Calling all learners.
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 already and continue to take advantage of this unique educational opportunity. Fortunately, if a subject sparks your interest, Sussex County offers two primary locations for in person teaching: Trinity Faith Education Building on New Road or Ocean View’s Community Center.
Since 2021 and the height of COVID, OLLI also offers courses online and hybrid (choice of either live or Zoom attendance). It became so popular an option that they’ve kept the format going.
Currently, reservations for OLLI’s January Explorations is underway. Attendance is limited, and registration is required. Classes are condensed into a few weeks, rather than an entire semester, and the mini courses are FREE.
The Explorations program offers mini courses on such diverse topics as: “Demystifying Artificial Intelligence,” “Good News About the Environment,” “But is it Art?”, “Unsung Women of Soul and R&B,” “Bottoms Up! (The History of Whiskey),” as well as advice about hospice and palliative care (two separate classes).
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. Note: 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, available on the University of Delaware’s OLLI website.
The noncompetitive Priority Registration for the Spring 2025 semester begins January 3 and closes February 3. Following that, there will be a drop/add and late registration period to be announced, and course acceptance depends on availability. There are five-week courses that begin later in the semester starting in April.
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 boasts the benefits of membership, including travel opportunities sponsored by UD, email and student ID and access to research databases in their Morris Library. Additionally, there are discounts in some UD stores and at events, lectures and performances. Most impressive is the ability to audit UD classes, tuition free (subject to availability).
There are over 300 courses offered this semester in multiple categories, everything from fine and performing arts to economics, history, math and science, learning a new language or hobby and so much in between..
OLLI’s statewide director, Karen Asenavage Loptes sums up the opportunities offered: “UD OLLI is one of the largest lifelong learning programs in the US, and it’s a gem in Delaware.”
And as Albert Einstein puts it, “Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.”
For more information and to view the spring course catalog online (subject to change depending on attendance), visit OLLI.UDEL.EDU, or call (302) 645-4111.
By Bridget FitzPatrick
