The Center for Continuing Studies, which offers non-credit classes in the liberal arts to community members, alumni, and parents of students, held a reception at Broad Street Books Monday night to celebrate its first completed semester. As a result of the success of the five courses the center ran in the fall, it plans to offer five courses for the spring semester. A digital print class, one of these spring classes, had only two spots left after the first day of registration.

“The center is a very positive advantage that Middletown residents have because of Wesleyan,” said Middletown Mayor Domenique S. Thornton, at the reception. “It expands horizons, adds depth to people’s lives and understanding, and opens up new interests and careers.”

According to the Mayor, city employees get a reduction in tuition from Wesleyan and a reimbursement from the city as an incentive to take advantage of the center.

Balloons, a catered spread, wine, and a podium adorned what normally is Broad Street’s magazine section for the event, converting the space into a cozy reception area. The crowd of 40 people in attendance was a mix of Wesleyan staff, town officials, and former and future students of the program.

“It was nice to see the different people who came,” said Penny Robinar, a Middletown resident who took “History of the Book” last semester. “It didn’t matter who you were or where you were from.”

Most in attendance agreed that the Center for Continuing Studies is a great addition to Middletown and hope that the program will become a permanent fixture in the community.

“Our goal for enrollment last semester was 50, and we ended up having 58 students,” said Dr. Lori Hunter-Union, Associate Dean of Continuing Studies and Director of the Graduate Liberal Studies Program. “This semester the program is looking to expand to 75 students.”

Residents who had taken some of the classes offered spoke highly of their courses and professors.

“It was thrilling,” Robinar said. “It gave me a peek at what Wesleyan has to offer. We kept [the professor] late with questions every time. We wanted her to stay.”

Although Wesleyan has offered continuing studies courses for credit in the past, with programs like PIMS, upward bound, and the GLSP, the Center for Continuing Studies fills some of the gaps left by the other programs.

“[The center] allows for learning just for the fun of it,” Hunter-Union said.

“These courses aren’t as expensive as the for-credit courses given in the past,” said Barbara Arafeh, a Middletown resident who is enrolled for spring classes.

“It will help to refresh on the latest findings [in infant development],” Arafeh said. She already has a Masters degree and runs a kindermusik program, but promotes the importance of continuing one’s education.

“This is a great start [for the center], but there is still growing to do,” said Billy Weitzer, Dean of Continuing Studies and Senior Associate Provost.

In the future, Weitzer hopes that the center can develop a closer connection with Wesleyan in which films, lectures, and concerts can be cosponsored. According to Weitzer, the goal of the center is to expand and enrich the Wesleyan community.

“It’s great that [the center] links town and gown, and that it is unidirectional,” Weitzer said. “Middletown has a lot to teach Wesleyan.”