The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers nearly 90 courses this spring, with descriptions and other information, including registration, available in a printed catalog and on the institute website.

The spring season begins with several courses that focus on African-American history in time for Black History Month observed in February throughout the United States.

"Intersections: Shaping American Music" takes place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday with a lecture followed by a concert from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Faulkner Performing Arts Center on the U of A campus. Instructor Jeffrey Murdock, associate director of choral activities and assistant professor of music at the university, will teach about the evolution of black music in America, including soul, jazz, blues and rock, and how it intersects with other art forms, gender, race and other topics. He will lead the musical performance.

Other topics for the spring season include topics such as language instruction, art appreciation, photography, literature, stress management and other aspects of good health. OLLI courses are held at several locations, including outdoors for activities such as hiking and birdwatching. Several cover current events both abroad and at home such as Brexit, global inequality, the hog farm in Newton County and human sex trafficking.

The institute will hold its annual spring open house from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Chancellor Hotel, 70 N. East Ave. in Fayetteville. The drop-in event provides an opportunity to meet fellow members and students, pick up the spring course catalog, register for courses, learn about future events, visit with campus and community partners, and participate in the second instructor meet-and-greet via speed rounds. Refreshments will be provided and a cash bar will be open.

In the "speed dating"-style portion of the event, instructors will be stationed at booths with information about their upcoming course. Participants, who can take part individually or in small groups, will have about four minutes at each booth to hear from the instructor and then ask questions. A horn will sound, signaling time to move to another instructor's table. Participants will be entered into a drawing for a $30 Wal-Mart gift card.

OLLI at the U of A was established in 2007. It is one of 120 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes across the United States and is the only one in the state of Arkansas. These lifelong learning institutes are partially funded through the Bernard Osher Foundation and each is dedicated to providing non-credit courses and continuing education opportunities to seasoned adults.

Current and former U of A faculty, staff and graduate students and other working professionals lead courses, drawing on their personal and professional experience. In addition to courses, OLLI members have the opportunity to engage in monthly social and cultural events, special programs, book clubs, special interest groups and more.