Impact Report 2024 – 2025
Broaden access | Enable impact | Elevate Tufts
Tufts Pre-College Programs
The Center for Professional and Workforce Impact
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Tufts
July 2024 – July 2025
Pre-College Programs
Message from the Dean
I am pleased to share that Tufts University College has begun implementing our 2024 –2028 Strategic Plan. Shaped by the input of our staff, students, and partners, the plan reaffirms our mission to expand access to Tufts, create innovative learning opportunities, and position the university as a hub for lifelong education. It charts a bold course for serving learners of every age—high school students exploring Tufts, professionals advancing in their fields, and older adults pursuing enrichment and community.
A central part of this work has been the launch of the Center for Professional and Workforce Impact, which establishes Tufts as a leader in career-connected learning. The Center delivers flexible, industry-aligned programs in areas such as health care, life sciences, and civic leadership, while also serving as a hub for workforce research and innovation. Alongside this, we have convened a new University College Dean’s Advisory Board to guide our efforts, strengthen partnerships, and ensure our programs remain responsive to learners and communities.
We launch this plan at a pivotal moment in higher education. Rising costs, questions about return on investment, and the need for greater flexibility and career-connected learning are reshaping how students and families approach education. At the same time, we face broader systemic challenges, including reductions in Medicaid funding that may impact access to lifelong learning programs like the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), international visa policies that make it more difficult for some students to attend Tufts Pre-College Programs, and tightening research budgets that create financial pressures across the university landscape.
“ “ We are demonstrating what is possible when Tufts embraces its role as a connector across generations and communities.
University College is uniquely positioned to respond to these realities. With the launch of the Center, the continued growth of Tufts Pre-College Programs, and expanded opportunities through Tufts OLLI, we are demonstrating what is possible when Tufts embraces its role as a connector across generations and communities. As we implement this plan, I am excited for the ways University College will strengthen Tufts’ impact locally and globally, opening new pathways to education, deepening partnerships, and preparing learners to thrive in a changing world.
Denise Bates, Dean University College
University College Launches Its Inaugural Advisory Board
University College welcomed its inaugural board of advisors in 2025—a dynamic and dedicated group of leaders, innovators, and changemakers who are passionate about expanding access to education and supporting learners at every stage of their journey.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DEAN’S BOARD OF ADVISORS
Steven Koltai
Diane Hessan
Kathleen McCartney
Chike Aguh
Aaron P. Dworkin
Paul Feltman
David Myers
Duncan Pickard
Xanthe Scharff Lois Margaret Nora Elizabeth Abel
David Beck
University College Faculty
University College faculty are selected by their respective deans to represent their schools and serve as the academic governance body of University College.
Over the last year, our faculty have successfully updated the bylaws to improve operations and communication across schools, approved a suite of new pre-college programs and workforce-
Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences
Ethan Murrow
School of Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts
Kim Ruane
Vickie Sullivan
David Proctor
Kerri Modry-Mandell
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Y. Natalie Jeong
Aruna Ramesh
Tufts University School of Engineering
Alva Couch
Merredith Portsmore
Amy Hirschfeld
Tufts Gordon Institute, School of Engineering
The Fletcher School
Laurent Jacque
John Cerone
aligned micro-credentials, and engaged with the process to determine a faculty structure for the school’s growth.
Our faculty also serve as members on the individual school subcommittees, intended to streamline strategy and communication across academic, administrative, and financial perspectives within schools.
Lynne M. Ausman
Diane McKay Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Megan K. Mueller
Marvin Schulte Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
Tufts University School of Medicine
Berri Jacque
Mary Hopkins
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Li Zeng
Angie Rodday
The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life
Peter Levine
Expanding Pathways for the Upcoming Generation
Summer 2026 was a huge success for Tufts Pre-College Programs! Nearly 1,300 high school students participated in our programs ranging from SMFA Studio Art and Engineering Design Lab to Mini Dental School and International Relations. We also had 30 students live on our campus for 6 weeks and participate in the Tufts
College Experience program which enabled them to enroll in two Tufts University courses and potentially earn up to 6 credits during the summer.
In addition to a successful summer, we welcomed a new director of Pre-College Programs, Dan Doherty, who joins us after several years of working in the early college space at UMass Boston and Boston Public Schools.
Steady Enrollment through Changing Landscapes
Despite an observed national trend of declining enrollment in pre-college programs, Tufts Pre-College Programs has maintained relatively steady enrollment year-over-year.
Expanding Access, Empowering Potential
Partnerships
We’re proud to continue our partnership with Minds Matter Boston who have continually sent us a cohort of 30 – 40 students each summer—at no cost to the student!
Tufts Pre-College Programs
“I liked both my seminar classes and learned a lot of new information, and it helped me think about what I might want to do in college and life. I loved being able to have access to most of the campus and be in a college setting. This program made me more excited for college, and I definitely want to apply to Tufts!
“
Tufts Pre-College Programs Student, Summer 2025
Becoming A Jumbo
Matriculation
Since the founding of University College, 94 students have matriculated from Tufts Pre-College Programs to Tufts University and are now proud Jumbos!
Nearly $1 million in aid was awarded in FY26, pushing us further towards one of our central goals of providing opportunities for students who don’t have the financial means to attend our rigorous academic programming. We’ve also been able to substantially increase our aid the past three years.
Advancing Careers Through Research and Education
The Center for Professional and Workforce Impact (the Center) was launched officially in the summer of 2024 with the goal of expanding Tufts’ commitment to social mobility by producing research and providing cross-school educational programming that promotes career readiness and advancement for learners at all stages and across industries and job roles.
The Center manages a portfolio of short courses, full-term courses, and workforcealigned workshops.
Bridging Campus and Community
The portfolio currently includes:
Healthcare career-aligned opportunities that reach learners across different stages of their career, including preparing for professional graduate programs, getting certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and earning continuing education credits as a registered dietician nutritionist (RDN) or other professional.
Academic courses across Tufts open to non-degree adult learners including humanities and the arts and technical courses in a variety of disciplines.
Leadership and social impact professional learning cohorts, focused on developing leaders who can lead change and have a positive impact on their communities.
Professional development workshops focused on skills that apply across a variety of professions such as project management, risk management, change management, and professional communication.
The Community Audit Program is run in collaboration with the Office of Government and Community Relations at Tufts. It provides significantly discounted rates for residents of the towns adjacent to Tufts campuses to participate in courses at Tufts.
3,416
Total Enrollments in FY25
Center for Professional and Workforce
Academia Reimagined for the Evolving Workforce
In year 1, the Center worked with stakeholders across Tufts to develop the infrastructure and platform for non-credit programming that award micro-credentials. Micro-credentials are short, flexible, and focused on industry and market needs. They are designed to validate skill and knowledge and stack into customized tracks related to specific jobs or industry needs. The platform is available for departments and schools across Tufts, and within the first year, four departments have received approvals for a micro-credential.
Partnership Development
The Center has worked closely with partners both inside and outside of Tufts. This year, we launched two partnerships with external organizations:
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Friedman School, to create and develop a series of nine micro-credentials that align with continuing education requirements for Registered Dietetic Nutritionists (RDNs).
Enrollments by Adult Learners
Tufts Micro-Credentials
Arizona State University, to collaborate on their Indigenous Leadership Academy. This program brings together emerging indigenous leaders across the U.S.
Includes degree seeking students in Summer Session
Renewing Tradition, Exploring New Possibilities
The Spring of 2025 saw the Tufts OLLI community return to Alumnae Lounge for our Friday programming. A space long beloved by many long-term Tufts OLLI members, the University College team worked closely with Tufts Conference Services and Events and Tufts Technology Services to update the AV in the room to enhance the hybrid and in-person experience and technology capabilities.
Additionally, we used the Spring to pilot a new travel series for Tufts OLLI members, OLLI on the Road. The intention of this program is to allow members to connect and build community outside of the classroom. The pilot series was well-received and will be continued into the 2025 – 2026 membership year.
Community
Engagement
• Participated in Winchester Town Day and Circle the Square in Medford
• Offered free lectures open to the public at the following assisted living facilities: Brooksby Village in Peabody, Delaney at the Vale in Woburn, and the Jenks Center in Winchester.
Partnerships
Tufts OLLI continues to build upon their community partnerships with Brookhaven at Lexington and Brooksby Village.
ANNUAL SURVEY RESPONSES
Member Satisfaction by Program Area Communications from the OLLI Office
Variety of Courses and Activities
Quality of Instructors
of Courses
TESTIMONIALS
“ “ What was your favorite thing about our program this year?
Responses from our annual survey question, “What was your favorite thing about our program this year?”
“It’s been a brutal year for me, especially trying to deal with the collapse of our country. Extremely stressed, grieving. [Tufts] OLLI was not a big priority for me, but I was glad it was there. Favorite talk: Sol Gittleman, helpful perspective, more relevant now [with]attacks on universities. Also surprise hit: Jared Katz’ Mayan instruments: totally new world for me, brilliantly presented.”
“With my work schedule, attending Lunch and Learns were a nice way to hear about a topic and feel part of the larger Tufts community.”
“The Lunch and Learn sessions. I also appreciate that the program is trying new things, such as the Dine Around and day trips.”
“The bus tour of the Manchester, NH museum and the Frank Lloyd Wright homes.”
24,085,472
Media Impressions
By The Numbers
2024 – 2025
30,245
New Leads Captured
444 Emails Sent
2,389,299 Website Page Visits
1,346 High School Students Enrolled
5,259 First-Time Course or Credential Enrollments
55 Published Blog Posts
211 New Tufts OLLI Members
IMPACT REPORT 2024 – 2025 September 2025