Redefining longlife learning
May 2026 – Drew University has concluded the inaugural semester of its Empty Nester Semester®, a new program created for longlife learners seeking intellectual engagement, personal enrichment, and community connection in midlife and beyond.
Designed for adults, alums, and anyone experiencing a life transition, the program offers a flexible, low-commitment opportunity to reengage with learning while building meaningful connections in community. Participants can enroll in a single class or curate a personalized experience across offerings in history, art, culture, personal development, and more.
What distinguishes the Empty Nester Semester is not just what is taught, but also why it exists. The program responds to a life stage that has been largely ignored in higher education. For many, the transition into an empty nest brings a sudden shift in routine and purpose, potential health challenges and loneliness. Additionally, empty nesters are faced with greater disconnect from youth culture, often creating a sense of irrelevance.
While the program’s core audience includes empty nesters and midlife learners, the Empty Nester Semester welcomes adults of all ages seeking connection, enrichment, and learning.
Rather than requiring a return to full degree programs or intensive coursework, the Empty Nester Semester® offers what can be described as intellectual reentry points—two-hour, highly engaging sessions designed to be accessible, social, and stimulating. It invites individuals to return to education, not out of obligation, but out of curiosity, purpose, and a desire to remain engaged with the world around them. As the program grows, there will be opportunities for deeper dives into subjects, multiple-week classes, and even certification programs.
A defining feature of the program is its intergenerational approach. Participants engage with Drew students, faculty, and campus life, creating a dynamic exchange of perspectives. Intentional course content allows longlife learners to stay connected to current topics and culture, while students benefit from the lived experience and insight participants bring to discussions.
Faculty have noted a distinct classroom energy, driven by curiosity, openness, and a genuine desire to learn and engage.
Experience-based learning also plays a central role. Sessions move beyond traditional lectures, embracing immersive, interdisciplinary approaches. For example, participants explored Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through archival research, faculty-led discussion, collaboration with students, and attendance at a live performance on Drew’s campus—creating a well-rounded experience.
The program has also resonated strongly with Drew’s alums, many of whom have returned to campus not simply for nostalgia, but for active participation in the intellectual life of the University.
The fall schedule has been finalized and live registration will be open soon. Registrants will be able to partake in online and in-person courses ranging from digital literacy and pop culture, artificial intelligence, historical mixology, art history, dance, and much more. Follow the Empty Nester Semester on Instagram for recaps on the spring semester and announcements on the upcoming fall semester.
