New UND Community Classes program to launch in January
In January, the Office of Extended Learning will launch UND Community Classes, a new program offering monthly interactive and educational courses open to members of the Greater Grand Forks community.
These one-per-month classes, each lasting one to three hours, will provide hands-on community education experiences led by UND experts across a variety of topics, such as garden design and local historical monuments.
The Office of Extended Learning developed the program to bridge the gap between the University and the broader community, providing experiences that appeal to learners of all backgrounds and interests.
“Our vision for UND Community Classes was to help connect the University to the Greater Grand Forks community,” said Julie Zikmund, associate director of the Office of Extended Learning. “There is such a love for learning in our community, and we wanted to provide opportunities for people to explore their passions and interests with University experts.”
Zikmund added that it was important to them to make these community education opportunities accessible and affordable, with classes being offered for a $25 registration fee at most. To kick off programming, several spring classes— including January’s photography workshop—will be free to attendees.
Lynette Krenelka, executive director of UND’s Teaching Transformation and Development Academy and director of the Office of Extended Learning, said that each course was designed to provide meaningful experiences and offer opportunities for community members to engage directly with the University’s wealth of knowledge in ways that go beyond traditional lectures.
“We wanted to invite people to the heart of campus to learn from our faculty and staff,” she added. “So many people on campus have come together to make these five events possible, and we’re really excited to offer these experiences to the community.”
For the January course, the Office of Extended Learning has invited UND social media manager Hayley Kuntz to lead the one-hour photography workshop. During the class, participants will learn the tips and tricks necessary to take top-notch photos on their smartphones. Though the class is free, attendees should register ahead of time on the Spring 2025 UND Community Classes webpage.
Free on-campus parking will be offered to attendees for each of the spring semester UND Community Classes.
Spring 2025 Community Classes
Below is a full list of each month’s class topic, instructor and a brief description of what attendees can expect to learn.
Picture Perfect: Unlocking Your Phone’s Photography Potential
Presenter: Hayley Kuntz, UND social media manager
January 23, 2025, noon to 1 p.m.
Memorial Union room 318
Participants will learn how to capture stunning photos using their smartphones. It covers essential topics like understanding camera features, mastering composition, and optimizing lighting and exposure. Participants will learn practical techniques for stabilizing their shots and editing photos. The objective is to equip learners of all ages with the skills to take professional-quality photos with their smartphones, enhancing their ability to capture and share memorable moments.
Pioneer Monuments and Public Memory
Presenter: Cynthia Prescott, professor of History and chair of the Department of History and American Indian Studies
February 19, 2025, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Memorial Union room 318
Participants will learn about the Pioneer monuments that stand before the North Dakota statehouse and throughout the American West. Tracing changing public responses to these statues reveals both growing contestation and their enduring power in American memory. Learn more about these monuments and how you can help document them and other historic sites.
Air Racing Aviatrixes: From the Legendary Florence Klingensmith to UND’s Frozen Force Air Race Team
Moderator: Elizabeth Bjerke, associate dean of the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and professor of Aviation
March 20, 2025, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Memorial Union Henry Family Ballroom
Participants will explore the historic significance of North Dakota’s first licensed female pilot, Florence Klingensmith, with the premiere of the regionally Emmy nominated short film “The Aviatrix.” After the viewing of the film, Bjerke will be joined by local Klingensmith expert Marisa Bengtson-Loerzel, who led the initiative to rename the Moorhead Regional Airport in honor of the aviatrix. Participants will then be joined by the current UND Aerospace Air Race Classic Team, the Frozen Force, to learn about air racing today and how their team prepares for the grueling 2,400 mile flight that will take place in June 2025.
From Sustainable Seed Collecting to Diversity in Garden Design
Presenters: Cheryl Hunter, professor of Educational Foundations and Research, and Joshua Hunter, associate professor of Educational Foundations and Research
April 22, 2025, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Memorial Union Ballroom D
Participants will engage in hands-on experiences with seed preparation as they learn how to collect, prepare, store and re-plant a variety of native plant varieties from seed. Participants will also explore multiple ways to design and construct garden beds to maximize water use, use of space, aesthetics and plant compatibility. Materials and resources will be provided. Sponsored by Gro.UND Learning Gardens in collaboration with the Center for Engineering Education Research (CEER) and Outreach for Teacher Recruitment & Retention (OTRR)
Landscape Design for Year-Round Beauty and Sustainability
Presenters: Jared Johnson, UND arborist and landscape specialist, and Melissa Grafenauer, UND horticulturalist
May 14, 2025, noon to 3 p.m.
Memorial Union Ballroom D
Participants will learn from UND’s top arborist and horticulturist about the best ways to plan and sustain a beautiful garden for the ages. This workshop includes practice conceptualizing your garden as an ecosystem and gaining insight into the reasons for why specific annuals and perennials grow best in various soil and climate conditions. This landscape design for the ages workshop will provide participants with hands-on experiences through sketching their own garden designs and a walking tour highlighting some of UND’s special landscaping beds and rare trees.
