Being Curious with OLLI at Penn State York
OLLI at Penn State York offers many opportunities. Image by Andrew Smith.
Jenny Blake, author and speaker focusing on how individuals and companies can pivot through change, urges us to be curators of ideas. When faced with change, she suggests that we shift to an "I'm curious" mindset.
For many, approaching or reaching the end of traditional careers as we age can be a change that allows us to pivot in both of use of time and our new goals. The "I'm curious" mindset is precisely what OLLI programs help us achieve.
"OLLI" is short for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, programs at 125 colleges and universities across the United States that offer noncredit "courses" aimed at individuals over 50. Beginning in the early 2000s, the Bernard Osher Foundation began supporting programs aimed at lifelong learners via grants for startup costs.
OLLI programs offer many learning opportunities. Images are courtesy of Jennifer Geubtner-May unless otherwise noted.
Such programs interact with their host schools, which is the case at Penn State and Penn State York, each with an OLLI program. University park's lifelong learning opportunities have existed since 1997 in other forms but became an OLLI institute in 2007 with the support of a $1 million endowment from the Osher Foundation.
Soon after, three women in York began looking for similar learning opportunities and created a 501(c)(3) that operated the concept from 2008 through 2015. The group then pivoted (There's that word again!) and joined University Park, allowing the receipt of an additional $1 million endowment and becoming an OLLI program itself, with both institutes having their own individual programming and staff members.
OLLI at Penn State York has two full-time employees, a director, Jennifer Geubtner-May, and an administrative support assistant, Ann Krepps. Geubtnert-May points out that all OLLIs are volunteer-driven and notes, "Ann and I could never offer all that we do without the assistance of our six volunteer committees: Curriculum, Development, Growth and Marketing, Membership, and Social. The co-chairs of each committee serve on our Leadership Committee." It's apparent that feedback by those attending directly and positively impacts future offerings.
OLLI organizations are given great flexibility in the "what" and "how" of their offerings. As a result, OLLI at Penn State York's are impressively diverse, with traditional classes, workshops, zoom presentations, small, focused groups, activities, and outdoor adventures. (The offerings are slightly smaller during the summer session but still enticing.) Moreover, at only $8 per course in most instances, it's easy to keep that "I'm curious" mindset.
York's members consistently appreciate the history sessions and jump at the chance to attend presentations on local history by noted presenters like Jim McClure and Scott Mingus, among others. Other apparent favorites include environmental themes, politics, travel, art, health, language and culture, and even a Hollywood Classic Movies series. Members are given a two-week headstart on registering for classes. As a bonus, those becoming local OLLI members ($50 annually) can sign up for a Penn State library card at no additional charge. (The OLLI membership also allowed me to get the student rate of the Wall Street Journal at substantial savings.)
“New members who have joined during or post-COVID are younger than the usual first-time member. They are also more active, which I think has helped numbers grow at social events, in the Hiking SIG, and we have added courses that are for the more active member such as Bicycle Preparation for Spring Riding, Introduction to Pickleball, Get Healthy Now, etc.”
Locally, OLLI at Penn State York saw a peak in membership at over 700 learners but not surprisingly saw a decrease (with the COVID-19 pandemic) to below 450 in June of 2021. However, it's healthy and rebounding now and happily approaching 600. Recently, Geubtnert-May has seen some shifts, adding that "it seems that new members who have joined during or post-COVID are younger than the usual first time member. They are also more active, which I think has helped numbers grow at social events, in the Hiking SIG, and we have added courses that are for the more active member such as Bicycle Preparation for Spring Riding, Introduction to Pickleball, Get Healthy Now, etc."
OLLI at York Penn State members may choose courses that are in-person or online.
Geubtnert-May has been with our local program since the summer of 2018 and has seen and helped usher in numerous changes and improvements. For example, OLLI at Penn State York has effectively transitioned to online structures administratively, allowing instructors to propose new classes easily and members to share feedback on courses they attended. In addition, the website has been updated and made more user-friendly, and the Facebook page is active and increasing interaction with the public.
Like to take a look? Course offerings are ever-changing, but you can get a feel for the programming by checking out the current offerings:
https://olli.psu.edu/york/courses/
Special Interest Groups, or SIGs, meet regularly for folks with common interests. Current SIGs include creative writing, cycling, knitting, and walking/hiking:
https://olli.psu.edu/york/groups/
General information on the York program is available by clicking here, and for those not in the area, find a list of other programs nationwide at this link.
OLLI and OLLI at Penn State York are regional treasures, allowing us to practice our healthy and fun "I'm curious" mindsets. Be curious and give these programs a try!
Thanks to OLLI at Penn State York's Jennifer Geubtner-May for her time, help, and knowledge in preparing for this article. The images in this post are her property, unless noted elsewhere, and are used with permission.