Woodlands residents can apply for a $75, seven-session evening course on the community's history and governance starting Sept. 22.

The Woodlands U, a new 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit, is accepting applications for its inaugural program, according to Woodlands Online. Sessions run Sept. 22 and 26, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27, and Nov. 10, each from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at locations throughout The Woodlands. Specific venues have not been announced. Space is limited.

The curriculum covers the founding of The Woodlands, early governance models, covenants and community standards, the emergence of the Township, the role of the villages, economic development and the community's future. George P. Mitchell founded The Woodlands in 1974 as a master-planned community that mixed residential development with natural preservation. The Township was created in 2010 as a special-purpose local government, governed by an elected Board of Directors and funded through property and sales taxes.

Ted Stanley, president of The Woodlands U, said the program aims to connect residents with the people who shaped the community. "We created The Woodlands U to preserve that history, help residents better understand how our community works, and encourage informed participation in its future," Stanley said.

The speaker lineup includes Robert Heineman, one of the original planners of The Woodlands who first joined the project in 1971 as an intern working under urban planner Ian McHarg. Bruce Tough, a former chairman of the Township Board of Directors, and Ann Snyder, who chaired the Township board in 2024, are also listed. Alex Sutton, former co-president of The Woodlands Development Company, and a dozen other speakers round out the roster.

George's Coffee Club, a nonprofit focused on George Mitchell's legacy in developing The Woodlands, is the program's founding sponsor.

The Woodlands U said it is not affiliated with Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. or The Woodlands Township. Applications are open at TheWoodlandsU.com.