FEATURE STORY: Fall 2006

What began as a vision for Senior Adult Services (SAS) at University of Oklahoma Outreach resulted in not only a grant for $100,000 annually for three years but also a new name. SAS will become one of the 93 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI ) nationwide. The institutes are funded by the Bernard Osher Foundation, a San Francisco-based organization founded in 1977 by Bernard Osher, a successful businessman and community leader. These institutes are found on the campuses of colleges and universities from Maine to Hawaii. Each provides a distinctive array of courses and activities for seasoned adults interested in learning for the joy of learning.

Jerry Jerman, director for development at OU Outreach, initiated the application process after he saw a presentation about Osher at the 2005 University Continuing Education Association conference. “It seemed like it would be a good fit for us because they were working with mature learners,” he said. For an under-funded existing Senior Adult Services program, the foundation’s grant seemed like a good source of support, he said.

For SAS, the grant will allow the program to do more of what it does best – serve the seniors of Oklahoma. University Outreach at the University of Oklahoma has been dedicated to providing programs for mature adults for some three decades. Initially, these programs took the form of travel study opportunities and Elderhostel courses. In the 1980s, University Outreach dedicated a unit, which became Senior Adult Services, to this particular audience. “The nice thing that we have going for us is that a lot of universities don’t have senior adult services or don’t have any programs for adults – the grant allows them to start up,” said Chris Elliott, program development specialist for SAS. “This is going to allow us to grow and expand our programs tremendously.”

The 2000 U.S. Census reported that 985,235 adults aged 50+ resided in Oklahoma. The grant, which awards $100,000 a year for three years through application each year, will help SAS grow existing program membership and market more toward the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas, areas which in the past have proven successful in participation.

At the end of the third year, if the OLLI at OU has grown its membership to 500, it can then receive a $1 million endowment, which nine schools nationwide currently have.

OU’s proposed program includes recruiting members who would pay $35 annually in the fall and would then be entitled to take courses at a discounted rate. Membership would also allow them to members-only programs, including receptions with faculty members, book signings and museum tours. Nonmembers would still be eligible to take courses, but would pay a slightly higher rate.

In addition, SAS proposed to establish an advisory board to serve the needs of the mature learning community. The board would be comprised of leaders in the community and university, as well as participants from established programs. The board would help create new programs and aid in the evaluation of current activities.

SAS plans to expand noncredit courses in accordance with the Bernard Osher Foundation guidelines and will encompass many lifelong learning opportunities for older adults. These courses will be held in the OU-Norman campus, at the Oklahoma Center for Continuing Education in Norman, at the Schusterman Center in Tulsa and at state parks in Oklahoma.

Some of the proposed courses include meteorology courses that would cover the basics of severe storms and how participants can protect themselves from storms. Additionally, SAS hopes to establish a Film Club that would be similar to its existing Book Club. Because of the recent success of the first SAS film seminar, a film noir course taught by Jerman, SAS will be offering a comedy film seminar in the spring.

In addition to OU, Oklahoma State also received a grant, Elliott said. “That’s a good thing because it’s good for the people of Oklahoma,” he said. “It’s really great that a state the size of Oklahoma has ended up with two at the same time. It’s great for seniors.”auren Park

Visit the OLLI Web site.

– L