Ask OLLI

Any tips on partnering with your Alumni Association?

Anne Cardale — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:50:42 +0000

Sarah Benton, OLLI at Penn State Asks OLLI:

If you partner with your Alumni Association, can you tell me all the ways in which you partner? Do you offer an OLLI/Alumni co-membership? If some of your OLLIs didn’t graduate from your host university, will your Alumni Association recognize them as alums and allow them to join the Alumni Association because they are OLLI students?

Do you have a formal relationship with your institution’s retired fac/staff group?

Anne Cardale — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:24:31 +0000

Sarah Schutt, OLLI at UW-Madison Asks OLLI:

If your institution has a retired fac/staff group, does any OLLI out there have a formal relationship with their institution’s retired fac/staff group? What is the nature of that relationship?

Does your OLLI provide any special services or adminstrative functions on behalf of the campus to support that retired fac/staff group, such as Web site, marketing? If yes, what administrative, political, etc. concerns have you faced in doing so?

Does your OLLI cooperate with a retired fac/staff body in a formal, programmatic (rather than individual basis) way to solicit volunteers, teachers, discussion leaders, etc.?

What venues do you use?

Anne Cardale — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:24:07 +0000

Sharon Sokoloff, OLLI at Brandeis University Asks OLLI:
If your OLLI has classes and/or otherwise meets in more than one space/place/building - what are the types of spaces you use in your community, e.g., churches, temples, senior centers, other? Please share all the venues you use, if there is a cost, and how it has worked for you program. Thanks.

A question regarding copyrights and permissions to show movies

Anne Cardale — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:19:45 +0000

Lori Bonderson, OLLI at the University of South Dakota Asks OLLI:

At the national conference I heard several OLLI reps say they do film series. Our OLLI Curriculum Committee has considered it but is wary of running afoul of the copyright/permission laws. For those that are showing films in a class or group setting, are there steps you take to meet the requirements of copyright/permission laws?

Request for advice on ride-sharing programs

Anne Cardale — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:59:11 +0000

Patricia Berlowe, OLLI at Yavapai College Asks OLLI:
Yavapai College’s Prescott Campus OLLI is looking into the possibility of setting up a ride-sharing program to assist non-mobile OLLI members to attend classes. Please let us know if you have set up such a system, are considering one, have tried one and closed it down, and if you would be willing to share your learnings. Also, please advise if you have identified any software that could support a matching process.

How do you make use of technology when working with volunteers?

Anne Cardale — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:23:12 +0000

Michael Bujnowski, OLLI at Concord New Hampshire Asks OLLI:

Has anyone created an infrastructure that makes use of technology when working and training volunteers?

Volunteers are an important part of OLLI. Their contributions directly impact the success of the organization. I believe we can dramatically improve the efficiency and effectiveness of volunteers, as well as attract and keep them involved by giving them access to information that directly relates to improving the quality of their programs. Technology can work for many of our volunteers and we can offer education, training and support to effectively use the technology.

Please share the ways your OLLI employs technology when working with volunteers.

Student ID cards and evening courses

Anne Cardale — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:27:43 +0000

Jacqueline Gratz, OLLI at Towson University Asks OLLI:

Do your OLLI students receive official student ID cards from your university that can be used for reduced entrance fees at various events, both within and outside the university. If so, what is the procedure whereby they procure the cards?

Do you offer evening courses? If so, how many, which evenings, and what time? Are they well attended? Have they been as successful as your daytime courses?

Have you produced an annual report?

Anne Cardale — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:52:53 +0000

Pat Zimmerman, OLLI at the University of Nevada, Reno Asks OLLI:

We are interested in producing an annual report and want to know if other OLLI’s have an annual report? If you have annual reports would you be be willing to share them with us either on line or through snail mail?

Maintaining Quality Instruction

Julia Ridge — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:54:04 +0000

Anne Wallace, OLLI at American University, asks OLLI:

1. What kind of evaluation or feedback does your OLLI ask for after a class is finished? Do you use a form?
2. How does your OLLI inform a study group leader they are done teaching? Do you offer up free classes/”gold watch?”
You may respond directly to Anne Wallace @awallace@american.edu.

New vs. Repeat Courses per Term

Julia Ridge — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:54:28 +0000

Sarah Benton, OLLI at Penn State, asks OLLI:

Does your OLLI follow a formula for how many new courses versus repeats you offer per term? Also, does anyone have a documented curriculum planning process that you would share with me?