LEWISTON – The University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College is offering several fall semester courses that may be of interest to individuals who work for nonprofit or community service organizations.

All classes begin the week of Aug. 30. People can call 753-6500 for assistance or visit the Web site at www.usm.maine.edu/lac/schedules/ for a complete course listing.

LOS 373 Managing the Non-Profit Organization (Tuesdays, 9 to 11:30 a.m.): The course will familiarize students with major concepts in the management of a nonprofit and will help them develop the skills to utilize the material in applied situations.

Students will explore the mission of the nonprofit, marketing and funding, effective strategies for developing relationships and performance and ways to enhance leadership skills.

SBS 342 Gerontology (Mondays, 4 to 6:30 p.m.): A review of current theories and issues related to aging. Consideration will be given to physical, psychological and sociological aspects of aging as well as cultural perspectives regarding the elderly.

SBS 370E Ethics and the Organization (Thursdays, 1 to 3:30 p.m.): Explores the ethical dimensions of private and public sector decision-making. Draws on concepts and theories from ethics and other disciplines, especially the social sciences, and applies them to ethical issues and dilemmas faced by individuals and organizations.

THE 170F Public Speaking (Wednesdays, 4 to 6:30 p.m.): An introductory course in the art of public discourse. Students will learn the basic of informative, persuasive and argumentative speaking, as well as the processes of problem-solving and informative discussion.

MLS 611 Community and Relationship Building (Wednesdays, 5:30 to 8 p.m.): The graduate course will explore the various communication and behavioral theories and techniques that mediate interpersonal dynamics.

MLS 662 Community Leadership (Tuesdays, 5:30 to 8 p.m.): The graduate course will study the community leadership process as it pertains to developing citizenship, volunteerism and social equity.

PPM 633 Strategic Planning in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors (via compressed video, Mondays, 4 to 6:45 p.m.): The graduate course examines how public organizations can utilize strategic planning in responding to environmental change and the future.

Approaches to and techniques of strategic planning are covered, including goal-setting, environmental scanning, resource audits and the formulation of strategy and its implementation. Examples are drawn from Maine state and local government and the nonprofit sector.