From ‘Breakfast University’ to glassblowing: Adults head back to class in Greater Morristown

By Sophia Ricciardelli

As summer comes to an end, students across the country are preparing to head back to school. Some of them haven’t been there in decades.

Adult education programs in Morris County are proving that learning doesn’t have to end at graduation. Whether you want to study astronomy, try woodworking, or master your iPhone camera, there’s no shortage of options for lifelong learners this fall.

Among the newest offerings is Breakfast University, a six-part lecture series launching at the Morris Museum this October. Developed by Steven Schragis of Thoughtful Productions, the program debuted at the New York Historical in January, where it quickly became a hit. Each session begins with coffee and a light breakfast before a lecture by one of the program’s carefully selected professors, followed by private access to the museum’s galleries.

The concept for Breakfast University grew from the realization that many adults, once they have more free time, miss the intellectual and social stimulation of student life.

“A lot of people are nostalgic about college,” Schragis said. “They’d like to experience the fun part of it again.”

That means no grades, no exams—and no boring professors.

To find the best speakers, organizers visited more than 100 colleges and universities and recruited the professors students most consistently identified as their favorites.

“If you’ve ever been to a lecture by a highly credentialed superstar author who is extremely boring,” Schragis said, that’s exactly what the program aims to avoid.

The professors were asked to choose equally engaging lecture topics, with titles ranging from Photographs That Changed America to Albert Einstein: The Man Behind the Myth.

Because participants aren’t working toward a degree or promotion, Schragis said organizers had the freedom to choose lectures that might not appear on a career track but are sure to spark curiosity. He describes Breakfast University as “edutainment,” an industry in which having a good time is just as important as learning something new.

About a quarter of attendees are retired, Schragis said, while the rest are adults with enough flexibility to spend a weekday morning learning. Some arrive early to enjoy breakfast, while others stay afterward to discuss the lecture with fellow attendees.

“They’re really there because they’re intellectually curious,” Schragis said. “When you take away the grades, and the worry about a job, and all the issues that 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds are dealing with, it just becomes pure enjoyment.”

The program consists of two three-month semesters, with one lecture each month. Attendees can purchase tickets for individual lectures ($53), a semester ($141), or the entire series ($272). Each lecture is also available to livestream for $51.

FROM THE SUPREME COURT TO ‘THE TWILIGHT ZONE’

For those seeking a more traditional college experience, Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Institute for Lifelong Learning (FILL) has served adults 60 and older since 1972.

Members can choose from more than 65 FILL classes covering subjects from the arts, humanities, and politics to home coffee roasting, AI fundamentals, singing bowl meditation, and tips for taking better iPhone photos.

Last spring, the program welcomed about 250 participants, many of whom have returned year after year, not just for the opportunity to keep learning, but for the tight-knit community.

Deborah Kander, who’s been a FILL member for five years, is one of them.

“I’ve found a warm, welcoming community of friends who share my curiosity and enthusiasm for learning,” Kander said.

FILL students also have the option to take traditional undergraduate courses, which Kander said gives her “the opportunity to dive into more in-depth academic study and interact with the vibrant university-age community.

“It’s energizing, enriching, and wonderfully inter-generational.”

Beth Earley, who has been in FILL for two years, said she can hardly believe it hasn’t been longer. “It feels comfortable, like a much longer experience or friendship would,” she said.

Members receive student IDs and access to campus life, including the library, cafeteria, fitness facilities, performances, and other university events. Earley recalled getting to hear Mikie Sherrill speak on campus while she was running for governor.

The campus itself, bordering Madison and Florham Park, is beautiful, Earley added. “I leave any of the day’s woes outside the campus gates!”

Members can also participate in social offerings such as needlework groups, Stories From Our Lives meetings, and weekly lunches, as well as special events that foster connections between FILL members and undergraduate students.

“There’s something for everybody,” said Professor Bruce Peabody, who has directed FILL since 2011. “People who want to be really serious about their studies can take a high-powered astronomy class. People who just want to socialize and get their feet wet can do that, too.”

The program is offered on both FDU’s Florham and Metropolitan campuses. Registration for the fall 2026 semester began on Aug. 10 and costs $295.

FDU also is renewing its decades-old Public Affairs Lecture Series (PALS), which offers 10 current-events-focused lectures taught by professors and experts at the Morris Museum. This fall’s lectures will explore topics including artificial intelligence, the Supreme Court, U.S.-European relations, democracy in South America, and the November congressional election results.

The series costs $120 and runs Mondays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. from September 14 through November 23.

For another on-campus option, explore Drew University’s Empty Nester Semester, a 10-week program designed for people entering a new stage of life with more free time and a desire to keep learning.

The program offers 13 two-hour sessions designed to be engaging and accessible. Participants can explore topics like optimal aging or social media use, take a mixology class, learn the choreography to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, or attend a lecture on Hamlet before seeing the play at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

The semester begins Sept. 16. Participants can register for individual sessions ($57), a three-session bundle ($150), or the full semester ($334). Those attending with a friend can save by purchasing the discounted two-person version of each ticket.

The Morris School District also offers dozens of adult education courses each semester through its Morris Adult School.

This fall’s catalog features a wide range of classes, including art history, voice acting, an exploration of The Twilight Zone, Italian and Spanish language courses, plus offerings in arts and crafts, dance, exercise, and games (including Mahjong!).

Prices vary by class: Most multi-session courses cost between $100 and $300, and most individual sessions are around $40. Some offerings are free, including ESL courses and a retirement planning course for women.

Courses are available both online and in person at Morristown High School and Frelinghuysen Middle School. Registration is now open and will remain open throughout the semester.

BEYOND THE STACKS: BIZET AND THE SOCRATES CAFÉ

Or, take advantage of a wide variety of free educational programs throughout the year at the Morristown & Township Library and the Morris County Library. Upcoming offerings at the former include a Zoom session about Henri Matisse, a talk about General George Washington, a variety of book clubs and a chess club.

At the county library in Whippany you can find Socrates Café discussions, a Q+A session with a Master Gardener, a jigsaw puzzle tournament, a writers’ circle, and introductory computer and internet classes.

The Madison Library also hosts a “minicourse” program where curious adults can learn from university professors in a no-pressure environment. Upcoming courses include a five-week course on Cultural Studies & Society and Creative Writing & Personal Expression, as well as a single two-hour session on Digital Literacy for Everyday Life.

Music lovers can look forward to the return of Maestro Robert W. Butts’ free lecture series, which explores the evolution of music from the turn of the 20th century through the post-World War II era, as well as guided discussions of classic operas by composers such as Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Bizet.

Courses are offered at libraries throughout Morris and Somerset counties, with weekly sessions running from late August through November.

The Adult School, a Madison-based nonprofit, has a catalog that reads almost like a list of things you’ve always wanted to try. This fall, students can learn everything from glassblowing and printmaking to country line dancing, cookie decorating, psychic reading, and even Instant Guitar for Hopelessly Busy People. Other offerings include foreign languages, photography, genealogy, financial planning, fitness classes, and a variety of trips and tours.

Some courses are offered online, while others are held at schools, libraries, and community centers throughout Morris County and neighboring communities. Course fees vary, but most individual classes cost $40 to $80, while multi-session courses range from $100 to $300. Registration opens in mid-August.

Looking to study abroad? Check out Road Scholar, a nonprofit that offers guided, educational travel experiences around the world.

Travel groups typically consist of adults aged 50 and older, though Road Scholar also offers trips geared toward families, women, and solo travelers. Each trip is led by an expert instructor who guides participants through must-see landmarks (including less-touristy, behind-the-scenes sites) while contextualizing each stop with its culture and history, creating an experience that’s as much education as it is vacation.

Browse Road Scholar’s collection of hundreds of trips, with popular options including Classical Greece, The Best of Iceland, A Taste of Costa Rica, and the Panama Canal. You can easily narrow them down by destination, interest, travel dates, price, and activity level.

So whether you’re the type who wants to hike through Yosemite or climb the mountains and temples of Nepal, or you’d rather have a more leisurely experience and stroll around the castles of Scotland, or tour Paris “At a Slower Pace,” there’s a trip for everyone.

Most programs cost between $3,000 and $7,000, though there are plenty of options under $2,000 and a handful of higher-end trips. Road Scholar also offers financial aid and handles much of the planning, including lodging, most meals, excursions, and even flight coordination.

Whether it’s a place you’ve always wanted to go, a topic you’ve always been curious about, a hobby you’ve always wanted to try, or a simple desire to meet new people and create new experiences, Greater Morristown residents now have more opportunities than ever to rediscover the joy of being a student.