Liberal Arts, Basic and Applied Sciences offer public classes

To help kick-start the upcoming MTSU Alumni Spring Weekend, the university’s College of Liberal Arts and College of Basic and Applied Sciences are inviting people to attend classes, labs and lectures at no cost.

During the week of April 18-22, alumni, retirees and community members are welcome to register for topics such as genetics, professional pilot, evolution, exploring the universe and additional offerings from the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, or attend an English class specific to Harry Potter, visit a course on set design for the upcoming “West Side Story” production, join an art class for art teachers or take a modern dance class from the College of Liberal Arts.

Dr. Mark Byrnes

Among the nearly 40 College of Liberal Arts open class options will be speech and theatre assistant professor Kristi Shamburger’s “Theatre Appreciation” class from 9:40 to 11:05 a.m. April 19. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

Dean Bud Fischer in Basic and Applied Sciences and Liberal Arts Dean Mark Byrnes say they want university alumni and friends to sample a college classroom or laboratory environment through a new Open Classroom Initiative.

Space is limited. Participants must register in advance and be 18 years old, and they also are being asked to respect each professor’s classroom rules.

To learn more, visit www.mtalumni.com/openclasses.

Guests may obtain a free parking passes from The Alumni House, 2259 Middle Tennessee Blvd. The passes will allow them to park in any parking spot, except those marked for handicapped drivers, as well as at meters.

Campus maps will be provided, but a searchable campus parking map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap.

Dr. Bud Fischer

The Open Classroom Initiative “will give members of the community a chance to see the fantastic teaching and learning that goes on in our courses,” Byrnes said.

“We are offering seats in a wide range of interesting classes. We encourage anyone who is interested to come see the academic side of campus at work.”

Fischer said MTSU has “a lot of exciting pedagogies going on in our classrooms and labs, and I want to invite the alumni and community to come to campus and fully immerse themselves in our classrooms and labs to experience the learning environment our students get to be a part of every day.”

Attendees are welcome to register for one or more science-related classes, all liberal arts classes or, if times do not conflict, take classes from both colleges.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

For the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, MTSU Concrete Industry Management chair Heather Brown will be teaching the “Applications of Concrete in Construction” class from 1 to 2:25 p.m. April 21. Participants can learn about all the new technology coming to the industry helping benefit the public and environment. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)

MTSU Concrete Industry Management chair Heather Brown will be teaching the “Applications of Concrete in Construction” class from 1 to 2:25 p.m. April 21 for the College of Basic and Applied Sciences. Participants can learn about all the new technology coming to the industry helping benefit the public and environment. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)