UD’s OLLI programs –a year to adapt, grow and thrive

By Nora Zelluk

UD’s program for learners aged 50-plus already held distinctions as one of the first and largest lifelong learning programs in the country. This year it became the largest Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program in the U.S., enrolling participants from at least 25 states for a record-setting total of 1,927 online members in spring 2021.

Now, the program is beginning the process of restarting selected on-site program offerings in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties, while maintaining a sizeable online presence.

Online formats provide for new engagement and participation

Along with the rest of the University of Delaware in 2020, OLLI programs quickly adapted to online classrooms during the coronavirus pandemic. However, even with a planned return to in-person programming on the horizon, most OLLI members recognize some of the new opportunities provided by online learning.

At the beginning of the pandemic, “Who knew from Zoom?” commented Neil Cullen, council chair of UD’s OLLI Wilmington program. “Few of us, as it turned out, but we soon learned as we ‘zoomed’ meetings, classes and social occasions. And Zoom enabled us to connect with family and friends, all on a platform provided at no cost to each OLLI member by UD, a timely gift that reminded us of our good fortune to have a home at the University of Delaware.”

In spring 2021 when U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester’s congressional schedule changed and she was unable to present at OLLI’s (virtual) Friday lecture series, she asked her communications director and chief spokesperson, UD alumnus Andrew Donnelly, to present instead. Underscoring the power of virtual learning and meeting technology, attendees were treated to an added bonus when Rep. Blunt Rochester was able to drop in to the session from the Capitol Rotunda between votes and provide a short virtual greeting.

U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester greets OLLI attendees from the Capitol Rotunda

OLLI/Kent Sussex merger accelerated during pandemic-year cooperation

With more than 30 years of UD lifelong learning offerings in Kent and Sussex Counties, UD’s Dover-based OLLI program and the Lewes/Ocean Viewbased OLLI program already boasted a long history of cooperation and shared resources. In 2021, after a year of even closer cooperation during the pandemic, the two programs officially joined forces to establish OLLI Kent/ Sussex.

New OLLI Kent/Sussex council chair Connie Benko cites the year of statewide OLLI cooperation and the willingness of members to dive into online learning as the catalysts for the change.

With council meetings and volunteer efforts all taking place online, many members became involved in the statewide committees and volunteering. In fact, the largest UD OLLI statewide committee, the Virtual Learning Committee, included 16 of its 32 members from Kent and Sussex counties.

Summer and fall in-person offerings planned

For summer and fall 2021, OLLI is adding some in-person classes back into the OLLI course lineup. The July 6–29 summer session remains open for late registration through July 9. Registration for fall semester begins Aug. 3. For details, visit olli.udel.edu.