Find or Renew an Interest or Explore a Topic You’ve Never Considered.
We say it every year: where has the summer gone? While we’ve enjoyed a season of family visits or travel, the staff and volunteers of OLLI (Osher Lifelong Institute) have been preparing for another semester of enrichment classes. Once again, the University of Delaware’s OLLI program offers anyone 50 and older a diverse choice of classes beginning the week of September 8. Typical classes are once a week, for either two or four weeks in length.
Registration is now open.
Membership, or tuition for the fall semester is $275. Students can also opt to sign up for the full year tuition for $520. Full year registration is only available during the fall registration period.
Tuition assistance is available by application here.
The Fall 2026 OLLI semester offers hundreds of learning opportunities to stay curious and connect with others. Classes begin September 8 and are available throughout the state. Locally, classrooms are in Lewes and Ocean View. Online and hybrid classes are also an option, making it easy for members to find options that fit their schedules.
OLLI instructors are dedicated volunteers willing to share their knowledge. Len Hayduchak, for example, teaches a course entitled, “MaxAMAZING Your Retirement.” Len is a Certified Financial Planner and owner of Dedicated Financial and Delaware Retiree. His OLLI course parallels his passion to help individuals attain a comfortable and meaningful retirement.
Students are permitted to sign up for an unlimited number of classes. However, because of certain class limits, class assignments are made with consideration given to their top preferences. All students can participate in ongoing OLLI social gatherings, discussion groups, special events and outings. Students receive several benefits of having a UD student ID, which can be used for numerous student discounts – just as college students can. (Note: I was able to save approximately $200 for an Apple computer recently by using my UD ID.) They also have full access to the UD library system.
OLLI members often describe benefits of joining in deeply personal terms. One member called OLLI a “rainbow connection” that introduced new people, opportunities, challenges and growth. Another said OLLI “changed my life” by bringing music, teaching and renewed purpose back into retirement. A member who joined after retiring said OLLI helped provide the regular routine needed to transition into retirement, while another described it as “the anchor that keeps my week going forward.”
“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” — Albert Einstein
Here are important links for OLLI:
by Bridget FitzPatrick, Resident Journalist
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