The Ask OLLI blog is a resource for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute administrators to facilitate discussion on a variety of topics related to the creation and management of OLLI institutes nationwide.

Entries to the blog are called "posts" and can only be submitted by blog editors. Please contact Anne Cardale at the OLLI National Resource Center if you have an article suggestion for the AskOLLI editors.

Each post has a "comment" section where blog subscribers can submit their own remarks and responses to the post. A subscriber must be logged in to comment on a post. A login link is available at the bottom of the right-hand column, as well as at the end of each posting page.

Although the Ask OLLI blog is publicly viewable, commenting is closed to non-subscribers. For more information on Ask OLLI, or if you wish to create a subscriber account please contact Anne Cardale.

Reciprocity and Courses in a Series

Posted on March 13th, 2007 by Julia Ridge, OLLI National Resource Center

Maya Sutton, from OLLI at University of New Mexico, asks:

1. Do you have a system of reciprocity if a member of an OLLI elsewhere wants to take a course at your institute while visiting your city?  We’re considering waiving the membership fee but not the course fee.

2, Do you offer courses in a series?  If so, does that attract members to enroll in the entire series?  Examples:  World War II, music, psychology. 

Paid Staff

Posted on March 6th, 2007 by Julia Ridge, OLLI National Resource Center

Jacqueline Gratz, from OLLI at Towson University, asks:

For those OLLIs that have between 350 and 700 members, how many paid staff do you have? How many hours per week does each work? What are the titles and basic responsiblities of each? And if you do not mind giving the information, what is the salary of each?

Member Retention

Posted on March 5th, 2007 by Julia Ridge, OLLI National Resource Center

Ara Rogers, from OLLI at University of South Florida, asks:

Does your Institute track member retention rates? Do you have member retention rates over the period 2004-2006? And, do you track enrollment by subject area? We are in the process of examining our member retention rates over a three-year period (2004-2006) and are looking for comparative data. We are particularly interested in knowing about the above in regards to any sort of computer skills training you might be doing at your OLLI, but any comparative data would help us.

Strategic Planning Advice - Possible Pitfalls?

Posted on March 5th, 2007 by Julia Ridge, OLLI National Resource Center

Steve Benson, from OLLI at the University of Minnesota, asks:

As part of our “OLLI at 1000″ strategic planning - (were now at 895) we are wondering what advice other OLLIs would have for us and also advise about possible pitfalls?