The Fall 2023 Osher Course Catalog was published this week, and I’m going to have a hard time figuring out what to register for. For a total of $175, members can take as many as eight classes. Today I’m providing you the catalog course descriptions of the upcoming Government and Law courses because I’m interested in these. Four of these seven courses are new offerings. If you want to see more, here’s the link to the website https://www.wm.edu/offices/auxiliary/osher/; click on the “catalog” box to see what else is being offered.
NOTE: For those of you who don’t live in Williamsburg, don’t despair! The course offerings include 15 classes offered via Zoom. There’s no reason not to join in the fun.
Virginia Criminal Law: This 6-week (12-hour) course provides an overview of Virginia’s criminal justice system. Topics include the Virginia Criminal Code, crimes of violence, property offenses, and narcotics offenses.
The instructor currently serves as the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Williamsburg and James City County and is an adjunct professor at the William and Mary Law School
NEW! Congressional Oversight in American Democracy – An Apolitical Look at the Jan. 6 Committee: This 3-hour class offers an apolitical discussion of the development and production of the Jan. 6 Committee Hearings, i.e., the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol.
The instructor was the Inspector General of the Treasury Department and was the chief investigator of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the chief investigator of the Senate Finance Committee. The guest instructor was the staff director of the Jan. 6 Committee and former inspector general of the Central Intelligence Agency.
NEW! Presidential Impeachment: What It Is, How It Works, Why It Matters: This 2-hour class will examine the history, origins, use, and consequences of the impeachment power that is both legal and political in nature. Specifically, it will examine the three cases of presidential impeachment: Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump.
The instructor is a professor emeritus of Political Science at SUNY Cortland, an adjunct professor at the William and Mary School of Law, and an affiliated scholar in William & Mary’s Government department
NEW! Constitutional Crises: The Chaotic Presidential Elections of 1800 and 1876: The presidential elections of 1800 and 1876 stressed the Constitution like no other elections in our history. These elections highlighted several flaws in our presidential selection process, particularly in the Electoral College. In this course, we will examine the candidates and campaigns. We will also look at the peculiar methods that were used to resolve those elections and at the longer-term ramifications of each.
The instructor practiced securities and insurance law for 35 years and now teaches classes on the origin and structure of the Constitution for various lifelong learning programs.
Congress, the Constitution, and You: The purposes of this 3-session (6-hour) course are to provide an understanding of Congress’ role in policymaking by focusing on the constitutional basis for that role and determine how Congress is fulfilling its responsibilities as the “people’s representatives.’’
The instructor is a former assistant professor of history at West Point and an adjunct professor of history at George Washington University.
The Virginia Legislative Process: With shrinking state and local news outlets, it is harder than ever to find out what your state lawmakers are up to in Richmond. This nonpartisan course teaches students about the Virginia legislative process – the written and unwritten rules – and how to search for and track bills that are of interest to you. Participants will also learn how to connect financial contributions to candidates and elected officials, and how to use open government laws to keep everyone accountable.
The instructor is the director of the Virginia Coalition of Open Government.
NEW! After the Gavel Falls: An Introduction to the Department of Defense Clemency and Parole Process: A key but little-known component of the Uniform Code of Military Justice system is the Department of Defense’s (DoD) clemency and parole programs. Administered by the Services (Air Force, Space Force, Army, and Navy-Marine Corps), the Clemency and Parole Boards assist in executing clemency, parole, transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, return-to-duty authorities, and mandatory supervised releases. The Board’s clemency authority is separate from a commander’s post-trial power to modify findings and/or sentence of a court martial. The course provides an overview of the DoD’s clemency and program process. Learners will also experience the decision-making process itself by evaluating factors in several case studies in an interactive class discussion.
The instructor served in a variety of positions during his 47 years of federal service, and ended his career as director of the security protection directorate, Air Force Review Boards Agency, chair of the Air Force Clemency and Parole Board, as well as president of the Personnel Security Appeal Board.
I imagine you’re as blown away by these course offerings as I am. And there’s more! There are 131 courses being offered this fall, and 60 of them are brand new. Registration starts July 17 and closes July 26 for an initial class lottery. Registration will reopen on August 26 for any classes that were not filled in the initial lottery.
This is just a sample of what’s available this fall. If you’re bored with retirement in Williamsburg, you’re just not playing attention.
Thanks! 😎