Comm Voice
Lifelong learning: Education doesn’t stop at graduation
OLLI reminds us that learning has no age limit, and that education should be a companion for life.
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There is so much to love about our community! And reason #359 is that those who make up our great city and region have a collective thirst for knowledge and new experiences.
It’s infectious how many people are involved with community programs, volunteer opportunities, cultural events and other adventures that provide personal fulfillment and growth. We follow the adage that education isn’t just about preparing for a career – it’s also for enriching the quality of our lives and staying engaged in the world around us.
This is why I am so excited that we at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg recently announced the expansion of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) on our campus and in our community.
This national program, which has been offered on the USF Tampa campus for 30 years, has provided a gathering space for adults who want to keep their minds active and their connections vibrant. OLLI includes classes, workshops, lectures and social networking opportunities for individuals aged 50 and older, costing just $50 for an annual membership and $25 for an individual class.
The program’s success is measured not in diplomas, but in the excitement of mastering something new and building community around interests and lifelong growth. Research consistently shows that as people age, engaging in intellectually stimulating activities helps maintain cognitive health, slow memory decline and even reduce the risk of conditions such as dementia. Programs like OLLI provide structured opportunities to keep one’s mind sharp through courses, discussions and social engagement, fostering continued curiosity and learning while enhancing one’s quality of life, sense of purpose and community connection.
We launched OLLI on campus last semester and are doubling the number of classes taught by our renowned faculty and community experts this semester.
Want a little taste of the season ahead, an amuse-bouche, if you will? Here are just some of the classes our community can take:
- “Happiness: Finding Meaning and Wellbeing” by USF Anthropology Professor Heather O’Leary (older adults will take this class with students and even be interviewed by them on the themes explored during the course)
- “NATO: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” by Lynn Platt, a career U.S. Foreign Service official and co-founder of the St. Petersburg World Affairs Council
- “10 Foods that Define Florida” by USF Historian Gary Mormino
- “Retirement Planning: Beyond the Financials” by Certified Retirement Coach Denise Shields, PhD
- “Storytelling and (In)justice” by USF Criminology Professor Dawn Cecil
As a premier institution of higher education with world-class faculty conducting really innovative and useful research, we are always looking for ways to harness that expertise to benefit residents of our region. OLLI does just that!
Want to learn more? We are holding an open house on this semester’s OLLI programming on Monday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon inside our University Student Center ballrooms. The event will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn about all the upcoming courses this semester and meet the faculty and community experts teaching them.
USF is proud to serve as a hub for lifelong learning – where education doesn’t just stop at graduation.
And while our campus will always be filled with students pursuing degrees for careers and new beginnings, OLLI reminds us that learning has no age limit, and education should be a companion for life.
Christian Hardigree is Regional Chancellor of USF St. Petersburg.
