Select Page

This spring, Office of Continuing Education is offering a variety of opportunities to experience enriching short courses and workshops on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus. These culturally enriching programs allow participants to learn about, participate in and observe cultural expressions; develop self-expression skills; enhance artistic skills; deepen understanding and appreciation of fine arts; and enhance physical and emotional well being.

Classes offered this spring include:

Swing Dance Lessons
Get ready for Reeve Memorial Union’s Big Band Dane on March 14 with a four-week dance refresher series. Lessons include the patterns and sequences of swing dance and the foxtrot. Partners are mandatory.

Dates: Mondays, Feb. 18-March 10 (four sessions)
Times: 7-8:30 p.m.
Location: UW Oshkosh Reeve Memorial Union
Fee: $40 per couple

Intermediate Sketching and Drawing
This series is a follow-up to the successful Beginner Sketching and Drawing classes. Participants will have the opportunity to work with pastels and watercolor while refining drawing techniques; exploring shapes, forms and perspective; learning good compositions; experimenting with colors, still life, portraits and landscapes. The series will conclude with an exhibit, group critique and discussion about continuing your practice.

Dates: Tuesdays, Feb. 19 – April 8, 2008 (eight sessions)
Time: 6–8 p.m.
Location: UW Oshkosh Arts and Communications Building
Fee: $65 per person for the general public (additional art supplies will need to be purchased), $58 per person for UW Oshkosh alumni (additional art supplies will need to be purchased)

Art Basics
Get your creativity flowing again or for the first time! This series includes all the basic art elements and principles of design. Experiment with a wide variety of art mediums and methods. Discover dozens of tips to get creative ideas and have fun with art!

Dates: Wednesdays, Feb. 20-March 12 (four sessions)
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: UW Oshkosh Arts and Communication Building
Fee: $65 per person for the general public (includes supplies), $58 per person for UW Oshkosh alumni (includes supplies)

Reeve Memorial Union Big Band Dance
Fifty years ago, the new Reeve Union building was under construction. While the anniversary of opening the doors is still a year away, this event will set the stage for fifty years of Reeve. Join us for a fun-filled night of dancing and socializing with the UW Oshkosh Jazz Ensemble, directed by Marty Robinson. The evening will feature big band music for listening and dancing, appetizers, refreshments and many opportunities to mix and mingle with students, staff, alumni and community members.

Dates: Friday, March 14, 2008
Time: 7-10 p.m.
Location: UW Oshkosh Reeve Memorial Union
Fee: $20 per person general public, $15 for non-UW Oshkosh students, free to UW Oshkosh students; fee includes appetizers and refreshments. Registration is available through the Reeve Memorial Union Titan Central at 424-1234.

Printmaking
Making art prints does not have to be complicated or expensive. Learn a variety of techniques of printmaking that are both fun and easy. Includes hands on experience, take home prints and the ability to continue printmaking on your own. Come have a great time!

Dates: Saturday, March 15, 2008
Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: UW Oshkosh Arts and Communication Building (lunch on your own)
Fee: $65 per person for the general public (includes supplies), $58 per person for UW Oshkosh alumni (includes supplies)

Wines Around the World
Join us for an exciting tour of Old World and New World wines. This five-week series will focus on the regions, varietals, flavors, tasting and presentation of a variety of wines that are well known to an area. We will explore Old World wines made in France, Germany, Italy and Spain as well as the New World wines of Argentina, Chile and the United States (west coast and Wisconsin). We’ll end our world tour with our final session at a local restaurant to complete the experience. This series will provide an expanded appreciation of wine; a better understanding of the worlds’ great wine regions; a lesson on how to taste wine and a greater confidence when selecting wines.  Registrants must be 21 to participate in the wine tasting.

Dates: Mondays, March 31 – April 28, 2008 (five sessions)
Times: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location: UW Oshkosh Pollock House (last session at a local restaurant with wine tasting included)
Fee: $55 per person, general public; $50 UW Oshkosh alumni (additional fee for dinner on last session)

Contemporary Ballroom Dance
Whether you are a beginning or advanced dancer, this workshop will provide you with valuable tools to learn, refine and review the fundamentals of the two-step, foxtrot, jitterbug, swing, cha-cha, rumba, salsa, samba, tango, polka and waltz. Advanced dance steps and routines will be added appropriately. Sessions will include historical information about ballroom dancing in America; warm-up steps, stretch and relaxation techniques for ease in movement; dance step instruction; and frequent review and practice. Partners are not mandatory. Wear casual and comfortable clothing and bring soft-soled shoes.

Dates: Tuesdays, April 1-May 6 (six sessions)
Time: 6–8 p.m.
Location: UW Oshkosh River Center
Fee: $85 couple/$45 single for general public; $76 couple/$40 single for UW Oshkosh alumni

How to Take an Online Course
Have you ever been interested in taking an online course, but were nervous about your computer ability? This course will cover all the basics you need to know to feel comfortable viewing lectures online, submitting homework into folders, working with D2L, downloading media files, researching on the Internet and online discussion groups. We will even cover basic computer skills in the process. We will conclude by “sitting in” on an online class in progress.

Dates: Thursdays, April 10-24 (three sessions)
Times: 6-7:30 p.m.
Location: UW Oshkosh
Fee $50 per person, general public: $45 for UW Oshkosh alumni

Celebrate Your Creative Side: Gardener’s Delight
Spring has sprung and now is the time to dig into the gardening season.  Whether your green thumb leans towards flowers or vegetables or both, this class will explore common sense methods of gardening that include organic and labor-saving tips, herb basics (a brief introduction),  and  resourceful gardening: creative season extenders, weed and pest control, twig art, composting, and recycling projects that save time and money.  We will end the class with an herbal treat.

Dates: Saturday, April 19
Times: 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Location: UW Oshkosh Women’s Center
Fee $55 per person for general public; $50 for UW Oshkosh alumni

Start Here Start Now
Do you know someone who might be interested in returning to school … your neighbor, spouse, partner or best friend? Start Here, Start Now is an education session to help adults explore the opportunity of attending college. Participants will hear from faculty, explore areas of study, learn about admissions and financial processes, and meet other nontraditional students.

Date:  Monday, April 21
Time:  6 – 7:30 p.m.
Location:  UW Oshkosh Reeve Memorial Union
Fee: Free

Watercolor Made Easy
Create with watercolor pencils and crayons instead of paint! Learn to use these materials to create your own masterpieces. Watercolor pencils and crayons can be used on their own, or combined with traditional watercolor painting. As a bonus, experiment with other art materials that work well with watercolor. How refreshing!

Dates: Saturday, May 27
Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: UW Oshkosh Arts and Communication Building (lunch on your own)
Fee: $65 per person for the general public (includes supplies), $58 per person for UW Oshkosh alumni (includes supplies)

For more information, contact the Office of Continuing Education and Extension, UW Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh WI 54901-8623 or call (920) 424-1129.