TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama has received a $1 million grant from The Bernard Osher Foundation to support and endow continuing education opportunities for mature students.
The gift recognizes the growth and quality of the University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The program has more than 1,400 adult members who are engaged in courses, seminars, community events and field trips designed to expand their knowledge and enrich their lives. The program is facilitated through UA’s College of Continuing Studies.
“We’re pleased to grow our wonderful partnership with The Bernard Osher Foundation and are appreciative of the transformational impact the Foundation has on the lives of Alabama life-long learners and the confidence the Foundation has shown in us to help facilitate their mission,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell.
This gift brings the total commitment from the Foundation to UA to more than $3.5 million since 2010.
“We salute the University’s leadership and staff as well as the Institute’s remarkable cadre of volunteers for developing an outstanding program of great variety,” said Osher Foundation President, Mary Bitterman. “The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at The University of Alabama consistently provides seasoned adults with a broad range of meaningful and engaging educational opportunities. We are delighted to provide this additional support.”
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UA, or OLLI, is a year-round program catering to those 50 and older. It is one of 119 college-affiliated lifelong learning programs across the country that receives funding from the Osher Foundation. To learn more, visit www.osherfoundation.org.
“We are excited to offer a lifelong learning program with more than 250 courses this year throughout 10 communities in Alabama,” said Jennifer Anderson, director of OLLI at UA. “These funds were a necessity in order for the program to continue to be available to all individuals at reasonable fees. We will continue to grow in order to serve the needs of the members.”
The main OLLI operations are at the Bryant Conference Center on UA’s campus. There are chapters in Gadsden, at the UA Gadsden Center, as well as at multiple facilities in the greater Birmingham area. Greensboro and north and south Pickens County also host chapters.
The curriculum consists of four- to eight-week courses, a number of one-time, weekly bonuses and special programs. Courses range from the practical (Introductory Computing, Art for Beginners) to those considering more intellectual questions (Philosophy for Beginners, A Survey of Western Art History).
More than a dozen courses, along with new instructors, have recently been added to the program. Newer courses include: Introduction to Birding, The Holocaust, Trees of Alabama and Alabama Politics: Let’s Discuss.
All of the OLLI instructors and committee members are volunteers. There have been more than 800 volunteers invested in the program.
To become a member of OLLI at UA, visit the website at olli.ua.edu, or phone the registration office at 205/348-3000. For questions regarding the OLLI at UA program, contact the OLLI office at 205/348-6482. The membership in OLLI is $25 annually.
Students may take as many courses as they wish for $50 a semester. Scholarships are available by contacting the OLLI office at 205/348-6482.
Contact
Chris Bryant, UA media relations, 205/348-8323, cbryant@ur.ua.edu