Osher LLI Receives Second Endowment
Grant of One Million Dollars
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will soon receive a second $1 million endowment from San Francisco’s Bernard Osher Foundation. The program at SSU is one of five in Osher’s nationwide network of nearly 100 universities to receive a second endowment. It received an initial $1 million endowment in May 2003. The granting of the endowment was based on the quality of the program, the generous level of local donations, and the number of members enrolled.
SSU's Osher LLI began in September, 2001 and was the first program outside Osher’s home state of Maine to receive funding. Les Adler, Dean of the School of Extended Education, played a central role in expanding the program throughout the CSU and UC systems and from there the Osher Foundation spread across the country. Programs now exist in 48 states at 93 universities and colleges.
Osher LLI was formed to provide local residents "50 and better" with the opportunity to return to school and take classes for the joy of learning. It offers university-level courses that address contemporary issues, investigate developments in science, explore music, literature, art and other topics in the humanities.
The OLLI winter session begins with an open house in the Evert B. Person Theatre at 9 a.m. on Jan. 9 at which the instructors will introduce their courses. Classes start on Jan. 16. For more information, phone 4-2691.