Program Summary
SAGE Schedule
Those people over the age of 60, who used to be called “seniors,” are now referred to by the term SAGE: Seasoned Adults Growing Educationally.
Hands-off (lecture programs) or hands-on (learning by doing), the SAGE Program offers classes in a multitude of disciplines, including (but not limited to):
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Multiple levels of foreign languages often including: French, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek, and Latin; as well as language origins
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Beginning, intermediate and advanced levels of a variety of applications, including Micro Soft Office, and Internet navigation
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Income tax preparation, financial and estate planning
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Both local and American, ancient history, discussions of current issues, cultural anthropology, great decisions in the history of the world, European culture, the European Union ; historical perspectives seen through films& literature
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Freelance, creative, poetry, and autobiographical
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From the classics at large to the analysis of a specific genre or author
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Appreciation from opera to pop; piano performance; and music history
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Watercolor, oil, and acrylic painting, drawing, studio fine arts, ceramics, pottery, stained glass, fiber art, sculpting, and appreciation; art as a business
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General fitness, aerobic fitness, strength training, weight training, dance; Asian specialties (e.g., tai chi, tai chi dao yin, ki gong, yoga), balance, chronic disease management, and self improvement
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Methodologies for stress reduction, meditation, healing arts, hands healing, and wellness approaches to life
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Program Guidelines
Senior citizens -- persons 60 years of age or older who are Maryland residents of any county -- are offered a special tuition-free selection of classes through the SAGE Program. Seniors are eligible to take classes advertised in the SAGE Bulletin and may attend any continuing education sponsored classes which have been approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) without being charged tuition. A $50 registration fee is charged per trimester. The fee covers as many courses as the student chooses to take which start within that trimester. Seniors are responsible for paying all other fees, such as for labs, computers, supplies, etc., associated with courses for which they register.
Out-of-State seniors pay the full tuition, a $10 surcharge for each SAGE Program course plus one $7 registration fee per semester.
The tuition-exempt status also applies to a Maryland resident who is retired from the workforce (not simply a recipient of Social Security by virtue of disability and/or eligibility through parental benefits) by reason of total and permanent disability who either:
- Provides certification from the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board that the individual is receiving disability and retirement benefits under the Social Security Act or the Railroad Retirement Act;
OR
- Provides certification from the individual's federal retirement or pension authority of the employee's (a) total and permanent disability; and (b) receipt of disability benefits as based on a standard that is at least as stringent as the standard applied by the Social Security Act.
Note: The registrar must certify that the student is disabled.
The tuition waiver does not apply to someone who has a doctor’s prescription for classes, such as Therapeutic Aquatics or Fitness, offered by the college in general or the SAGE Program in particular.
Senior citizens may also take credit courses, as well as the above mentioned state funded continuing education courses and/or SAGE Program courses, tuition free. (See the note below.)
SAGE courses are especially designed for students age 60 and over. These include courses in drawing, painting, health, exercise, swimming, creative and autobiographical writing, income tax, computers, literature, foreign languages, history, pottery, current issues and more. The younger than age 60 student must pay tuition for the class. Courses are usually offered during the day throughout Prince George's County at sites such as churches, apartment complexes, senior centers, residential complexes, community centers, Andrews Air Force Base, and some college extension centers, such as those at University Town Center or Laurel. A small number of SAGE classes are offered on nights and weekends at a few sites.
The open-enrollment senior courses are advertised in the SAGE Bulletin which is printed three times per year to correspond with the three standardized semesters within which the courses are offered. The Health, Exercise and Fitness and Therapeutic Aquatics courses usually run concurrently with the credit classes on campus.
SAGE students may register by mail, in-person, by telephone, online, with the teacher, or at the site where the course is offered.
NOTE: Tuition waiver for seniors and retired or disabled persons applies only for courses marked with an asterisk in the general non-credit schedule. Tuition must be paid for applied music and all courses not deemed eligible for state aid. Seniors must also pay any fees associated with courses, such as the lab fees for Introduction to Computers for Senior Citizens, other computer classes, and pottery classes.
Senior's Helping Seniors Grant Fund
The SAGE Program sponsors a scholarship/grant fund which awards 50% registration fee grants to needy senior students each semester. Application is required every semester and is reviewed for award by a committee consisting of the SAGE Program Coordinators and other support staff. The fund is sustained exclusively by donations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does “SAGE” mean?
SAGE is the acronym for Seasoned Adults Growing Educationally. Once referred to as “senior citizens,” we prefer to think of those age 60 and older as “sages” -- wise by way of life’s experiences.
- Who is eligible to take SAGE classes?
Any Maryland resident -- not just a Prince George's County resident -- is eligible. Those who are over 60 years old OR are certified as totally and permanently disabled under the PGCC guidelines (for criteria, call 301-322-0819) pay no tuition.
- How much do SAGE classes cost?
Classes are tuition free for Maryland residents over 60, although students must pay registration fees. (For non-credit classes, students pay one $50 registration fee per semester to register for an unlimited number of state approved, non-conflicting classes. Students also pay for supplies and any lab fees. For credit classes, students pay a separate registration fee and any additional class fees.)
Residents of other states (including Washington, DC) who are over 60 pay may enroll, but must pay all tuition, a surcharge of $10 per class and a $7/semester registration fee.
- Are classes free for people who are over 50?
No. To participate in the tuition-waiver part of the SAGE Program, one must be over 60, a Maryland resident and pay the $50/semester registration fee.
- What if I want to take classes but cannot afford the $50 fee for one semester?
The SAGE Program sponsors a fund called SHS, Seniors Helping Seniors, which issues a $25 grant to a participant who is over 60 and cannot afford to pay the full registration fee for one semester. Application must be made each semester by the deadline date, usually 30-45 days prior to the start of a semester.
- When are SAGE classes offered?
Classes are usually offered during the day, between 8 am and 4 pm, though there are a growing number of classes in the evening and on the weekends.
- How long do classes meet?
Typically, classes meet for 2 hours each week for 13-15 sessions per semester. Although some classes do meet longer, it is for fewer sessions.
- When does the semester start and end?
SAGE runs three four-month trimesters each year: Fall runs from October to January; Spring from February to May; Summer from June to September. Each trimester is 13-15 weeks with a one to two week break between each session.
- Where are classes held?
SAGE classes are held at locations throughout the county. A site listing is included inside each SAGE Bulletin and includes senior centers, community centers, churches, synagogues, residential communities, apartment complexes, extension centers, and others. In order to offer the greatest flexibility, classes are usually offered at 35-40 locations per semester.
- Is it possible to register on-line for SAGE classes?
Yes. You can register on-line through the college’s website at www.pgcc.edu,choosing Owl Link from the Quick Links. To peruse the SAGE Bulletin on-line before registering, please go to http://www.pgcc.edu/current/schedules/ and choose SAGE from the schedules. From the current semester’s Bulletin you can identify all your desired classes by synonym number to make registration easier.
- Will I get a call or postcard to say that my registration has been received and my class is ready to start?
No! There are over 9,000 registrations per semester in the SAGE Program. Proof of payment and/or your registration is your notification.
- Will I get a call to notify me that my class has been canceled?
Yes.
- If I decide to drop a class, can I just ignore my bill?
No! You must officially call the College (301-322-0159) and drop a class before it starts. Otherwise, it will be charged to your account regardless of your attendance. If you do not officially drop the class, the $50 charge (or tuition charges) will be outstanding on your account, and you will not be allowed to register for a class in the future.
- How can I get a copy of the SAGE Bulletin? Do you have a mailing list?
Anyone who has taken a SAGE class during the past year will be mailed a Bulletin automatically about six weeks before the start of the next semester. Or, you may call 301-322-0036 or 301-322-0056 and request that a Bulletin be sent to you. You can also check your local library, all of which have copies of the SAGE Bulletin.