A group gathers around a cafeteria table at Cedar Crest College chatting amiably.

What makes this scene a bit unusual is that these students are 55 years and older and enjoying classes offered through the Institute for Learning in Retirement.

“I love walking into our cafeteria and seeing tables full of ILR students enjoying lunch and spending time together outside of the classroom,” said Katy Kresge, associate vice president for Campus Operations.

Cedar Crest College has hosted ILR for some two decades but this year, the college is taking full operational ownership.

“We were happy to do so,” Kresge said. “ILR really aligns with our mission.”

“This spring we were able to offer 19 in-person courses on campus and four remote courses via Zoom,” Kresge said. “We had 208 students register for courses in Spring 2025.”

Long time instructor Will Towne is currently offering a class called “On Rationality” over Zoom.

“I love working with and getting to know the participants,” said Towne, a retired college professor.

“Their backgrounds are very diverse, but they have in common a refreshing, good-spirited curiosity and a desire to learn new things,” continued the Kempton resident.

David Byrnes who is new to the program, is teaching a class called “Film as a Cultural Mirror,” where he shows movie clips that illustrate directorial style and themes among many other topics.

“A bunch of my friends kept telling me about ILR, so when [one of them] suggested I teach a film class, I jumped on it,” he said.

“I love doing it,” said the retired social worker. “I learned a lot about films just doing the research for this class.”

Curiosity and enthusiasm for learning fuels the program.

“ILR offers the opportunity to learn something new about a wide variety of topics ranging from astronomy to world history to mediation techniques to cinema and literature,” Kresge said.

ILR continues to be prized by presenters and learners.

“I’m delighted to be able to continue to pursue my lifelong passion for evolutionary biology,” Towne said. “[Those taking the class] often express their appreciation for my work in ways that are very gratifying.”

Anyone 55 years and older can take classes in both fall and spring semesters.

Fall courses run from early October to early December and spring courses run from early March to early May,” Kresge said.

Additional information about ILR is available at www.cedarcrest.edu/ILR.