NE North Dakota News

The University of North Dakota's Office of Extended Learning is set to introduce a new initiative, UND Community Classes, in January. This program will offer monthly interactive courses designed for the Greater Grand Forks community. Each class, lasting between one to three hours, will provide hands-on educational experiences led by university experts on various topics such as garden design and local historical monuments.

The program aims to connect the university with the broader community by offering learning opportunities that cater to diverse interests and backgrounds. Julie Zikmund, associate director of the Office of Extended Learning, explained their vision: “Our vision for UND Community Classes was to help connect the University to the Greater Grand Forks community.” She emphasized the importance of making these educational opportunities both accessible and affordable, with most classes priced at a $25 registration fee. Some spring classes, including a photography workshop in January, will be free.

Lynette Krenelka, executive director of UND’s Teaching Transformation and Development Academy and director of the Office of Extended Learning, highlighted that each course is designed to provide meaningful experiences beyond traditional lectures. “We wanted to invite people to the heart of campus to learn from our faculty and staff,” she said.

The January session will feature a photography workshop led by Hayley Kuntz, UND social media manager. Participants will learn smartphone photography techniques during this free one-hour class. Although free, pre-registration on the Spring 2025 UND Community Classes webpage is required.

Additionally, attendees can benefit from free on-campus parking for each spring semester class.