MCC’s MILES Provides Community Engagement for Seniors

Throughout the pandemic many are seeking opportunities to connect with the community in safe ways. Middlesex Community College’s Community Education and Training (CET) program has been successful in keeping participants active and engaged by transitioning to online formats, including CET’s Middlesex Institute for Lifelong Learning for Seniors (MILES).

“It has been wonderful to see our members interacting virtually,” said Lauren Ellis, MCC’s Program Manager for Community Education and Training. “If instructors needed support, the college was able to provide that with tutorials and practice sessions. We made sure cameras worked, sound was turned on, and links were accessible in a timely manner – it was a great time!”

Elizabeth Valente – from Acton – has been a long time participant and now instructor for MILES. She loves diving into deep conversations in all of her classes, including her own open forum class. Though she was unable to teach a course in the Fall session, she is getting ready to continue teaching this Spring. Her preparation process to transition to an online class begins with research.

“It is important to have all your ducks in a row – subject, introduction, class guidelines, etc.,” she said. “I am a copious note taker and rely on the internet and personal experience. Creating a bullet cheat sheet to read from helps keep the discussion on track.”

As she believes socialization is the key to MILES’ success, Valente wants to make sure she establishes a community-feel from class one. In order to build “a sense of fellowship,” she welcomes and acknowledges every participant – and has them do the same for their classmates.

Conversations in her open forum class focus on topics such as places everyone has gone, how age plays a part in knowledge versus wisdom, present day manners or lack thereof, and the influence of music throughout their lives. The inspiration for her class stemmed from her desire to engage in more conversation about the subjects she was learning in her previous classes.

“There was so much more we wanted to learn,” she said. “What we think about, what we have experienced, where we are now in our lives. We are exercising our brains, we are focusing on the conversation – what we are learning and what we are contributing.”

Valente enjoys keeping her mind fresh and having the chance to learn – without worrying about grades or tests. Calling MILES “a great service to the senior community,” the three best parts of the program for her have been the ability to learn, think and make new friends.

“The program has been an integral part of my life and for many of the seniors I have met through MILES,” she said. “Like many of the students I have met through the program, we all came to learn, but have gained so much more. I am so grateful to be part of MILES and I hope to be for many years to come.”

MILES’ Spring 2021 session kicks off at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24 with keynote speaker Rod Griffith discussing his experience with and knowledge of The Beatles.

All courses throughout the Spring session will be offered online. Participants pay $16 per class, with a maximum fee of $100 for the session.

For the complete schedule of MILES courses, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/MILES or contact Lauren Ellis at 781-280-369 or ellisl@middlesex.mass.edu. To register for courses, call 1-800-818-3434.

MCC’s CET programs provide academic, professional and personal enrichment for students of all ages and stages in their lives. For more information about programs and noncredit courses, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/careertraining/ or contact Sheila Morin at morins@middlesex.mass.edu or 781-280-3608.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!