SHORT COURSES = TALL BENEFITS

Photo by Liza Morales

Knowledge flows freely into an open mind but sometimes it helps to go where the knowledge is. One place to find it is at Sacred Heart University. More specifically, you can sign up for any of dozens of short courses that this privately-run institution, based on a lovely tree-shaded oasis in the midst of San Juan's Santurce district, offers to the public throughout the year.

Spanning a wide variety of fields, the courses offer the 

opportunity to upgrade skills, update professional qualifications, and pick up new interests. Like a language such as Mandarin Chinese, a class taught by a professor the university flew in from mainland China to teach in the regular language bachelor program. Or maybe you'd like to sharpen your skills of persuasion and negotiation. That's one of the more popular courses and will be offered in the coming session starting August 15, according to Paola Flores Báez, activities coordinator at Sacred Heart. Other popular courses are creative writing and computer programs, the latter which is particularly popular among seniors, she said. Other areas of learning include graphic design (courses include digital photography, webpage design, basic photoshop CS3); insurance (insurance ethics, property & contingency, claims); business management (how to set up a business, financial statements, basic accounting); public relations; professional counseling; paralegal studies; medical billing; languages (including conversational Arabic); communication skills; dance (basic salsa); ornamental horticulture; and sports (tennis & swimming). There are even several short courses for children ages 7 & up: basic drawing & painting; keyboard skills, basic swimming. Plus a few internet courses.

As part of the university's Continuing Education program, now in its 40th year, the short courses program remains popular despite the tanked economy, drawing some 5,000 people a year, according to Flores. Participants span all ages, even as old as 93. The courses regularly last eight weeks but there are a few that may be as short as three or four hours. Some classes are held in the morning, others in the afternoon, still others only on Saturday.

With no requirements for admission, anyone may apply. Registration is simple and can be done by mail or fax. Fees range from $40 (for a 4-hour course on how to handle injuries) to $250 (different insurance courses). The price includes educational materials and free parking on campus. Alumni (and reporters) get a 10 percent discount. Payment by debit card, personal checks, credit card or money order acceptable.

Sacred Heart is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education & Training in McLean, VA. It offers five sessions of short courses throughout the year: January, April, June, August and October.

Sacred Heart University Continuing Education 787.728.1515 ext. 2419, 2420,2421, 2422 or 787.727.1250 Fax 787.268.8850

Artwork by Lorraine Blasor

The world is full of fictional

characters looking for their

stories. 

--- Diane Arbus

A SIMPLE TIP: CAT care is expensive but one area where you can minimize costs is litter. Instead of buying any of the regular products out on the market, consider using paper as an alternative to litter. All you need to do is tear regular newspaper or magazine pages into thin strips which you then rip into small squares for easy tossing into the the litter pan. Once soiled, the paper can be discarded in the garbage.

Photo by Mark Williams

 

THE beauty of being able to start at the very bottom is 
that you are always on the way up.  
-- Designer Isabel Toledo --



☛ SALE AWAY ☚ If it's August, it's time for sales everywhere which means money savings if you need to freshen up your wardrobe. For the young & trendy, websites worth checking out include jcrew.com, garnethill.com, and chicos.com. Their end-of-summer clearance sales (yep, the retail world is always a step ahead of the rest of us!) offer lower prices on generally pricey but hip clothing. For the older but fashion-conscious set, jjill.com offers earthy but sophisticated styling with superior fabrics that wash well and last long if the item you buy is well taken care of: go to Sale & Outlet for bargains. Over at landsend.com, purveyors of casual but sturdy clothing staples, you are always sure to find a steal in the overstock section. Plus, the company frequently throws in free shipping which is quite a break!

Photo by Denise Blasor

There is nothing more

interesting than a wall

behind which something

is happening.

-- Victor Hugo

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