About the program:
OLLI is part of a nationwide (and worldwide) movement of so-called Lifelong
Learning Institutes (LLI) for learners aged 50 and older who are retired
or partially retired. In the United States and Canada, there are over 500
programs, and around the world, more than 1,000 programs known in other
countries as Universities of the Third Age. Some of these programs are
directly tied to college and university campuses, and others are independent.
Established in 1999 with a University of Massachusetts’ Service Endowment
grant and with support from the Gerontology Institute of the
John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, OLLI is one of
19 LLIs operating in Massachusetts and is the only program associated
with a public university in the city of Boston. In just a few years, the OLLI
program has emerged as a large, distinctive, public-service contribution
for UMass Boston. OLLI's membership has grown steadily from 147 in the
first year to a current membership of 313. OLLI members come from over
60 cities and towns, particularly from the South Shore, Quincy, Milton,
South Boston, and Dorchester. However, most members have had no
previous contact with the University.
OLLI provides a learning experience at a modest cost that will enrich the
intellectual, social, and cultural lives of people who share a love of lifelong
learning regardless of the extent of their formal education. No academic or
other credentials are required. What is essential is an interest in an academic environment, the desire to participate actively in a small course environment
with your peers, and an open mind about sharing your skills and ideas.
There are no tests, no papers, and no degrees. Most of the OLLI instructors,
called “facilitators,” are retirees. Many of them are retired or current UMass
Boston faculty. Others are OLLI members who volunteer to facilitate a
course of their interest
