UD’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute registration to open Jan. 5
Registration will begin Thursday, Jan. 5, for the University of Delaware’s lifelong learning program for ages 50-plus. More than 300 classes are offered this spring, with no grades, exams or educational prerequisites.
As a volunteer-driven learning cooperative, UD’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program has nearly 2,000 active members; it holds classes and activities in Lewes, Ocean View, Dover, Wilmington and online.
Several new classes are expected to be popular this spring. Good Sports: More Than a Pastime is an online class led by retired CNN journalist Ralph Begleiter of Ocean View, and lifelong sports broadcaster Phil Wood, featuring prominent guest speakers in sports management and media who will provide an inside view on the world of sports. Golf Fun-Damentals taught by golf instructor Jon Machmuller of Frankford focuses on taking the intimidation out of the game of golf. The class will be offered in Ocean View and online. The Moon in Art, Science and Culture is taught by Jim O’Leary, a retired senior scientist from the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore and host of Radio Rehoboth’s weekly “Skywatch at the Beach” program. The class will be offered in Lewes and online. Critical Race Facts: A History of Racism in America is led by Daniel Pritchett, longtime history faculty for the Capital School District and Delaware State University. The class will be offered in Dover and online.
Volunteer instructors are at the heart of the program, sharing the expertise from their professional careers, educational backgrounds, avocations and passions to provide source material for the breadth and depth of OLLI’s class offerings. A sampling includes Ikebana: Japanese Flower Arranging, American Sign Language, photography, and German, French, Italian, and Spanish language courses.
An open house is set for 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday, Jan. 9, at Trinity Faith Education Building, 15516 New Road, Lewes. Attendees can tour classrooms, meet volunteers and fellow participants, and pick up a program catalog. In-person registration assistance will be available. To learn more, go to olli.udel.edu.
OLLI’s spring semester begins Monday, Feb. 6, with 13-week, 11-week and five-week sessions. A second five-week session starts Monday, April 3. To register for OLLI classes, participants sign up for OLLI membership each semester for a flat fee of $250 for the semester, which includes unlimited classes and activities at all UD OLLI locations and online. A few classes may have an additional fee noted in the course description for supplies or special partnership programs. There is no cost for parking at UD OLLI locations. Need-based financial assistance is readily available.
In Delaware and across the country, OLLI is affiliated with and receives partial support from the Bernard Osher Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on higher education, lifelong learning and the arts.
