Aerial view of campus with Williamsport, the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

openLYCOMING

For 200 years, Lycoming College has been proud to serve the region, providing cultural opportunities and learning experiences. openLYCOMING delivers non-credit educational seminars and courses designed to expand and enrich the lives of community members.

Taught by current and emeriti members of the Lycoming College faculty, the program offers a wide range of courses in the arts, humanities, philosophy, local history, sciences, and special topics related to faculty research and community interest. While the content and duration of each course will differ, Lycoming's dedication to providing lifelong educational opportunities will endure.

Summer 2024

Sydney Opera HouseSeeking Sydney: A Community Seminar Travel Course 

July 4-14, 2024

Want a break from the summer heat? Join us for a trip “Down Under” to Sydney, Australia, from July 4-14, 2024! Enjoy a mild winter in the Southern Hemisphere while experiencing Australia’s rich, diverse, and complex history in the bustling city of Sydney. We’ll blend the histories of the traditional custodians of the land, the perspectives of the British colonizers, the experiences of immigrant communities, and a glimpse into modern Sydney.

Who will be your guides in Sydney?

Laura SeddelmeyerLaura Seddelmeyer, Ph.D., joined Lycoming College’s department of history in 2014 and teaches classes related to modern Europe, Asia, and Australia. She has 20 years of experience researching in, publishing about, and traveling to Australia. Since joining the College, Seddelmeyer has traveled with students to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Shanghai, and Australia.

Caroline PayneCaroline Payne, Ph.D., joined Lycoming’s department of political science in 2010. In addition to teaching courses about international relations and sustainable development, she has extensive experience leading groups to the Dominican Republic where she leads the Warrior Coffee Project. Both Seddelmeyer and Payne travel extensively in their free time and are excited to welcome you on this new globe-trotting adventure.

  • Who can join? Lycoming College Alumni & Friends of the College
  • What is the cost? $2,300 per person based on double-occupancy accommodation ($500 non-refundable deposit due December 1, 2023, $1,800 non-refundable balance due March 15, 2024); single-occupancy cost is $3,100 per person
  • What does it include? Hotel, planned travel within Sydney, planned tours and excursions, and five group meals
  • What is not included? Airfare, Tourist Visa (Electronic Travel Authority), trip insurance, individual meals, and souvenirs
  • All participants must be age 18+ and prepared to walk several miles per day on uneven terrain, uphill, and in varying temperatures.

VIEW TRIP FLYER VIEW TRIP ITINERARY REGISTER / PAY

QUESTIONS? Please contact Laura Seddelmeyer at seddelmeyer@lycoming.edu.

Stream anytime!

Plants and... with Dr. Briggs

If you were not baking bread during the height of the pandemic, chances are good you were growing a green thumb. Whether it was succulents or leafy swiss cheese plants, tomatoes or peppers of every variety, green was everywhere on our social media and Zoom calls. “That plant life” has taken root in our society. Our Fall 2022 openLYCOMING session dug deeper into why plants are so important to our everyday lives with Dr. Michelle Briggs. 

Instructor: Michelle Briggs, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology at Lycoming College
Cost: $35 per person for streaming courses online
Inquire with Lara Collins Breon ’04 in the alumni office at breonl@lycoming.edu or 570-321-4376.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™

Nearly 25 years ago, the world was introduced to a bespectacled orphan whose magical adventures would soon capture the hearts and minds of children and adults alike. Lycoming College celebrated the Harry Potter™ books and movies with an openLYCOMING seminar held in Spring 2022. Dr. Maria Hebert-Leiter delved deeper into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ each night with topical lectures and group discussions.

Instructor: Maria Hebert-Leiter, Ph.D., Department of English
Cost: $35 per person for streaming courses online
Inquire with Lara Collins Breon ’04 in the alumni office at breonl@lycoming.edu or 570-321-4376.

Poetry for People Who Hate Poetry

Some people love poetry. Dr. Darby Lewes is one of those people. But she knows not everyone feels the same, and she is here to change your mind! Lewes shared her reflections on her experiences teaching poetry over the years, with passion and humor, in this three-part online lecture series. And keep your eyes peeled for a special cameo appearance from Raven, one of her famous Lyco Dogs!

Instructor: Darby Lewes, Ph.D., Department Chair and Professor of English and Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies
Cost: $50 per person for streaming courses online
Inquire with Lara Collins Breon ’04 in the alumni office at breonl@lycoming.edu or 570-321-4376.

Exploring Urban Myths and Why We Fear Things

Have you ever explored a haunted place or tried conjuring ‘Bloody Mary’? Are you in the habit of checking the backseat of your car at night? Have you heard about poisoned trick-or-treat candy? Did you hear about the tourist who awoke in an icy bathtub with missing kidneys? A common reaction to urban legends is fear. Fear of the unknown and others is mostly based on fiction and embellished fact. Nonetheless, reactions to fear range from biological to social and from avoidance to thrill seeking. Fear can affect individuals and entire groups alike. This course explores the origins of popular urban legends to better understand the causes and consequences of fear.

Instructor: Justin Lopez-Medina, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice and criminology
Cost: $50 per person for streaming courses online
Inquire with Lara Collins Breon ’04 in the alumni office at breonl@lycoming.edu or 570-321-4376.

The Historian's Witchcraft: Salem Witches Fact and Fiction

Presented as part of our Fall 2019 openLYCOMING course, Dr. Christopher Pearl discussed the historian’s craft to upend popular lore about the witches of Salem using original sources from the Salem Witch Trials - differentiating fact from Hocus Pocus.

Instructor: Christopher Pearl, Ph.D., associate professor of history
Cost: $50 per person for streaming courses online
Inquire with Lara Collins Breon ’04 in the alumni office at breonl@lycoming.edu or 570-321-4376.