New Lifelong Learning Opportunity: the Osher Institute at the UW
Alison Koop, UW Educational Outreach
Upcoming Information Meetings
Thursday, May 31, 10:30 a.m.–noon
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, UW Seattle Campus Tuesday, June 5, 2007, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Trilogy at Redmond Ridge, Redmond  With the launch of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Washington (OLLI-UW) for adults aged 50 and over, University of Washington Educational Outreach continues its mission: to increase access to world-class educational opportunities for diverse learners throughout the community. Made possible through a $100,000 grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation, OLLI-UW includes short courses and special events on wide-ranging topics from global events to the arts, from history to health science research, to important local and worldwide issues of the day.
Although there's no pressure of tests or grades and no papers to write, members enjoy a high-quality educational experience: courses are taught by seasoned UW faculty, retired faculty and community experts. Offerings are designed for members to participate and interact, creating opportunities to socialize with their peers aged 50 and over. Members can also have a hand in proposing future course offerings. It's a tremendous opportunity at an affordable price: an introductory membership, good now through December 2007, is $90. Courses are offered on the UW Seattle campus and at the new UW Learning Center classroom facility at Trilogy at Redmond Ridge in Redmond.
"Our research revealed that more mature students in the Puget Sound region are not necessarily well served by the standard continuing education curriculum," says Susan Turner, senior director of Academic Programs for UW Educational Outreach. "Courses in such programs attract students of all ages eager to accumulate units to complete degrees or to acquire career upgrade skills. By contrast, the interest of more senior students, many of whom are at retirement age, is in learning for the joy of learning—without homework or examinations. We launched OLLI-UW to share the intellectual resources of the university with a growing part of the community."
An OLLI - UW introductory $90 membership provides:
- A lively learning environment to explore intellectual and cultural topics of interest with other adults over 50.
- Enrollment in as many OLLI - UW classes and special events as the member likes—subject only to class size limits—through December 2007. Each quarter, there will be 15–20 exciting and thought-provoking short courses and field trips.
- Courses led by experienced UW faculty, retired faculty and community experts—instructors who believe in lifelong learning.
- Opportunities to get involved with OLLI - UW. Members may suggest ideas for course topics and instructors, assist with open houses and member recruitment, or help with the smooth functioning of classes. Volunteers are critical to the success of the institute.
- Access to UW libraries.
- OLLI - UW e-mail updates about program offerings.
 How OLLI - UW Courses are Selected
In selecting course topics, OLLI-UW is guided by the interests of its members. This spring, member-suggested topics include courses on digital photography and religion and violence; a member-suggested course on memoir writing is planned for fall. Said member Katrina Reinhardt, "This is such a worthy cause, a wonderful way for people to try out different things to see what is 'right' or 'stimulating' for them. Keep up the great work in the endeavor and know that I can't say enough good things about education for adults. It's terribly important for us baby boomers!"
Classes and Workshops for Spring 2007 Include the Following: - Brand Management and Consumer Psychology
- Critical Linguistics: The Power of Language Immigration Patterns
- Introduction to Murder: The Reality of Investigation and Prosecution
- Normal and Abnormal Brain Function
- Personal Electronic Gadgets
- Taking Digital Photography Beyond the Basics
- Architectural History of Seattle
- Religion and Violence
- Go Safely into the Net
In March 2007, membership in OLLI-UW reached 200. "It's an opportunity to learn for the sheer joy of learning—to exchange ideas and insights—to stretch our minds—and to add a very special dimension to our lives," says member Helen Oppenheim, a resident of Trilogy at Redmond Ridge, Redmond. "My friends and I in the program are thrilled to have the high-quality educational resource that the University of Washington offers through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute." About the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI-UW) OLLI-UW is affiliated with the University of Washington and administered by UW Educational Outreach. It is one of 101 lifelong learning institutes at colleges and universities in 46 states supported by the Bernard Osher Foundation. UW Educational Outreach received a $100,000 grant from the foundation to launch OLLI-UW in fall of 2006. Fall 2006 classes and workshops ranged from Go Safely into the Net to Writing Your Life Story: Getting Started, and from Shakespeare: Beyond Tragedy to Global Warming: Climate Changes on Earth and in the Pacific Northwest. As of March 2007, OLLI-UW has a membership of 200. About University of Washington Educational Outreach (UWEO) UWEO is the continuing and professional education division of the University of Washington, the nationally recognized public research institution based in Seattle. Helping the schools, colleges and departments to administer evening master's degrees, certificate programs, distance and online learning, international outreach and English language programs, and more, UWEO is one of the largest and most highly regarded continuing and professional education programs in the U.S. Click here for more information. For More Information about UWEO For more information on how UWEO fulfills its mission of providing access for diverse learners and sharing UW's intellectual resources with the Puget Sound community and beyond, please contact Alison Koop at 206-685-6344 or akoop@extn.washington.edu.
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