Indiana Prepares for 30th year of Mini University

The IU campus will experience a surge of student activity during the week of June 17-22. More than 400 alumni, friends and family members will attend one week of classes called Mini University. The classes, taught voluntarily by nearly 100 of the University's most distinguished faculty, range from a study of American Ballet Theatre to "How the New Tax Laws Will Affect You in 2001."\nThe event is sponsored by the IU Alumni Association and the School of Continuing Studies. For a registration fee of $155, participants can choose 15 different non-credit classes to attend.\n"It is an excellent time to come back and experience campus life for a week," said Nicki Bland, assistant alumni director. \nAttendance of Mini University has grown during the years, and those involved attribute this fact to the outstanding faculty who lend their time to the program. Faculty members who have agreed to teach classes include Irving Katz from the History Department, David Baker from the School of Music, and James Weigand, dean emeritus of the School of Continuing Studies. This is Weigand's 30th year teaching at Mini University, making him the only faculty member to teach annually at the event since its inception.\n"People are realizing that you don't learn everything you need to know when graduating from high school or college," said Ron White,academic director in the School of Continuing Studies. "Many of the people who attend are in their 70s and 80s and only half of them are IU grads."\nThe program also offers a chance for alumni to come back and visit campus.\n"Mini University gives alumni a chance to come back to campus and see a lot of talent," said Jim Johnson, academic counselor in the School of Continuing Studies. "And a lot of people are simply looking for things to do in the summer."\nNew to the program this year is the opportunity for those who participate to live in Willkie Quad for the week. In past years, Teter Quad was the residence hall used for those who required housing. Willkie offers more comfortable surroundings and a suite system of two rooms sharing one full bath. But the rooms do not come equipped with alarm clocks or a wake up service, and those who attend are advised to bring their own alarm clock. One thing about college life that hasn't changed in all these years is that classes will start on time -- regardless of who is still asleep in their dorm room.\nFor more information on Mini University visit www.indiana.edu/~alumni/learn/miniuni.html.