Fall Classes for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Beginning in Fayetteville and Hot Springs

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Classes are set to begin Friday, Sept. 19, for those participating in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arkansas Global Campus. Adults over 50 are encouraged to call for more information and begin pursuing their intellectual interests, both old and new, right away. Topics for the first week of classes include: Petra – The Lost City of Stone, and Memoir Writing About Yourself and Others. Future classes in Fayetteville and Hot Springs will include: Overland Mail Along the Butterfield Trail, Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum History, and Survey of Islamic Civilization.

Classes are casual, fun, informative and noncredit. There are no tests, grades or papers to write. Taught by current and retired university faculty and by community experts, the classes include “Study Groups,” a “Dine & Discover” series, and “Out & About Thursdays.”

Currently in its second year, the Osher Institute program at the University of Arkansas has attracted over 200 members and just received additional funding of $100,000. In addition, the popular program is now expanding to Hot Springs, where classes are set to begin Monday, Sept. 22.

“The Osher Institute has surpassed our wildest dreams with enrollments for classes – as well as our membership numbers – tripling what we expected in the first year,” said Kathleen Dorn, program coordinator for the Osher program at the University of Arkansas. “We have reached our first-year numbers goal in only 10 months. With the second-year numbers getting closer by the minute, it has proven to be a very successful year thus far.”

Keeping in mind the rapidly growing number of participants and factoring in the number of phone calls consistently being received from Hot Springs, a decision was made to open a satellite campus in the Spa City. With a receptive audience already in place, Hot Springs promises to bring more members and more enthusiasm for the Osher Institute at the University of Arkansas.

“Our members are something you will never find in another organization,” said Dorn. “They like to have fun, they enjoy learning, and they get to experience things they might otherwise never have experienced.”

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arkansas is the only Osher Institute in the state, and one of more than 100 that have been established by the Bernard Osher Foundation since 2002. The foundation, which was established in 1977, recognized that the number of older people in the United States is growing rapidly and saw an opportunity to help develop vibrant learning communities of older students who are interested in learning for the joy of learning. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is made possible by a grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation with the program being administered through the University of Arkansas Global Campus.

For more information about The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, its classes, or how to become an Osher Institute member, call 479-575-4545, or e-mail olli@uark.edu or visit the Web site at http://olli.uark.edu or http://globalcampus.uark.edu.