UW-Green Bay Expands Offerings for Older Learners as Enrollment Declines

The university is courting retirees and other older adults to boost enrollment and keep the region's aging population engaged.

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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As Wisconsin's workforce ages and universities nationwide see fewer traditional college-aged students, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) is trying several unorthodox efforts to attract older learners. This includes more short-term certificates that advance workers' job skills, ungraded courses that keep older students socially engaged, and classes in local nursing homes. University leaders hope these moves will keep the region's growing retirement-age population sharp and socially engaged — and potentially in the workforce for longer — while also bolstering enrollment.

Why it matters

Wisconsin's aging population has caused ongoing trouble for its workforce, with not enough working-age people to fill jobs left by retirees. UWGB's focus on older learners aims to encourage pre-retirement adults to stay engaged in the workforce longer. It also helps keep the region's aging population mentally sharp and socially engaged through lifelong learning opportunities.

The details

UWGB offers 20 short-term certificate options, ranging from topics like utilizing artificial intelligence to English-to-Spanish translation. These are marketed as a way for workers to gain knowledge to advance their careers. The university's Lifelong Learning Institute provides over 150-250 non-credit courses each semester focused on topics like history, film, and guest lectures. UWGB has also used a $300,000 grant to host classes at local assisted living facilities and livestream content to residents. In addition to older learners, the university is also targeting high school students, who now make up over a third of enrollment.

  • In fall 2025, UWGB joined the Age-Friendly University Global Network.
  • In summer 2025, UWGB debuted an 'intergenerational' program to connect older adults and youth.
  • In early 2025, the Rennes Group gave a $300,000 grant to UWGB's Lifelong Learning Institute.

The players

Mark Warpinski

A retired judge who leads discussions about how judges decide on sentences at UWGB.

Norman Schroeder

A 76-year-old student who says older adults "pay attention" and "ask questions" in UWGB classes, unlike "most college students nowadays."

Jessica Lambrecht

UWGB's continuing education and workforce training executive officer, who is leading efforts to attract more older learners to the university.

Gary Lewins

A 10-year student in UWGB's Lifelong Learning Institute who took a class to digitize his old photo albums after retiring.

Nicole Schingick

The president of the Rennes Group, which operates assisted living facilities in northern Wisconsin and gave a $300,000 grant to UWGB's Lifelong Learning Institute.

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What they’re saying

“We pay attention. We ask questions. We're not sitting on our cellphones and scrolling … like I guess most college students nowadays do.”

— Norman Schroeder (Wisconsin Watch)

“Just because you live in an environment that provides maybe some extra help, doesn't mean … you shouldn't have access to things like lifelong learning.”

— Nicole Schingick, President, Rennes Group (Wisconsin Watch)

“When I retired, I realized I've got to keep doing things. You can't just sit in the chair.”

— Gary Lewins, 10-year student, UWGB Lifelong Learning Institute (Wisconsin Watch)

What’s next

UWGB leaders plan to offer more virtual classes for older students who are homebound or have physical limitations, and eventually want to provide Rennes residents access to the full catalog of lifelong learning classes virtually in real-time.

The takeaway

UWGB's focus on engaging older learners, through short-term certificates, ungraded courses, and partnerships with local assisted living facilities, demonstrates how universities can adapt to serve a changing student population and keep their region's aging population mentally sharp and socially engaged.