Senior Guest Admission

SENIOR GUEST PROGRAM

The Senior Guest Program at Kent State University allows persons 60 years of age or older to audit Kent State courses tuition-free, on a space-available basis and with faculty approval.

Senior guests do not receive grades and no credit is awarded. Senior guests request to enroll in one to two courses per semester, during a designated enrollment period.

SENIOR GUEST REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Information on this page is for registration at the Ashtabula Campus only.
To find registration information for other Kent State campuses, visit Senior Guest Campus Contact Information.
To be eligible, senior guests must be 60 years of age or older and have resided in the state of Ohio for at least one year.
Senior guest admission to courses is by faculty approval. If seats are available in your requested course, the Office of Continuing and Distant Education will contact the faculty member and notify you about whether your course request has been approved or denied.
Senior guests enrolling in on-campus courses should review and follow Flashes Safe Eight safety protocols.

SENIOR GUEST FAQS POLICY & GUIDELINES

REGISTRATION

Summer I, II, III 2023 registration will be open Wednesday, May 24, at 10 a.m., through Tuesday, May 30, at 5 p.m. Summer I & II classes begin June 8. Summer III classes begin July 13. Late registrations cannot be accommodated.

There are two links available to complete the Senior Guest Application. Choose which form to complete based on your current situation.

Current Senior Guest (you have an active @kent.edu email address)
New/Non-current Senior Guest (you do not have an active @kent.edu email address)
If you are a new/non-current student, you will be prompted to create a Dynamic Forms account when completing the form. A @kent.edu email address will be assigned during this process.

1. Current Senior Guests with an active kent.edu email address:

2. New/Non-Current Senior Guests:

START REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER

Fall 2023 registration will be open Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 10 a.m., through Monday, Aug. 14, at 5 p.m. Classes begin Aug. 21. Late registrations cannot be accommodated.

No pre-registration is required.
Any distance learning and material fees will be billed through the Bursar's Office. Check your kent.edu email and FlashLine for your e-bill.

HOW TO SEARCH FOR CLASSES

Go to www.kent.edu/ashtabula/class-schedules-final-exams
Click on the Class Schedule Search button
Select the Term you wish to attend
Click the Detailed Class Search button
You must select these required fields, but can enter other information to narrow your search, such as Course Number, if you know it:
1. Subject: at least one subject must be selected
2. Campus: Ashtabula Campus
3. Course Level: Undergraduate
Click Search

SENIOR GUEST RESOURCES

FLASHcard - YOUR KENT STATE ID

Senior guests are eligible to receive a Kent State University FLASHcard, the preferred method of identification on campus. You can get a FLASHcard in the Office of Student Services. Be sure to bring a photo ID with you.

Return to Admission Types

Additional Information:

Distance Learning Fees / Flash Book Charges

Senior Guests are responsible for the payment of all course fees covering materials and supplies, as well as, the $15 per credit hour distance learning fee assessed for all online courses. Senior Guests are also responsible for the purchase of books.

Flash Book Charges
Important: If your course is included in the Flash Book Program you will automatically receive, and be billed for, the digital textbook.

To Opt-Out: To opt-out of Flash Books, login to your course in Canvas, select the Flash Books icon, and select the opt-out link in the top menu. Follow the directions in the opt-out link to complete the opt-out process. By opting out, you are responsible for obtaining the required course materials outlined by your instructor for your course.

Questions regarding Flash Books email flashbooks@kent.edu.

Content Type: eTextbook content is accessed by clicking on the Flash Books icon in your Canvas course. Publisher Courseware is made available by your instructor through a separate link in your Canvas course.

Fees are course fees and distance learning fees ($15.00 per credit hour).

In order to determine whether your selected course(s) requires a fee, visit the Schedule of Classes. Once you have located your course, click on the dollar sign icon. See the image below for additional guidance.

Senior Guest Fee Example

If your course does not require a distance learning or course fee, no further action is required.

Please contact us by email at continuinged@kent.edu with any questions.

Please note: If you are not granted permission to enroll in your selected course, distance learning and course fees will be refunded if using a credit card.

Program Policies & Guidelines

The Senior Guest administrator will contact the faculty member and notify you whether your course request has been approved or denied.
Course requests will be submitted as soon as possible. However, we cannot guarantee admission by the start of classes. A variety of unavoidable factors may result in Senior Guests beginning a course as late as a week after the official start date.
Remember that courses are first and foremost intended to serve the needs of the students who are enrolled for credit. Therefore, we ask that Senior Guests not engage in behaviors that are troublesome or inappropriate.
Senior Guests may select up to two (2) courses and one (1) alternate.
The following programs are NOT included in the Senior Guest program: architecture, fashion, nursing, theatre, and independent study.

Please read the full list of program policies and guidelines below before submitting your registration.

All Senior Guest Program Guidelines (Text) (PDF)

Getting Started in Your Online Course

This section is for courses that are created to be fully online.

One of the key factors in being successful in online courses is effectively utilizing resources. This page provides a list of comprehensive support services, including tips and tricks for getting your computer ready, strategies to be a successful online student, policies, and direct links to student academic services.

View all Available Online Degrees.