Friday Morning Continuing Education
Everyone is welcome to explore unique and engaging topics with us each week. Join us for Friday Morning CE presentations and expand your horizons in subjects ranging from disaster readiness to poetry to space exploration.
- Upcoming Special Events - Summer 2024 Series
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Friday, July 12 at 9:30 a.m.P is for the Prairie
Learn about the Coastal Prairie, the importance of this vanishing ecosystem, and the prairie restoration taking place on the University of Houston Clear Lake campus. Fee: $30
Register for P is the Prairie! -
Friday July 12 at 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.The Bayou Theatre: The Present and the Future
Meet the new Director of Theater and Cultural Arts, Stephen Davis. Learn more about his background, get a sneak peek of the new season, and have your voice heard for future programming. Fee: $30
Register for The Bayou Theatre: The Present and the Future -
Friday July 19 at 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.Iditarod: Teacher on the Trail
Join Kate as she will be sharing information about the Iditarod itself, the amazing sled dogs, and what it's like to go on the trail as a teacher. Kate teaches 5th grade reading, writing, and social studies, and adds great life lessons to students of all ages from the Iditarod. Fee: $30
Register for Iditarod: Teacher on the Trail -
Friday July 19 at 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.Travel Journey: Alaska
Journey with us along the inside passage of Alaska as we travel by boat, sea plane, and train to see some Alaska's cities, historic landmarks, and learn about their history and beautiful art. Fee: $30
Register for Travel Journey: Alaska
- Upcoming Special Events - Fall 2024 Series
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Friday, September 20 at 9:30 a.m.El Teatro Campesino on the Picket Lines and in the Fields
Discover the revolutionary sound-making practices of El Teatro Campesino (ETC), the iconic Chicanx theater company that emerged during the Chicana/o Civil Rights Movement. Their powerful actos, performed on flatbed trucks and at United Farm Worker (UFW) meetings, sparked political action and left a lasting impact. Join us for an inspiring talk on their influential work! Fee: $44
Register for El Teatro Campesino on the Picket Lines and in the Fields -
Friday, September 20 at 11 a.m.Revisiting: Hernandez vs Driscoll CISD (1957)
In this session we will be looking back at a U.S. District Court Case for the Southern District of Texas Corpus Christi Division. We will be looking at the discrimination faced by Mexican American Students as well as analyzing the case just years after Brown v Board of Education. Fee: $44
Register for Revisiting: Hernandez vs Driscoll CISD (1957) -
Friday, September 27 at 9:30 a.m.Bay Area Ballet & Theatre - 49 Years Young!
Join Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre and hear all about their 49th season. They are kicking off with a musical! Why a musical? Come and hear all about how this fits into the ballet's mission and what goes into a musical. You don't want to miss this and hear all about the amazing talent our area produces. Beauty and the Beast open September 27 and will run through October 6th. Fee: $44
Register for Bay Area Ballet & Theatre - 49 Years Young! -
Friday, September 27 at 11 a.m.What are the most important human impacts on the Amazon rainforest?
Let's take a deeper dive with Cindy into the negative effects of increasing human populations in the Amazon. We'll focus on impacts of agriculture, mining and transportation and their impacts on the ecology and conservation of the last mostly intact rainforest on earth. Fee: $44
Register for What are the most important human impacts on the Amazon rainforest? -
Friday, October 18 at 9:30 a.m.Musical Theatre: A History of America's Greatest Contribution to Theatre
Join us as we dive into the history of American Musical Theatre from its beginnings on Tin Pan Alley, to Rodgers and Hammerstein, to Sondheim, to now. Hear backstage stories and see clips from your favorite shows as we traverse over 100 years of musicals. Fee: $44
Register for Musical Theatre: A History of America's Greatest Contribution to Theatre -
Friday, October 18 at 11 a.m.Sustainability, Food Justice, and Refugee Urban Farmers in Houston
Activists and scholars use the term food justice to challenge multiple inequalities in the production, distribution, and consumption of food. Join us to learn how people in Houston and other communities are mobilizing to create healthy communities, environmental sustainability, and economic opportunity. Fee: $44
Register for Sustainability, Food Justice, and Refugee Urban Farmers in Houston -
Friday, October 25 at 9:30 a.m."We were here. We are still here."
In September 2022, the Houston Museum of Natural Science a renovated John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas opened to the public. It is a living exhibit, emphasizing the presence of Indigenous people in what is now known as the Americas past and present. This is what the title of the presentation refers to. What does it take to re-focus and update an existing exhibit? How does one choose exhibit storylines? Who decides what to display and what not? Long-term Indigenous participation and input is extremely important. How did the museum go about achieving this goal? These and other topics will give all attendees a peek behind the scenes, and hopefully entice you to come visit this permanent exhibit. Fee: $44
Register for "We were here. We are still here." -
Friday, October 25 at 11 a.m.Pop, Fold, Cut!
Have you ever wondered how pop up books and cards are created? This presentation will introduce you to the art of pop up books and cards. Information will be shared about some well known paper engineers and their work. You will have the opportunity to create a pop up card to keep or mail to someone special. Fee: $44
Register for Pop, Fold, Cut! -
Friday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m.'Exploration in the Medieval World: travel in the Middle Ages'
This lecture explores the travelers, traders, and explorers of the Middle Ages. Through discussion of the Norse explorations of the Northern Atlantic, European knights on the Crusades, and merchants on the Silk Road, we'll investigate their motivations, routes, and experiences. We'll examine medieval attitudes towards the unfamiliar, portrayals of the 'marvellous' in travel writing, and consider the legacies of these explorers in connecting cultures across Europe, Africa, and Asia during this unique era of world history. Fee: $44
Register for 'Exploration in the Medieval World: travel in the Middle Ages' -
Friday, November 1 at 11 a.m.Cold Case Investigations: Ethical Concerns in Genetic Genealogy Database Utilization
Law enforcement agencies often use genetic genealogy databases to track the origin of unidentified DNA samples. While the technique has shown promise in resolving cold cases, concerns about privacy, consent, and the potential for genetic profiling loom large. This course critically examines the balance between public safety and individual rights, weighing the ethical implications of accessing genetic data without explicit consent. By exploring these ethical dilemmas, it seeks to contribute to informed policy discussions and foster responsible implementation of genetic database usage in police investigations. Fee: $44
Register for Cold Case Investigations: Ethical Concerns in Genetic Genealogy Database Utilization -
Friday, November 8 at 9:30 a.m.The Election is over - Now what?
With a sociological analysis of the election, let's learn from Stephen how to view it through a new lens, to analyze what it means, and hopefully discern where we are going from here. Fee: $44
Register for The Election is over - Now what? -
Friday, November 8 at 11 a.m.Medical Ethics in the South: Past and Present
In conversation with Dolen Perkins-Valdez's historical novel Take My Hand, the Common Reader Program explores the complicated history of public health, medical ethics, and community advocacy in the US South. We take as a case study New Orleans's Sophie Gumbel Home, a school for girls with cognitive disabilities that operated from 1922 to 1946. Fee: $44
Register for Medical Ethics in the South: Past and Present
Registration is open to anyone who wishes to participate. Residency, age, academic history, and student status do not apply. We also welcome those from out-of-town that are interested in joining us while visiting the area.
Additional Information
- Location: Registered participants will receive room details closer to the class date.
- Parking: To park in Lot D on campus, purchase a parking permit by visiting E-Commerce (search: "Parking Permit"). The parking department will email you a temporary permit and mail a permanent permit to your residence. Parking permits are not available for purchase on campus.
Explore the Current Schedule and Register
Questions?
If you have questions and would like immediate assistance, or if any special requests or accommodation for a disability are needed in order to participate in this program, please contact Christine Paul at paul@uhcl.edu.
What Participants Are Saying
"Wonderful! I look forward to the upcoming offerings of a diverse curriculum. There's enrichment value for each person."
"FMCE is a great way to learn a lot of new things! Once the class is over, you come out with a fresh mind and new perspective on different topics. Definitely recommend!"
"I was not only enrolled in the program [as a student]; I was also a presenter. This worked well, and I urge others to do the same if they have experience and stories to tell in a particular subject. I hope to continue to play both roles."
"This was an excellent lecture by an experienced faculty member. Well done!"
"Love the CE program and feel that is of tremendous value to the community."
"These classes open our minds to things we never thought about before or expanded our knowledge and interest."
"Wonderful program to grow your horizons!"
"I really enjoyed all the programs! It was very interesting and I learned something different!"
"Love this opportunity to learn about varied subjects and mix with a variety of people. Thank you for offering them!"