Osher Lifelong Learning Institute At The University Of Arizona

THE LIVES OF OUR MEMBERS, WHO ARE 50 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, HAVE BEEN ENHANCED BY THEIR PARTICIPATION IN OLLI-UA'S ACTIVITIES THAT FURTHER ITS MISSION TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING, TEACHING, RESEARCH, SERVICE AND SOCIALIZING.

OLLI-UA'S PROGRAM SERVICE TO ITS MEMBERS IS THE OFFERING OF A BROAD RANGE OF QUALITY EDUCATION COURSES OFFERED ONLINE AND IN-PERSON IN THE GREATER TUCSON AREA. SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS SINCE THE PROGRAM'S FOUNDING IN 1989 HAD RESULTED IN THE OFFERING OF MORE THAN 400 COURSES OF VARYING LENGTHS PRESENTED BY MORE THAN 200 EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEER STUDY GROUP LEADERS. THESE COURSES WERE ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 1,400 MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 60,000 ATTENDANCE HOURS DURING 2019/20.WITH THE ONSET OF COVID 19, WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE OUR COURSES COMPLETELY ONLINE VIA ZOOM AFTER A 2 WEEK PERIOD OF TRANSITION. DURING 2020/21 WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER OVER 360 COURSES ONLINE AS WELL AS NUMEROUS RECORDED SESSIONS FOR OUR MEMBERS TO WATCH ANYTIME. WE CONTINUE TO USE ZOOM AND ANTICIPATE CONTINUING TO OFFER ONLINE CLASSES VIA ZOOM EVEN WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO FULLY RESUME IN-PERSON COURSES. IN-PERSON CLASSES HAVE STARTED IN LIMITED CAPACITY AS OF FALL 2021. WE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR IN-PERSON CLASSES AS WELL AS CONTINUING OUR ROBUST ONLINE PRESENCE.OLLI-UA'S PROGRAM SERVICE TO ITS MEMBERS INCLUDES THE OFFERING OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO THE OLLI-UA COMMUNITY. SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS HAD RESULTED IN 500 VOLUNTEERS GIVING MANY HOURS OF THEIR TIME IN 2019/20. THE VOLUNTEER NUMBERS DROPPED SOMEWHAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, HOWEVER MANY OF THESE MEMBERS TURNED THEIR SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM TO ONLINE SUPPORT AS STUDY GROUP LEADERS, TECH HOSTING, TECH HOST ZOOM TRAINING, OPERATING AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT, SCHEDULING CLASSES AND DIRECTING & ADMINISTERING THE TOTALITY OF THE PROGRAM. VOLUNTEERS REPORT SIGNIFICANT SATISFACTION FROM CONTRIBUTING TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE MEMBERSHIP, SOMETHING WHICH IS FREQUENTLY EXPRESSED TO ORGANIZATION LEADERS. MEMBERS ALSO REPORT SIGNIFICANT SATISFACTION WITH HAVING THE ABILITY TO ATTEND ONLINE CLASSES AND SOCIALIZE ONLINE TO RELIEVE THE ISOLATION CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC.OLLI-UA'S PROGRAM SERVICE TO ITS MEMBERS ALSO INCLUDES THE OFFERING OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN A BROAD AND GROWING SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, BOTH ON AND OFF CAMPUS. PRESENTLY WE ARE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON, HOWEVER, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ORGANIZED GET TOGETHERS VIA ZOOM IN OUR VIRTUAL LOUNGE. WE HAVE ALSO STARTED TO HAVE OUTDOOR GET TOGETHERS IN LIMITED QUANTITIES AS OF 2022 AND ANTICIPATE THAT TO INCREASE WHILE KEEPING OUR MEMBERS SAFE.OLLI-UA'S MANAGEMENT BELIEVES THAT ANY SOCIAL ACTIVITIES NOT ONLY ENHANCE THE OLLI-UA EXPERIENCE FOR ITS MEMBERS BUT ALSO SERVE TO INCREASE OLLI-UA MEMBERSHIP.