People looking to continue their education or just take a class for fun will get their chance when community education classes kick off on Monday at Ohio University Southern.

There are eight classes ranging from dogs to dancing to computers.

“Most are fun classes,” Janet Long Wagner, a professional advisor at OUS. “We have people in the community who really don’t want to earn college credit but they want to stay abreast of things like computers. It’s a way for the college to branch out in the community and show them we care.”

The aerobic conditioning for beginners and the community chorus classes can be taken for college credit.

The classes are a continuation of the summer youth classes OUS had during the summer.

“We have had community education classes for 26 years,” Wagner said. “The summer classes were extremely successful.”

Many of the classes start at the very beginning. For example, the computer basics class is indeed basic.

Students learn how to turn it on and progress from there. Next quarter, they can take classes that teach them how to use programs like Word and Windows. And the dog obedience classes start with what the trainer calls puppy kindergarten and works up to the novice level.

Wagner said the classes would change every quarter. Some of the future classes will include digital photography, how to use the computer-based digital imaging program PhotoShop, and others.

“We hope to eventually include things like making stained glass art and woodworking,” Wagner said. “The classes are taught by members of the community and educators as well.”

She said the dog obedience classes tend to fill up the quickest since there are three parts to the course and the ACT prep class fills quickly as well.

To sign up for classes, you can go to the Student Center Office at 1804 Liberty Avenue in Ironton or on OUS Web site, www.southern.ohiou.edu, and clicking on community education in the scrolling links.

You can request a brochure by calling Wagner at (740) 533-4544 or via e-mail at wagnerj@ohio.edu.