General Information and Policies

About the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Western

The Bernard Osher Foundation, headquartered in San Francisco, was founded in 1977 by Bernard Osher, a respected businessman and community leader. The Foundation supports a lifelong learning network for mature adults through their Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, which can be found on the campuses of 120 colleges and universities nationwide.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Western Michigan University (OLLI at WMU) takes pride in providing intellectual and cultural stimulation, personal growth, and social engagement for adults 50+ in an informal, lively educational atmosphere. Over the last 10 years, over 1,000 members have participated in over 969 courses taught by 410+ volunteer instructors at nine different locations, in addition to over 60 events and 99 trips.

In addition, hundreds of volunteers have been an integral part of committees and leadership, helping to guide the success of OLLI at WMU. Courses and activities are developed by OLLI members with the support of the staff of WMUx. Members also volunteer as planners, instructors, committee members or advisory board members.

Scholarships

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn. If you are unable to pay for courses, but want to experience what OLLI at WMU offers, why not take advantage of our robust Scholarship Fund?

An individual may apply for financial assistance to pay for one course per semester. The application is short and confidential. Please email us at wmu-olli@wmich.edu or call (269) 387-4157 for more information.

Trip Registration and Fees

Trips will be announced in the monthly newsletter and on our website. Dates and costs vary on a case-by-case basis. Trips are categorized as Easy, Moderate, or More Strenuous based on how active the adventure will be.

Register by calling AAA Nebraska directly at (402) 390-1000. Press 1 from the menu and enter 203 for Dave or 204 for Michelle.

Cancellations, Withdrawals, and Refunds

Cancellations: Instructors reserve the right to cancel a class and will notify course participants accordingly. The instructor will work with class members to arrange a make-up session. If you registered for a course and it is canceled, you may receive a refund or apply your course fee to another course if space is available.

If Western Michigan University classes are canceled for any reason, such as inclement weather, OLLI in-person classes are also canceled. It is the participant’s responsibility to consult the WMU website, OLLI website and/or local media regarding weather or other closures.

Withdrawals: You may withdraw from a course by contacting the OLLI office. Non-attendance or notifying solely the instructor is not an official cancellation.

Refunds: You will be eligible for a refund if you withdraw from a course at least two weeks before the first session. If you withdraw from a course less than two weeks before the first session, fees will not be refunded.

Parking Information

For in-person courses held on WMU’s campus, OLLI at WMU pays for your parking. Other course locations do not require permits. Parking permits are emailed or mailed by USPS (upon request) one to two weeks before the first session of your course.

Please let the office know if you already have a WMU permit or a disability parking placard/license plate, as you will not need a parking permit. If no handicapped parking spots are available when you arrive, you may park in any available space with a valid disability placard/license plate, including metered spots (except reserved parking).

Your Photo

When you participate in OLLI at WMU activities (courses, trips, events, etc.) your photograph may be taken and utilized to promote the Institute. Your photo may be used on the website, in our e-newsletter, in brochures, flyers, catalogs or elsewhere. If you do not want your photo to be used it is your responsibility to step out of pictures that are being taken.

Volunteers are the Heart of OLLI!

Are you eager to make a significant impact on your community? Do you want to utilize the skills you have developed over a lifetime or discover new ones? Would like to make new friends and social connections? If the answer is “yes” to any of the above, please consider volunteering with OLLI!

Teach a Course!

You do not have to be a current or past instructor to teach a course! We welcome past and present instructors from public schools and colleges as well as members of the general community who are passionate about a topic and wish to share their knowledge with others. Got an idea for a topic? Contact us via email at wmu-olli@wmich.edu.

Support OLLI at WMU

OLLI at WMU is a membership- and volunteer-driven organization. Even though instructors are unpaid volunteers, the Institute incurs other costs related to course offerings. Subsequently, membership and class fees do not cover all costs associated with operating the Institute. There are also people in the community who are committed to lifelong learning but cannot afford the cost of our courses.

Through WMU’s University Advancement and Alumni Relations Office, we accept donations to either our Operating Fund to support the day-to-day operations of OLLI at WMU, or our Scholarship Fund, which provides free or reduced course registration to individuals who are not able to otherwise participate otherwise.

Visit our website for more information about how you can support OLLI with a financial gift.

Connect with us on Facebook

Stay up to date by liking and following us on Facebook!

Search for OLLI at WMU (@WMULifelongLearning) on your Facebook account. Our posts include thought-provoking articles, upcoming details for courses, trips, and events, as well as reviews and photos from programs that have already taken place. You can also use our page to connect with fellow OLLI members, post comments, and share interesting information!

Course Locations

College of Health and Human Services

Western Michigan University - East Campus

Friendship Village of Kalamazoo

1400 N. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49006

Fort St. Joeseph

1415 Bond St, Niles, MI 49120

The Fountains at Bronson Place

1700 Bronson Way, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

Richmond Center for Visual Arts

Western Michigan University - Main Campus

Zhang Legacy Collections Center

1650 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Registration

Registration for the Winter/Spring semester opens Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at 10 a.m. Courses are offered both in-person and online; course descriptions will indicate delivery method.

Ways to Register Online

Call the OLLI office at (269) 387-4157

Visit room 1530 in Ellsworth Hall on Western’s main campus

Please note that there will be limited “phone-in registration” for the Winter/Spring 2023 semester. Registering online is the quickest way to secure your spot for the courses you want to take. If you need assistance doing so, email us at wmu-olli@wmich.edu or call (269) 3874157. If you have a visual or auditory disability, please make the OLLI at WMU office aware and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Online registration is not available for trips. After a trip has been announced, you can register by calling AAA Nebraska directly at (402) 390-1000. Press 1 from the menu and enter 203 for Dave or 204 for Michelle. The mailing address for AAA Nebraska is 815 N 98th St, Omaha NE 68114.

Course Fees

Current fees are based on $10 per session for members and $20 for non-members. Other fees may apply.

If you register by mail, over the phone, or online you will receive registration confirmation and a receipt of payment via email. If you do not have an email address on file, you will receive your confirmation by postal mail upon request.

Online Registration Browse this Catalog

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*Remember, members enjoy the lowest course fees and other benefits. Add a Membership to your cart if you have not yet renewed your annual membership.

Course Selection

Under Courses, click on the link for the appropriate starting month for your desired course

Browse for your desired course and click the ‘Add to Cart’ button

When you finish making all your course selections, click Cart to Checkout

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For virtual courses, online access links will be sent to you prior to your course start date

For on campus classes, parking passes will be emailed a week before your course start date, if needed

In the Wonderful Month of May

Zaide Pixley, Wed. 5/10 and 5/17, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Friendship Village, Keystone

Coming to Kalamazoo! Legendary soprano Renee Fleming collaborates with piano virtuoso, Evgeny Kissin, in an unforgettable concert brought to us by the Gilmore Piano Festival. These two great artists will perform music by Schubert, master of the art song; Liszt, miraculous pianist and song writer; Rachmaninoff, richest of the Romantics; and Henri Duparc, the elegant (yet dramatic) French melodist. Our class will prepare us for this remarkable experience by studying the music we will hear at the concert and the stories of the composers who wrote it.

Concert: Saturday, May 27, Chenery Auditorium at 8pm (Tickets sold separately)

Tai Chi: Road to Balance and Relaxation

Cheng Tao, Thurs. 5/11, 5/18, 5/25, 6/1, 6/8, 6/15. 10:30 a.m. to Noon, College of Health & Human Services, Room 1021

Tai Chi is one of the Chinese traditional martial arts, which was originally designed as a unique self-defense technique, but later evolved into a self-efficacy health exercise. Characterized as flowing, graceful, and being well balanced, Tai Chi’s movements strengthen the body as well as the mind from within, promoting a complete bodymind harmony. Through practicing Tai Chi, the balance of Yin and Yang – the essentials of nature and relaxation –will be embedded into the practitioner.

Unrestrained by age, gender, and health status, Tai Chi can serve as an ideal physical exercise for many.

Traditional Tunes History: Tune Migrations and Evolutions of American String Band Music

Howard Steiner, Fri. 6/2 and 6/9. 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., The Fountains, Auditorium

Understanding Anime

Wayne Bond, Thurs. 5/11 and 5/18, 2 to 4 p.m., College of Health & Human Services, Room 1073

What was once an isolated fad beloved by quiet individuals, anime is now a global phenomenon that is perfectly reflected in the excitement of many people you may know. This course will serve as a thematic introduction to the art form of anime, how anime culture has grown within the United States, and how it is broadl viewed by millennials and Gen Zers. While this is not meant to answer every question one may have, it present the themes that have captivated multiple generations within the west. Through the exploration of 5 subjects, participants will come to understand how younger generations became captivated by the medium. Join this two-part course to learn about the whimsical and wonderful world of anime.

In this course, a local string band of fiddle, guitar, banjo, and bass players will perform music preserved in the family traditions of Appalachia and other regions. Many of these songs and tunes were brought over from the British Isles and France and passed down through generations. Other tunes were reshaped by musical ideas and rhythms from contact with First Nations in frontier America and, even more, by cultural contact with enslaved Africans. We’ll discuss familiar melodies like “Turkey in the Straw,” “Way Down South in Dixie,” “Old Dan Tucker,” and “Shady Grove.” Each of the tunes you’ll hear has a history, sometimes surprising! Others memorialize events that are largely forgotten, and we’ll describe the origin of those, such as “Gal I Left Behind Me” and “Boatin’ Up Sandy.”

Hot Fun in the Summertime: Kalamazoo Area Lake Resorts in the 19th Century

Tom Dietz, Fri. 6/9, 9 to 11 a.m. College of Health & Human Services, Room 1035

Our many lakes in Kalamazoo County offered numerous opportunities for local residents to seek relief from the summer heat as well as amusement. Numerous resorts were once present on Gull Lake, as well as on smaller lakes like Indian Lake. This course offers an opportunity to compare recreational opportunities from a century ago to those we enjoy today. We will explore the history of these resorts, what they were like during their heyday, and what led to their decline.

Ask the Financial Pro with 27 Years of Experience

James Wigen, Mon. 6/12, 10 a.m. to Noon, online via Webex

An educated investor is the best kind of investor. In this class, you’ll have the opportunity to submit financial- and investing-related questions prior to the session and have a Financial Advisor and Sr. Portfolio Manager provide answers. This is a great opportunity to educate yourself or get a second opinion if you already have a Financial Advisor. Class discussions can include many topics, including how to find a qualified financial advisor, how much financial advisors charge for advice or custom portfolio management, if you can work with multiple advisors, how politics can impact investment strategies, whether or not you need an advisor if you only buy index funds, the differences between Mutual Funds & ETFs, investment income strategies, and the pros and cons of investing in taxable accounts versus tax-deferred accounts.

Theatre Scenic Design Workshop

Daniel Guyette, Fri. 6/9 and 6/16, 3 to 5 p.m. Richmond Center of Arts, Room 1004

Have you ever wondered how the beautiful scenery you’ve seen during a theatre performance was created? Now is your opportunity to learn about that process from an award-winning scenic designer! See examples of the artistic creations for several productions, along with the final images from those productions on stage. This workshop will provide you with the materials to create your own scenic model, which we will utilize in the second session as you learn how to create your own scenic sketches and final production design.

The Wild World of Prairies

Ellen Hanson, Fri. 6/23, 9 to 11 a.m. College of Health & Human Services, Room 1035

This course will provide an introduction to the prairie ecosystem – covering both key players in prairies and the important ecosystem services they provide. You will also have the chance to put your newfound knowledge into action after learning how to start a mini prairie in your own backyard!

The Stories Behind the Hit Songs: 1956 – 1968

Randy Schau, Mon. 7/10, 10 a.m. to Noon, Friendship Village, Keystone

This class will tell the story behind 20 popular songs from ‘56-’68. Questions such as how the song came to be written, how the song and the singer came together, and what obstacles to success were encountered will be answered through hundreds of slides and lots of music. To keep attendees on their toes, there will be several fun quizzes, including a series of “name this tune” snippets. A similar version of this course was presented in 2019 and 2022, and it was so popular we had to bring it back!

A Walk Around Kalamazoo’s Quietest Neighborhoods

Lynn Houghton, Tues. 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 10 a.m. to Noon, Zhang Legacy Collections Center, Reading Room

Cemeteries are a final resting place for so many people, and they are remembered with tombstones, markers, and other memorials that have lasted for generations. This three-part session will start with an introductory session at the Zhang Legacy Collections Center, followed by walks around the County’s two largest cemeteries, Riverside and Mountain Home in the City of Kalamazoo. Please note that the terrain in both of these cemeteries is hilly and uneven (this course would be rated as “More Strenuous” on the OLLI trip scale).

Taking Better Pictures with your iPhone

Lynne Hall, Mon. 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 1 to 3 p.m., College of Health & Human Services, Room 1057

The iPhone is an amazing device that can do much more than make a call or send a text. In this class, we will explore how you can use the camera and some simple composition rules to take beautiful, professional-looking pictures.

Can You Dig It? (New Date)

John S Geisler, Sat. 8/5, 10 a.m. to Noon, Fort. St. Joseph in Niles MI

AnOLLI-exclusivetouroftheFortSt.JosephArcheological DigSitewilltakeplaceinNiles,MI,duringtheirAnnual OpenHouseonAugust5.Everysummer,thestaffofthe Projectandarcheologicalstudentscontinuetoexpandthe siteandnowareconstructingbuildingswhoselocations wereonthe“dig”site.ThetourwillbeorganizedbyDr. JohnGeislerandconductedbythePrincipalDirectorofthe WMU/NilesArcheologicalProject,Dr.MichaelNassaney, ProfessorEmeritus,WMU.Theproject’sbeginningstook placeinthelate1990s,andtheProjectbeganinearnestin 2002.Mapswillbesenttoparticipants;otherNilessites willalsobeidentified.Theraindateforthiscoursewillbe August6.

Special Interest Groups

German Conversation SIG

Fridays, on-going, 10 a.m. to noon, Country Acres Village, Clubhouse, 2300 Barney Rd, 49004

Introduction to Film SIG

Michael Marchak, Celebration Cinema, 6600 Ring Rd, Portage, 49024

Senior Readers Theater SIG

Dr. D. Terry Williams, 5/17, 1 to 3 p.m., Congregation of Moses, 2501 Stadium Dr, Kalamazoo, 49008

Trips

A Visit to the Oldest Theater in Michigan (The Play That Goes Wrong)

Sun. 5/21, JR’s Hometown Grill and Pub and the Croswell Opera House, Adrian, MI

Explore America the Beautiful: The RV Industry in Elkhart and the Clyde Butcher Photography Exhibit

Wed. 6/21, Jayco RV, Midwest Museum of Art, and the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum, Middlebury/ Elkhart, IN

OLLI