Rice University’s Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies is officially launching the Lifelong University program across all 33 U.S.-based Belmont Village Senior Living communities, expanding access to university-level learning for older adults.
Beginning in October, the launch marks a new phase in a partnership that began with a pilot program several years ago and gradually expanded from 12 communities to Belmont Village’s entire national network.
Lifelong University brings faculty- and expert-led virtual courses to retirement community residents, pairing academic presentations with interactive discussions and activities facilitated by trained community staff. The program offers an opportunity for residents to explore new subjects, exchange ideas and build social connections through shared learning experiences.
“We believe learning is not a temporary stage of life — it is a lifelong pursuit,” said Robert Bruce, dean of the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. “Lifelong University embodies that belief, bringing university-caliber learning directly to older adults and removing barriers — whether that’s age, physical mobility or location.”
The program was developed to make high-quality educational experiences more accessible to older adults in residential communities. Its interdisciplinary curriculum has covered subjects ranging from Art Deco architecture to the study of ant behavior, giving residents opportunities to engage with topics across a variety of academic fields.
Patricia Will, founder and CEO of Belmont Village Senior Living, said the partnership combines Rice’s academic expertise with Belmont Village’s experience serving older adults.
“Rice and Belmont Village share a fundamental belief that learning should not have an expiration date,” Will said. “Rice brings extraordinary academic resources and expertise, while Belmont brings nearly 30 years of experience understanding older adults from how they engage and what interests them, along with how programming can be successfully integrated into a senior living environment.”
The program’s development has been shaped by feedback from residents and staff, who have helped Rice refine the curriculum and delivery model. Belmont Village team members receive custom training from the Glasscock School to facilitate group participation and help residents engage with course material beyond the virtual lectures.
Since the pilot began, participation has expanded alongside growing interest from residents and Rice faculty members seeking to teach in the program. The initiative has also introduced creative workshops, offering additional ways for residents to learn and interact.
For Mercedes Kerr, president of Belmont Village Senior Living, the program reflects changing expectations among older adults, many of whom seek opportunities for continued intellectual engagement and social connection in retirement.
“Our residents bring decades of experience to the table,” Kerr says. “They have been business leaders, educators, scientists, physicians, artists and professionals across countless fields. Many have traveled the world and lived through extraordinary periods of history. Lifelong University recognizes that these are not passive students. They bring tremendous knowledge and perspective to the experience themselves, and that exchange makes the learning even richer.”
The formalized partnership establishes a foundation for continued program development, including an expanded syllabus and opportunities to incorporate additional interactive formats. Rice uses resident and staff surveys to evaluate the program and inform improvements.
While Lifelong University will be exclusively hosted at Belmont Village Senior Living for the 2026-27 academic year, the Glasscock School is actively inviting new partners to express interest for launches beginning as early as fall 2027.
“My hope is that Lifelong University becomes a nationally recognized benchmark for how higher education institutions partner with senior living communities,” Bruce said. “Now that our program pilot is complete, I am excited for all 33 U.S.-based Belmont Village communities, coast to coast, to experience the full Lifelong University and look forward to providing this opportunity to additional communities.”
To learn more, visit continue.rice.edu/lifelong-university.
ABOUT SUSANNE M. GLASSCOCK SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES
The Rice University Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies extends Rice’s commitment to educational equity and access by providing lifelong learners and communities with transformative personal and professional development programs. Serving Houston and beyond, the Glasscock School utilizes degree, nondegree and certificate offerings as an engine for higher education innovation, delivering relevant, personalized learning that engages, educates and empowers.
ABOUT BELMONT VILLAGE SENIOR LIVING
Founded in Houston in 1997, Belmont Village Senior Living is an integrated developer, owner and operator of high-quality senior living communities with more than 4,700 employees and 5,000 units in total. Its 34 locations across the nation and in Mexico City provide award-winning assisted living and memory care programs and ongoing collaborations with Baptist Health South Florida, University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles, and more to continually improve their cognitive health and evidence-based enrichment programs. The company is a market leader in major markets including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, South Florida, San Diego and Chicago. Renowned for distinctive design, high standards of life and safety and a reputation for leading edge, quality programming, Belmont Village Senior Living is certified as a Great Place to Work, has been ranked as one of Fortune Magazine’s 50 Best Workplaces for Aging Services since 2018 and has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as Best in Senior Living.