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Since the 1990s, Lifelong Learning Institutes, sponsored by the Osher Foundation, have created accessible and innovative learning environments with special focus on participants 50 years of age and over. Learners from all backgrounds and educational levels can enjoy the benefits of Institute membership. Choosing from a diverse collection of courses, learners can create their own personal development program, expanding their views of the world and enriching their lives and their communities.
There are currently 117 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes hosted by selected colleges and universities in 49 states. Potential member institutions are invited to apply for membership and are then selected through a rigorous application process. The University of Kansas was awarded membership in February 2004 and offered its first classes the following fall.
Maine native Bernard Osher is a successful businessman and community leader and a patron of the arts and education. His philanthropy has affected countless organizations over the past quarter century. His wife, the Honorable Barbro Osher, Consul General of Sweden in San Francisco, serves as chair of the foundation.
The Institute was founded by Bernard Osher in 1977 to benefit a wide range of educational, cultural, and other nonprofit organizations primarily in the San Francisco Bay area and his native Maine. During the 1990s, the Foundation funded a series of Osher Scholar programs, extending scholarship assistance for postsecondary education to nearly 30 colleges and universities as well as professional and technical schools in California and Maine.
There are four programs supported by the Bernard Osher Foundation. These include the Osher Scholars and Fellows Program, Osher Reentry Scholarship Program, Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes Program, Osher Integrative Medicine Programs, and local arts, cultural, and educational programs.
Since our inaugural season in the fall of 2004, we will have offered courses to more than 2,000 registered participants in Lawrence, Olathe, Overland Park, Prairie Village and Topeka, and Kansas City, Missouri. Six formal partnerships have been developed and successfully sustained with residential retirement communities in Kansas and Missouri. Additional Osher Lifelong Learning sponsorships have been created with museums, art organizations, libraries, a private foundation, higher education institutions, and many other community organizations. The University of Kansas is one of 117 sites in 49 states that have been selected by the Bernard Osher Foundation of San Francisco to become a member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
KU Osher classes are offered at easily accessible locations in seven cities in the region. Headquarters are at 1515 St. Andrews Drive in Lawrence Kansas, in the KU Continuing Education building. Classes are also offered in Olathe, Overland Park— KU Edwards Campus, Prairie Village, Topeka and Kansas City, Mo. at Maple Woods Community College. Please check individual class descriptions for locations.
Yes. You automatically become a member each season by enrolling in at least one class.
Absolutely. Although we do not have a registration deadline, please register as early as possible for every course you wish to take. That way your seat will be reserved, and you will be assured of receiving all available resources for the class.
The Lifelong Learning Institute, a part of KU Continuing Education, creates accessible and innovative learning environments for Lawrence, Topeka, and the Kansas City area with special focus on participants 50 years of age and over. Learners from all backgrounds and educational levels are welcome to enjoy the benefits of Institute membership. Choosing from a diverse collection of courses, learners create their own personal development program, expanding their views of the world and enriching their lives and their communities.
No, everyone is welcome to become a member of the Lifelong Learning Institute. The program has a focus of learners 50 and older but encourages participation from lifelong learners of all ages.
Anyone, regardless of age or educational background, may join the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. All you have to do is select a registration option.
Teachers and facilitators are carefully selected to assure they have the academic qualifications, a passion for the topic, and a love of teaching to create a meaningful, interactive, and fun learning environment. Many of our instructors are faculty or emeritus faculty members at the University of Kansas.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute members enjoy interactive and participatory teaching and learning environments. Courses are generally offered once a week over a three-week period with two hours scheduled for each class. There is always a 10-minute break after the first hour.
To better use our resources, we are pleased to announce a new membership structure. We will base our course fees on the number of courses you take, and we have eliminated the unlimited course option. Now, we will be able to get more accurate enrollment figures, especially for those who take multiple courses. We want to save on handouts and supplies, and we want to make sure we are fiscally sound. These changes will only affect those who take five or more courses in a given season. We will continue the graduated discount for multiple courses, so the more courses you take, the more you save per course.
New membership fee structure: one course-$35; two courses-$55; three courses-$70; four courses-$80 and for each additional course above four, you pay $10. For example, five courses: $90; six courses: $100.
There will always be at least one free special event included in your member benefits. Of course, some tours will have additional fees.
Yes, there are numerous additional benefits for members. An optional KU Online ID provides access to many University of Kansas resources including:
Additional free benefits include:
- Group transportation to selected classes and events
- Free course materials as appropriate for each class
- Special events and receptions (requires registration)
- 10% discount to Lawrence Arts Center classes and Oread Books, Kansas Union, Lawrence.
Membership fees cover only a portion of the expenses needed to support the Osher program. Although the generous support received from the Bernard Osher Foundation supplements the program, additional costs are met by individual and corporate donations.
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