On March 24, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UMass-Boston threw itself a tenth anniversary lunch to reflect on how far it has come in its first decade and where it’s headed in the future. Among those celebrating the success of this no-pressure continuing education program for those 50 and older was a goodly contingent of Dorchester folks, who swelled the ranks of everyone from founding members to members of the Board of Directors.
UMass-Boston’s OLLI program is one of the 120 such programs supported throughout all 50 states by the San Francisco-based Bernard Osher Foundation. At UMass, the program was pioneered by its current director, Thai-born Wichian Rojanawon, who has a PhD in gerontology.
When Rojanawon launched the OLLI program in 1999, the only space available at the time was a closet full of broken chairs in Wheatley Hall. That year ,the 147 founding students could choose among 26 courses.
Now OLLI has its own offices, classrooms (and closets!) in what used to the third floor cafeteria of the McCormack Building. These days each semester there are nearly 700 seniors choosing among 85 courses.
Among the factoids Rojanawon shared was that 71 percent of OLLI members already have a college degree and that Dorchester (with 54 students) ranks second to Quincy (86) among the 81 home towns of students.
Rojanawon attributes the program’s success partly to the low cost and easy access. “Our program is different .We are the only OLLI program in the city of Boston sponsored by a public university.’’ He also noted that the tuition at OLLI programs at private universities like Tufts and Brandeis can be almost 4 times greater.
To commemorate its first decade, OLLI has just published “Mosaic: Different Voices, Different Worlds,” a spiral bound collection of submissions to its Writers’ Workshop programs. Among the 30 selections are pieces by OFDers and current Dot residents including Catherine Royce, Cornelia Veenendaal, Alsa Kirsis, Patricia Garnett, Peggy Anne Nelson, Mary Burke, and Eileen Courtney.
Many of the no-tests/no grades/no credit Spring 2010 courses are just beginning. Topics are carefully balanced, offering literature, politics, current events, computer, film analysis, history, foreign affairs, arts, health, science, and philosophy & religion and include “Women in Early Christianity,” “Clint Eastwood: From Macho to Mature” and “Working in Watercolor.” Classes meet once a week for an hour or two between the hours of 9:30-3:30 pm and last 4 to 12 weeks.
For a full course listing and info on group trips to local theater productions and destinations around the world, visit olliu.um.edu or request a catalog by calling 617-287-7312.
