FAQ

The Learning in Retirement (LinR) program is a non-credit program, open to adults of all ages who are interested in life-long learning. LinR provides the opportunity to learn for personal satisfaction while participating in a community of life-long learners who enjoy reading, listening to and discussing topics of common interest. There are no required readings, exams, or age limits.

We offer a unique variety of lecture series, writing workshops, and language workshops taught by experts.

Topics offered include art history, music, science, politics, history, religion, social studies, philosophy, memoir writing, language, and more.

One-time single lecture presentations complement our regular sessions.

No. All adults of all ages with an interest in life-long learning are welcome to register!

Yes! Our program is open to the general public.

No, our prices are the same for everyone.

Prerequisites are only applicable for upper level language workshops. For other offerings, if the class description appeals to you, please don’t hesitate to register!

We announce upcoming session’s registration dates on our website. To have the information sent directly to you, join our email list, which we use to announce the beginning of each registration period, as well as the upcoming lecture titles and links to details. We never share your information with other groups, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Offerings are held at Carleton University’s main campus and at Carleton’s Dominion-Chalmers Centre (CDCC), which is located in Ottawa’s downtown core. Other locations like the National Gallery of Canada and walking tours of Ottawa are also offered.

Carleton’s Dominion-Chalmers Centre’s (CDCC) official address is 355 Cooper Street, but the parking lot and main entrance are on the Lisgar Street side of the building. Please click on ‘more options’ in the map below to enter your location and get customised directions. For the Lisgar side of the building, use 290 Lisgar as the address. For more information on CDCC, please see here.

In most cases, each lecture series and writing workshops meet once a week, for two hours, for six consecutive weeks.

In most cases, language workshops meet twice a week, for two hours, for a total of 18 hours over five consecutive weeks.

LinR currently holds several sessions per calendar year. Normally they run as follows:

• • Winter: Mid-January to late February
  • Early Spring: Late February to early April
  • Late Spring: Early April to mid-May
  • Spring Single Lecture Presentations held during the months of May and June
  • Early Fall:  Mid-September to late October
  • Fall Single Lecture Presentation held during the months of September and October.
  • Late Fall: Early November to mid-December

Most of our lecture series have some lecture-based components, with open discussion and short video clips. Some also have demonstrations, hands-on learning and field trips. There are no required readings, but some lecturers will provided recommended readings and resources. Class outlines are usually posted on our website. Classes typically have a 5 to 10-minute break half way through each class. Writing workshops may entail writing between classes.

Currently, Learning in Retirement lecturers have the option to publicly share their lecture slides/resources. If these files are shared with the LinR office, they are posted to LinR website within 2 business days. The Learning in Retirement program respects copyright laws and intellectual property rights and will not post content should a lecturer choose not to publicly share their intellectual property.

Yes! At the end of each series/workshop/lecture participants will receive an email inviting them to provide their feedback on that offering, and the program as a whole. Participants’ anonymous feedback is gathered into a report that is reviewed by Learning in Retirement, and passed on to the lecturer. The Learning in Retirement program encourages feedback and invites participants to email or call us directly should they have any immediate concerns.

Registration is required for all lecture series, workshops and single lecture presentations and a variety of registration options are available. Please visit our website at carleton.ca/linr/registration/ for our registration details and dates.

Typically, lecture series cost $150 (HST included), workshop-style lecture series cost $210 (HST included), and most language series workshops cost $260 (HST included). Single Lecture Presentations cost $30 (HST included) per lecture. Carleton University’s main campus parking permits are also available for purchase for a nominal fee.

Please note that lecture series, writing and language workshop fees and main campus parking fees are subject to increase from time-to-time.

Generally speaking, Learning in Retirement lecture series, writing and language workshops are not tax deductible.

Yes, LinR is proud to offer gift certificates that can be applied to any lecture series/workshop/single lecture presentation fee, main campus parking or supply fee(s) associated with the LinR program. To purchase a gift certificate, please go here.

Learning in Retirement has updated its refund/withdrawal policy. Effective February 13th, 2020, please note that:

No refunds will be processed for class withdrawals or transfer requests made after March 3rd for the Early Spring session and after May 5th for the Late Spring session. Withdrawal/refund or transfer requests made before these dates will be subject to an administrative fee. Non-attendance does not constitute notice of withdrawal.

LinR will refund fees with the following conditions. Requests for refunds or transfers will be subject to:

• A $15 administrative fee until February 27th for the Early Spring Session, and until April 28th for the Late Spring Session.
• A $40 fee between February 28th – March 3rd for the Early Spring Session, and between April 29th – May 5th for the Late Spring Session.

No refunds for class withdrawals will be granted after March 3rd for the Early Spring Session and after May 5th for the Late Spring Session.

No refunds will be granted for textbooks and/or supplies. Credits on Learning in Retirement accounts will no longer be issued.

Parking Refund Policy: LinR will refund fees for the unused days of main campus parking permits.

Transfers: Should a participant wish to transfer from one class to another (within the same session), an e-mail or telephone call (613-520-3699) to the Learning in Retirement office is required. A letter or e-mail confirming the participant’s transfer to another class will be sent and should be retained for the participant’s records. Transfers are subject to space availability, an administrative fee, and cost differences between classes, where applicable.

Yes. If a class is full you have the option of being placed on the lecture series waiting list. All waiting list requests are processed in sequence by the date/time they were received. Learning in Retirement staff monitor waiting lists daily. When a space becomes available the person at the top of the list will be contacted via telephone and given the opportunity to register and pay for the lecture series. If the first person on the list declines the spot, we then move to the next person on the waiting list.

Yes, if you are registered for a lecture series or workshop. Your registration within the current Learning in Retirement session will entitle you to temporary borrowing privileges with Carleton’s MacOdrum Library. We will provide details on the first day of class.

By default, it should be assumed that Learning in Retirement lecture series/workshops/single lecture presentations will always run regardless of weather conditions. In the unlikely event of a class cancellation all participants will be notified via telephone and e-mail. A make-up class will be held (usually during the week following the originally scheduled last class). No partial credits will be offered to those who cannot attend the make-up class.

Participants may purchase parking in a nearby dedicated lot while they attend Learning in Retirement programming on Carleton’s main campus only. See our parking page for more details about locations and purchasing parking through our virtual parking permit system. For suggestions about parking downtown near the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre (CDCC), please see the CDCC page.

Ottawa’s light rail system (The O-Train) and bus (OC Transpo) both provide service to Carleton University in the way of direct stops on campus. OC Transpo routes #7, #10, #104, and #111 have a stop on Campus Ave. right outside Stormont Dundas House (right beside the Leeds House building, where most Learning in Retirement classes are held). Para Transpo stops near Leeds House building as well.

We highly recommend that you consult with OC Transpo’s website at: octranspo1.com/splash and The O-Train’s website at: octranspo1.com/routes/o-train/ for up-to-date information about routes and fares. Mobile and web apps like Google Maps can also be used to plan travelling by public transit.

Yes! For those who wish to drop-in to a class please call us to make arrangements. Dropping-in is subject to space availability and a $25.00 fee, per person, per class.

Many factors affect our programming each session, including: the availability and schedules of topic experts; how recently the topic was offered; previous enrolment numbers; participant feedback; the balance or combination of topics that session; and the availability, accessibility and cost of the space. We seek to balance all of these considerations when program planning. If you wish a particular topic would be offered, please let us know, so we can take that into account while planning the next session. But please understand if we can’t fulfil that wish. We will always do our best to offer what is wanted by LinR participants, while keeping the program viable and affordable.

Many factors affect where our programming is offered, including space availability, space size, space cost, equipment requirements, and lecturer preference. We have limited access to the kind of available, affordable, accessible and equipped space that would allow us to keep running the program. Our ‘curriculum’ and space planning must take into account all of these factors. If you wish a particular class would be offered in a specific location, please let us know, so we can take that into account while planning the next session. Please understand if we can’t fulfil everyone’s wishes. We will always do our best to offer what is wanted, while keeping the program viable and affordable.

We will generally run different offerings at each location. The only exceptions will occur when we believe there is enough interest to support the same class in both locations, and the lecturer is available for both times and places. We understand your disappointment if a lecture or workshop is offered in the location not most convenient to you. If you wish a particular topic would be offered in a specific location, please let us know, so we can take that into account while planning the next session. But please understand if we can’t fulfil that wish. We will always do our best to offer what is wanted by LinR participants, while keeping the program viable and affordable.

We re-offer some classes, depending on the popularity of the class, and the availability of the lecturer. We also take into account how recently the topic ran, as well as the overall balance of topics in each session.

We believe in your right to privacy. Learning in Retirement at Carleton University never releases its mailing list information to third parties in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection Privacy Act (FIPPA). For complete details on Carleton’s privacy policy please click here. In addition, Learning in Retirement never keeps credit card numbers on file. If you no longer wish to receive information from the Learning in Retirement program, please e-mail us or call us.

If you are interested in providing feedback and doing some beta testing of new software or procedures, please email us at Learning.in.Retirement@carleton.ca.

LinR hires Carleton faculty, contract instructors, and some experts from the community to offer two-hour lectures, and six-week (two hours each) lecture series on academic topics. We also offer some writing workshops. If you have a topic that you think is appropriate for our program, send us some information about yourself and the topic to Learning.in.Retirement@carleton.ca.