College for Grandparents and Grandchildren at Grandparent University!

My husband, my grandson, and I at GPU

Have you ever wished you could return to your alma mater, wander around the campus, take a few classes, and reminisce about your college days? My husband and I met at Oklahoma State University almost fifty years ago, so Stillwater will always have a piece of our hearts. Last week, we spent three days on the campus that is so special to us, and we took along our grandson, who has an even bigger piece of our hearts. We attended Grandparent University!

The history of Grandparent University

If you’re wondering what Grandparent University is, you’re asking a legitimate question, and I’ll answer it by starting with a few facts. To qualify to attend, the children must be between the ages of 7 and 13 as of June 1. They must also be a legacy of OSU. A child can be a legacy if they have a grandparent or a parent who is an active member of the OSU Alumni Association. You may become a member of the Alumni Association even if you didn’t graduate from OSU.

Grandparent University began in 2003 with eighty participants and offered four majors. This year, there are two sessions with a total of 630 participants coming from 22 states! There are now 22 majors offered, including subjects such as Adventures in Insects, Architectural Engineering, Agribusiness, and my grandson’s choice, Bits and Bytes: Adventures in Computer Science. There is something for every interest. The official purpose of GPU is to promote intergenerational learning and to give kids a taste of college life, but the benefits of attending Grandparent University with your grandchild are numerous.

Activities

Besides taking classes with your grandchild, there are fun activities, such as a carnival at Legacy Village, a Paint Night, and a tailgate party at the Alumni Center. The tailgate party was a highlight with Hideaway pizza, OSU cheerleaders, singing the fight song, and a bounce house! There was also an opportunity to take part in the Boone Pickens Legacy Experience Tour at the football stadium.

The graduation ceremony recognized each student with a walk across the stage and a certificate printed with their name and major. Callister might have been even more excited about the Hershey’s bar in an orange-and-black wrapper that each student was given as they walked off the stage. It was the perfect, sweet end to a wonderful experience!

Accommodations and dining

Participants stay in the dorms and eat most of their meals in the dining hall. When I heard we were staying in the dorms, I wasn’t so sure I was up for reliving that experience. I went to college in the ’70s and lived in Cordell Hall, which was not air-conditioned and had shared hall bathrooms. I was fine with that when I was 18, but not so much at 68. I was relieved to find out we had a four-bedroom suite (with air conditioning!) with two bathrooms — a far cry from the old days!

My grandson loved eating in the dining hall, saying that it was so much better than his school’s cafeteria. We also ate at Hideaway one night, and there was Hideaway pizza at the tailgate party. According to Callister, you can never have too much Hideaway pizza! The quality of food during Grandparent University inspired my grandson to say, “I’m basically in this for the food!”

A unique bonding experience

All of the classes, events, and activities that the coordinators of Grandparent University planned were great, but some of the best times of our three days at OSU were the unplanned moments — the silly immature jokes we laughed way too much over; playing rock, paper, scissors on the bus rides from our dorm to the classes; my grandson making goofy faces for every photograph; playing board games in our suite; and talking, talking, and more talking. As corny as it sounds, we bonded more tightly and created lasting memories. Time is a precious commodity and is a valuable tool for building relationships. Grandparent University gave my husband and me the chance to relive a bit of our college days, but best of all, the opportunity to have a unique, fun experience with our grandson.

Registering for Grandparent University

If you’re interested in attending next summer, I strongly suggest joining the OSU Alumni Association soon because registration begins in the early spring and fills up fast. Grandparent University sells out quickly and always has a waiting list. On the drive home, we asked Callister if he thought he’d like to return to Grandparent University next summer, and he gave an enthusiastic, affirmative answer! We might have a future Cowboy in our family!

My grandson loved experiencing a slice of campus life!

A few tips if you go:

• Wear comfortable shoes! Although the buses provided air-conditioned travel to classes and activities, there was still a fair amount of walking.
• Bring casual clothes, preferably in orange and black! There are no dress-up occasions at GPU.
• If you’re at all particular about bedding, bring your own. The sheets and blankets provided by the dorm are functional but not comfortable.
• If you’re a finicky sleeper, like me, bring an eye mask. The parking lot lights shine very brightly into the dorm rooms. Even my grandson, who is a great sleeper, asked why it was daylight in his room at bedtime.
• Bring a few board games or a deck of cards. There wasn’t much downtime, but enough to play Battleship, checkers, Uno, and Connect Four. There are no televisions in the dorm rooms, providing a great opportunity to go old school with board games