Michael Attfield was looking to improve his mind, discuss interesting things and meet new people when he joined the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at WVU four years ago.
At Monday’s open house, one of three each year designed to showcase what the institute offers, he said he found all three with OLLI.
OLLI at WVU’s director Jascenna Haislet said, “The focus of the Osher Lifelong Institutes is to keep people engaged intellectually and mentally. To keep them challenged and engaged.”
Classes at OLLI cover a wide range of topics from arts and humanities to science and math, Haislet said.
Colletta Messenger, 68, said she saw the open house on Facebook and decided to check it out.
“Oh, I’m pretty impressed,” she said of the program. “Pretty impressed.”
Messenger said both the diversity of classes offered and the cost were what impressed her. Several classes including a refresher on Windows, the musical classes and a movie class themed around films never played in Morgantown caught her eye.
Part of what makes OLLI so interesting is the diverse topics it offers, Attfield said. He and his wife are planning to take part in a New Yorker article discussion class and a class focused on Italy’s wines this coming quarter.
All classes are taught by volunteers, Haislet said. While some of those volunteer teachers are professors or teachers at their day job, it’s not a requirement to teach a class at OLLI.
“As long as you are comfortable and you know what you’re talking about we welcome you to come and teach a class,” she said.
There are also volunteer opportunities not involving teaching. Hatfield said people interested in volunteering can call 304-293-1793 for more information.
OLLI is a membership organization and costs $30 a year with an additional $30 fee during any quarter a member wants to take classes, Haislet said. The price of one class is the same as taking 15 classes.
There are scholarships and fee waivers available because money should never be the reason someone can’t participate, Haislet said.
While the program is designed for people above the age of 50 and the average age is about 70, according to Haislet, anyone can participate.
“We are designed for 50 and older but we do not actually discriminate,” she said. If you are less than 50 and you have a passion for learning and an interest in learning we’re ok with that.”
Executive Director of Osher National Resource Center Steve Thaxton said lifelong learning centers started popping up in America in the 1960s and now there are more than 400 across the country.
“Lifelong learning is the ultimate intervention or remedy to social isolation in retirement,” he said. “And it really brings purpose.”
Its advantages include social interaction with friends, cognitive exercise, and helping keep the mind young, he said.
He said OLLI at WVU is a growing program and one of the strongest of its kind in the country.
People who want to join OLLI can visit its office inside the Mountaineer Mall or visit olliatwvu.org.
