Explore OLLI in January. Go Back to Class in February

Calling all learners.

Many of you know OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at University of Delaware is an educational cooperative for adult learners of all levels 50+. Many of our readers have continue to take advantage of this unique opportunity. Fortunately, Sussex County offers two primary locations for in person teaching: Trinity Faith Education Building on New Road in Lewes, or Ocean View’s Community Center.

OLLI also offers online and hybrid classes (choice of either live or Zoom attendance).

Currently, reservations for OLLI’s free, online January Explorations is underway. Attendance is limited, and registration is required. Classes are condensed into a few weeks, rather than an entire semester, and are conducted on the ZOOM platform. Participants are welcome to attend any course; links to individual classes will be sent via email the first week of January.

The 2026 January Explorations program offers mini courses on such diverse topics as, “MaxAMAZING Your Retirement” by Delaware Retiree’s founder Len Hayduchok, “Physiology of Sleep,” “Energy Kinesiology,” “New York City Subway, Then and Now,” “Winter Poems and “Climate Change and Delaware.”

Registration for January Explorations:  University of Delaware’s OLLI website

Spring semester registration begins January 5, 2026, and classes begin on February 2. Open houses are taking place January 5-8, and help with registration as well as refreshments are available.

Courses cover a wide variety of subjects and special interests. Art, literature, history, languages, physics, science, health and financial planning are examples. Something is sure to interest everyone.

How OLLI works:

Students pay a membership fee of $260 for the spring semester. This enables you to take as many courses, locally or in any of the other OLLI locations statewide as you’d like with the membership fee. Some courses require additional fees, for materials, books, etc. An annual membership for both semesters is offered in the fall. Summer classes are not included in this fee.

A certain amount of financial assistance is available with a confidential application, also available on the University of Delaware’s OLLI website.

Acceptance into courses is by a lottery system, not by first come, first served. Prioritization of classes you choose during registration affects which ones you may attend. During the drop/add period, you can attempt to sign up for any other courses that interest you. This period is when availability is first come, first served. Note: registration for several online (Zoom) courses is unlimited, which means you are most likely to be accepted for this format.

OLLI’s Spring Semester catalog is now available by mail or email.

Keep lifelong learning going in 2026. Enjoy a course or two from OLLI, University of Delaware.

By Bridget Fitzpatrick