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, Fall 2025
Fridays, September 19 – November 7
NEW! The Knowledge Exchange Speaker Series
A series of interactive 90-minute to 2-hour lectures by local experts on topics such as Laughter and the Feel Better Power, Scouting America, Get a Grip on Your Papers!, Life, Laugh, Love, and a Little Allometry and more!
Science Fiction Films of the 1950s with Richard Loslo
This lecture-based course will review 3-4 clips from five movies per week and enjoy discussion linking the films to important events of the time such as Atomic Bomb Testing, Sputnik, the "Red Scare," and the Roswell UFO incident.
Delve into Classical Music with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra: Explorations of the 2025-26 Season with the Illinois Philharmonic’s Charles Amenta and Al Jackson
This course will provide anyone curious about orchestral music an opportunity to explore and learn with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra about the history of the composers and the programmed pieces, as well the forms that the composers applied in their compositions.
Cinema Studies: Classroom Cinema: The Teacher in Film with Suzanne Patterson
Combining a love of film with a love for teachers, this course explores the genre of Teachers in Film with a look at some all-time favorite films portraying those who guide, teach, and nurture us.
Introduction to Genealogy with Bill Byrnes
This course provides an introductory look at the important elements of Genealogy by providing participants with everything they need to get started on building their own family trees.
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!