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.

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 GUEST FAQS POLICY & GUIDELINES

Registration Links

Summer 2025

This Application for the Senior Guest Program is closed. Late registrations cannot be accommodated.

Fall 2025 Registration: Important Dates

Registration is open Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. through Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at 5 p.m.
The application link will be available Aug. 4.
Fall classes begin Aug. 18.
Late registrations cannot be accommodated.

Program Details and Process Reminders

Please do not email, call, visit or otherwise contact a faculty member, school director, department chair, etc., to request admission to a course.
The program administrator will contact faculty/department and notify you by email, if your course request is approved or denied. All cases, the university's decision is final. Please do not attend a course if you have not been approved to do so.
Any distance learning and course fees will be billed through the Bursar's Office. Check your kent.edu email and FlashLine for your e-bill. If you have any outstanding balance, we will not be able to register you until this is cleared with the Bursar's office.
Senior Guests may drop classes by emailing lifelonglearning@kent.edu or contacting the Senior Guest Program at 330-672-3100.
Senior Guests who do not attend, and do not drop, a course in which they are enrolled will be assessed all related fees. Deadlines are listed in the Schedule of Classes.
To successfully participate in this program, you must have access to a computer, laptop, or tablet. You will need to have internet access, know how to navigate websites, and be able to participate in an online environment to access assignments, messages from the professor, etc.

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.

Additional Information:

Senior Guest Program Guidelines

The Senior Guest administrator will contact the faculty member and notify you via email 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: Aeronautics, Architecture, Fashion, Nursing, Theatre, Kent Blossom Art and independent study.

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

Senior Guest Program Policies and Guidelines (Text)

Getting Started in Your Online Course

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.

Interested in learning more about becoming an online student at Kent State? View all Available Online Degrees.