device with internet access that has audio – computer, laptop, iPad, or phone. 

Admission for the lecture series is by season membership only.  A single registration fee of $99 covers all 14 lectures.  Registration is required. 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 >> 

Senior College Spring 2021 Lectures

  • The Imperial Presidency Revisited | David Schultz, Political Science and Legal Studies, Hamline University

  • New and Pending Free Speech Cases | Heidi Kitrosser, Professor of Law, University of Minnesota Law School

  • Minnesota Resources Commission:  What it is and Why it Matters | Louis Johnston, Economics, College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University

  • Studying the Beginning of the Universe from the Bottom of the World | Clem Pyrke, Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics, University of Minnesota

  • Sustainable Solutions for Our Plastic Planet Predicament | Marc Hillmyer, Chemistry/College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota

  • Earth Day +50: The Legacy of the 1960s-1970s American Environmental Movement | Derek Larson, History/Environmental Studies, College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University

  • Media Ownership and You | Christopher Terry, Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota

  • The Impact of the Election and the Pandemic on US Foreign Policy | Tom Hanson, Diplomat in Residence, University of Minnesota Duluth

  • A New Moral Rubicon?  Autonomous Weapons and Just War | Noreen Herzfeld, Science and Religion, St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict

  • Consciousness and the Natural World | Joy Laine, Philosophy, Macalester College

  • Biological Curiosities Explained | Van Gooch, Biology, University of Minnesota Morris

  • The Preludes and Fugues of J. S. Bach | Mark Mazullo, Music, Macalester College

  • The Playful Side of Engineering | AnnMarie Thomas, Engineering/Entrepreneurship, University of St. Thomas

Register for Senior College >> 

Lectures will be held via Zoom. With a single click, students can join the group from ANY device with internet access that has audio – computer, laptop, tablet, or phone. A trial run will be offered before the season begins to assure students are set up and acquainted with Zoom and participant controls. 

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:

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

Senior College News:

Senior College Spring Series Begins March 16

Jan 27, 2021 | 8:00 AM
The Spring 2021 Senior College Season begins Tuesday, March 16 and continues Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 29. All lectures will be held live on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:15-4:45pm. A single registration fee of $99 covers all 14 lectures.

From the safety of your home, we can still join in learning about our world.  Senior College faculty are ready to offer their lectures via Zoom. 

College-level scholars from around Minnesota will provide provocative lectures on a variety of topics – from history, economics and political science to music, philosophy, biology and astronomy (see this season’s line-up below). 

The Spring 2021 Season begins Tuesday, March 16 and continues Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 29. All lectures will be held live on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:15-4:45pm.

Once registered, you will receive a link to join the program. With a single click, you are joining the group. You can safely connect from ANY device with internet access that has audio – computer, laptop, iPad, or phone. 

Admission for the lecture series is by season membership only.  A single registration fee of $99 covers all 14 lectures.  Registration is required. 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 >> 

Senior College Spring 2021 Lectures

  • The Imperial Presidency Revisited | David Schultz, Political Science and Legal Studies, Hamline University

  • New and Pending Free Speech Cases | Heidi Kitrosser, Professor of Law, University of Minnesota Law School

  • Minnesota Resources Commission:  What it is and Why it Matters | Louis Johnston, Economics, College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University

  • Studying the Beginning of the Universe from the Bottom of the World | Clem Pyrke, Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics, University of Minnesota

  • Sustainable Solutions for Our Plastic Planet Predicament | Marc Hillmyer, Chemistry/College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota

  • Earth Day +50: The Legacy of the 1960s-1970s American Environmental Movement | Derek Larson, History/Environmental Studies, College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University

  • Media Ownership and You | Christopher Terry, Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota

  • The Impact of the Election and the Pandemic on US Foreign Policy | Tom Hanson, Diplomat in Residence, University of Minnesota Duluth

  • A New Moral Rubicon?  Autonomous Weapons and Just War | Noreen Herzfeld, Science and Religion, St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict

  • Consciousness and the Natural World | Joy Laine, Philosophy, Macalester College

  • Biological Curiosities Explained | Van Gooch, Biology, University of Minnesota Morris

  • The Preludes and Fugues of J. S. Bach | Mark Mazullo, Music, Macalester College

  • The Playful Side of Engineering | AnnMarie Thomas, Engineering/Entrepreneurship, University of St. Thomas

Register for Senior College >> 

Lectures will be held via Zoom. With a single click, students can join the group from ANY device with internet access that has audio – computer, laptop, tablet, or phone. A trial run will be offered before the season begins to assure students are set up and acquainted with Zoom and participant controls. 

Contact Senior College

Customized Training Center: 320-762-4510

Toll Free: 888-234-1313

Email Senior College seniorcollege@alextech.edu