6749OLLICatS24.qxp_Layout 1 12/7/23 9:37 AM Page 4
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Delaware Friendship, social opportunities and learning—no grades or exams Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Delaware is a volunteer-driven educational cooperative for adults age 50-plus to participate in fun learning opportunities and enjoy each other's company. UD hosts two OLLI programs across the state, with shared missions, but distinct councils of volunteers that work with the support of UD staff to design and implement an expansive curriculum of classes, social activities and other shared experiences and opportunities. Classes are offered in Dover, Lewes, Ocean View, Wilmington, online, and at nearby partner locations.
ABOUT OLLI OLLI is proud of its history as one of the first and largest lifelong learning programs in the country. Established by the University of Delaware as the Academy of Lifelong Learning in 1980 and the Southern Delaware Academy of Lifelong Learning in 1989, in 2010 the Academy received endowment support from the Bernard Osher Foundation and was renamed to reflect its Osher affiliation.
MEMBERSHIP OLLI membership is open to everyone age 50-plus and to members’ spouses or partners at any age. There are no academic prerequisites for OLLI membership; an interest in learning is all that is required. Whether your formal education ended early in life or includes advanced degrees, we welcome you. The OLLI program relies on volunteers, including class instructors. As part of a learning cooperative, participants pay a low membership fee, not a tuition charge. Member fees are used in their entirety to support OLLI operations. In addition to membership fees, monetary donations sustain the programs.
available through a confidential scholarship program. Any member challenged to meet the cost of participation is encouraged to contact the OLLI office at 302-573-4417 to receive a brief application.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OLLI at the University of Delaware is a national leader in breadth of curricular areas offered. OLLI classes are taught or led by volunteers with a natural passion in the subjects they are teaching. If you would like to share an interest with other members by becoming an instructor, please contact: • New Castle County in-person and OLLI Online—Jenna Cole (302-5734417 or jaford@udel.edu)
• Kent County, Sussex County, teaching in-person—Sally Cole (302-645-4111 or olli-kent-sussex@udel.edu)
REGISTRATION AND FEES OLLI registration is offered for fall, spring and an abbreviated summer session annually. During each semester’s priority registration period, registrations are received as course requests into a lottery system to ensure fairness in allocation of courses. Course selection and availability is not first-come, firstserved. When demand exceeds availability in popular courses, the allocation process takes into account a variety of factors, including the priority a registrant assigned to the course. Registrations received after the priority registration deadline are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. • UD OLLI spring 2024 one-fee membership is $260. (Those who purchased an annual membership for two semesters in the fall do not need to purchase a spring membership.) • All participants sign up for a single flatfee OLLI membership, and then enroll in as many OLLI classes as they wish, at any UD OLLI program or location, in-person or online.
BENEFITS OF OLLI MEMBERSHIP • Fun, camaraderie and friendship • Courses for all interests—register for as many classes as you like • OLLI social opportunities and extracurricular activities • UD privileges-email account, library access, UD course auditing (two per year); free Zoom software with OLLI technical support and more. Some benefits require a UD ID card (nominal fee) or UD email (free). More information about member benefits on pages 4–5.
Need-based partial assistance is 2 UD OLLI, Spring 2024 | Kent/Sussex | Wilmington | Online
