FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Adults in northwest Arkansas who are looking for affordable ways to learn something new, or share what they’ve already learned, will have more opportunities this fall, thanks to a new program at the University of Arkansas School for Continuing Education and Academic Outreach. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will begin enrolling members and offering classes in August, thanks to a grant from The Bernard Osher Foundation.

The foundation intends to provide the university with $100,000 a year for the next three years to establish and develop the institute. If the program is a success, the university will be eligible to receive a $1,000,000 endowment from the foundation to support the ongoing operations of the institute.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is designed for men and women over 50 who want to pursue their intellectual interests, old and new. A broad variety of courses will be offered to members who enroll and pay a $50 annual fee. Courses will be noncredit, with no tests, grades, or papers to write. The courses will be taught by university faculty and community experts, and classes will be held on the university campus as well as other northwest Arkansas locations.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arkansas will be the first of its kind in the state, and one of more than 100 that have been established by the foundation since 2002. Colleges and universities now running the institutes include the University of California, Berkeley, Duke University, Oklahoma University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Texas. Other Southeast Conference universities that operate Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes include the University of Alabama, University of Kentucky, Louisiana State University and Vanderbilt University.

"The University of Arkansas is extremely pleased to join many other outstanding institutions in offering quality programs through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute,” said Dean Linda Beene Ballard of the School of Continuing Education and Academic Outreach. “This exciting new endeavor reflects the university's commitment to a mission of teaching, research, and service to the people of Arkansas and beyond. We are grateful for the Osher Foundation's generosity and look forward to establishing a program that meets the needs of this important segment of our population."

The Bernard Osher Foundation was founded in 1977 and has benefited a wide range of educational, cultural and other nonprofit organizations. The foundation recognized that the number of older people in the United States is growing rapidly, creating a demand for lifelong learning programs. The foundation saw an opportunity to help develop vibrant learning communities of older students who were interested in learning for the joy of learning.

A local Osher Lifelong Learning Institute steering committee, made up of a dozen university and community leaders, has been instrumental in bringing the program to life in northwest Arkansas. The team has worked with the School of Continuing Education and Academic Outreach to assess local interest in the institute and to seek out volunteers. The steering committee members will continue to provide guidance during the first year of operation, advising on the courses to be offered, locating instructors and places to hold classes, as well as developing membership benefits.

“We have had an outstanding response in the community to the concept of this institute,” said Richard Forsythe, Distinguished Professor emeritus at the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and one of the steering committee members. “Organizations that work with people over 50 have been very excited about the potential, and resources like the Walton Arts Center and Fayetteville Public Library have been very supportive.”

People can learn more about the institute, the courses being offered and how to sign up as members during an open house from 10 a.m. until noon Tuesday, Aug. 21, in the lobby of the Center for Continuing Education on the Fayetteville Square.