Masking Policy:

Wearing masks for students and instructors is now optional and no longer required. However, if there are any alterations to the government’s masking policy, the RENESAN policy will be adjusted accordingly.

Now registering for Spring classes!

Our Spring 2024 calendar, online catalog and brochure are now online!

  • Brochures are available outside of the RENESAN offices or click the ‘Brochure’ button on this page.
  • For full course descriptions and bios, click ‘catalog’ below. This information is also available by clicking on the individual course title in the online registration area under the ‘Courses & Descriptions’ tab above.
  • Telephone registration and related calls will be returned within 24 hours during normal business hours. Calls will be returned in the order in which they are received.
  • If a class is marked ‘unavailable’ or does not appear in the list for registration, it is not available. We do not keep waitlists for our class.

Our office hours are 9:00-2:00, Monday – Thursday.

Join the Adventure!

Our History

RENESAN was established in 1996, when a group of Santa Fe residents decided to arrange academic courses for retired people. Through the years the educational nonprofit has developed its own identity, but, initially it drew heavily on programming offered by the International Elderhostel Institute  Network (now Road Scholars) and a Wisconsin-based organization called PLATO (Participating Learning And Teaching Organization).

Our Mission

Primarily volunteer run and led, our mission is to provide a balanced and dynamic curriculum of courses, lectures, and trips focusing on classic and contemporary works from the fields of art, cultural studies, history, literature, music, performing arts, philosophy, political science, current events, and science. We strive to be inclusive, welcoming, and accessible to all members of the Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico communities.

Who We Are

We are a dynamic, constantly evolving nonprofit organization that provides courses, lectures, and trips in Santa Fe and throughout Northern New Mexico. Many of our students and faculty members are transplants from around the world who’ve led exciting personal and professional lives. RENESAN’s courses are taught at a high academic level by retired and active university professors and professionals, experts in their fields.

“I’ve heard so many people say RENESAN has changed their lives.”

“You have this incredible potpourri of classes you can dip into and be stimulated.”

“People enjoy this shared arena of intellectual exploration. It’s a community.”

RENESAN Land Acknowledgment

RENESAN Institute for Lifelong Learning acknowledges the traditional, ancestral, and unceded land of the Tewa people, who occupied O’ga P’ogeh Owingeh (White Shell Water Place) which we have the privilege to occupy today. We acknowledge this land as immigrants and visitors. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices that the original peoples have made, and understand that historical traumas cannot be undone. We will respect the culture and tradition that is sown throughout the land. We will actively seek to include Indigenous lecturers and presenters and will take concrete steps to provide culturally-relevant curriculum around contemporary and historical Indigenous issues.

© RENESAN, Santa Fe, NM. All photos by Daniel Quat Photography. Website by Kate Rollins Web Design, LLC.