Senior enrichment starts with curiosity and ends in lifelong friendships.
Designed for the retired and semi-retired, The Knowledge Exchange is a lifelong learning program that meets on Fridays for eight-week sessions in fall, winter and spring. Full-length courses, workshops and presentations are offered.
Courses are non-credit and led by a team of dedicated volunteers made up of GovState faculty, alumni and community experts. A volunteer Advisory Committee made up of Exchange class leaders and participants assist in overseeing the curriculum and sustaining quality programming. Topics include: History, Law, Liberal Arts, Current Events, Foreign Policy, Music/Film, Philosophy and more with lively discussions. Lunch is a great time to know other Exchange students, continue classroom discussions and share classroom and life experiences. Participants of The Knowledge Exchange enjoy a relaxed and friendly environment on the GovState campus and have formed a community of shared learning, social interaction and the free exchange of opinions and ideas.
The Knowledge Exchange, Spring 2026
Fridays, April 10 – May 29
The Knowledge Exchange Speaker Series – 3rd Edition
A series of interactive 90-minute to 2-hour lectures by local experts on a myriad of topics including Wild Kingdom: My Work Experience, The River Valley Wind Ensemble, Uganda-The Pearl of Africa: Mountain Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking, Fun with AI, Through the Eyes of a Native: Nigeria and more!
The History of Ancient Greece
Join Myras Osman in his final course after 17 years of volunteering for GovState’s lifelong learning programs, The Adult Learning Exchange (T.A.L.E.) and The Knowledge Exchange (TKE) and learn how the “cradle of Western Civilization” came about.
The Glamorous Cary Grant
Christine Small returns with a charming romp through the life and films of actor extraordinaire, Cary Grant. This course is offered both in person and virtually.
Fairy Tales: a Closer Look
Knowledge Exchange Presenter Judith Wilks returns with a heady dive into the world of Fairy Tales.
WANTED! VOLUNTEER CLASS LEADERS
The Knowledge Exchange’s (TKE) lifelong-learning program, at GovState’s School of Extended Learning is the only one of its kind in the Chicago southland and is currently looking to expand its team of class leaders.
Courses are non-credit meeting over 8-week sessions on Fridays during
the Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters.
Topics of interest include History, Literature, Music, Current Events, Science, Philosophy, and, most of all, Special Expertise. Whatever your interest or hobby, come and share that passion with TKE’s friendly and eager-to-learn community in a relaxed classroom environment at Governors State University.
If available and interested, contact Suzanne Patterson at 708.534.4393 or by email at spatterson3@govst.edu and she will be thrilled to discuss your ideas!