USF’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers non-credit courses to adults ages 50 and older to foster academic and social communities in these groups. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE

USF’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at USF allows adults aged 50 and up to continue their education while providing them with opportunities for research and intergenerational connections. 

Veronica Maxwell, the director of OLLI-USF, said that while the program doesn’t offer credits for its members, it serves as a hub for older adults to create an academic and social community.

“We like to say we learn for the joy of it,” Maxwell said.

Maxwell said OLLI-USF serves roughly 1,400 members and offers about 300 low-cost courses across the Tampa Bay area each academic year.

OLLI offers both in-person and online classes to make participation accessible — and includes courses such as history, science, computer technology, music, literature and artificial intelligence, according to OLLI-USF’s course listings.

Volunteer instructors, who are often retired faculty or eager professionals, teach the courses for the program, she said.

Maxwell and OLLI-USF students said the program is a reminder that curiosity, connection and growth do not end at graduation — they evolve.

Related: USF students aged 60 and up embrace lifelong learning through new club 

USF’s Division of Senior Programs was founded in 1993 to create and provide education opportunities for older adults who want to stay mentally active and socially connected, according to OLLI-USF.

In 2005, the program received a major endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation, which allowed it to join the OLLI network — further expanding its offerings and renaming the program, according to OLLI-USF.

The Bernard Osher Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports education initiatives — including lifelong learning — across the U.S., according to its website.

The OLLI network is a nationwide group of programs at colleges and universities that helps provide noncredit educational opportunities for adults aged 50 and up, according to the network. 

But Maxwell said that since its founding at USF, the learning institute has emphasized its members’ connection and engagement to community.

She said members are welcome to participate in groups formed over common passions — such as photography, opera, movies, games and literature.

Outside of these interest groups, Maxwell said OLLI-USF hosts various social events and has partnerships with organizations across Tampa Bay, including local museums, Busch Gardens and the Florida Aquarium.

Maxwell said the program also hosts guest lectures throughout the year, which have welcomed President Rhea Law and Tampa mayor Jane Castor.

Related: 70 years of USF: A university shaped by community and developments 

USF joined the international Age-Friendly University Global Network in 2023, receiving the designation of an age-friendly university.

An age-friendly university means ​​a campus that intentionally supports and includes older adults in learning, research and community life, according to the Age-Friendly University Global Network.

Maxwell said the age-friendly designation reflects USF’s commitment to inclusion across generations.

“Regardless of your age, we still want you to feel that this is a place where you’re welcome,” Maxwell said. “There’s value in people as they age.”

Maxwell said OLLI-USF also fosters intergenerational connections by welcoming undergraduate and graduate students to volunteer, conduct research and work through federal work-study positions.

“We’re building an intergenerational model,” Maxwell said. “It helps students make meaningful connections, sometimes even reminding them of their grandparents.”

Maxwell said OLLI-USF helps reignite a “sense of purpose” when life is marked by major transitions, such as the change from working life to retirement.

“People will say to me, ‘OLLI saved my life,’” Maxwell said. “It becomes a lifeline through companionship, learning and community.”

Related: USF student reflects on Black History Month through poetry 

Alan Carlson, 78, is an OLLI-USF member and volunteer, and said the program gave him direction after retirement. 

Carlson said he had been widowed for “several years” and was doing volunteer work for a radio station at USF. 

That’s when Carlson heard an ad about OLLI-USF and decided to join in 2017.

“There are three reasons for being part of OLLI,” Carlson said. “The first is classes. The second is camaraderie. And the third is contribution, making a difference. For me, my favorite part is the third part.”

Carlson said he initially started by taking a few classes, but later found out there were “many more things” he could get involved with. 

He has since helped launch and maintain OLLI Connects, a member-run, monthly lifestyle magazine that began as a blog in fall 2018.

“Everybody wants to make a difference,” Carlson said. “OLLI gives you a chance to do that.”

Carlson said he would encourage anyone interested to join OLLI-USF “without hesitation.”

“They’ll get some of the same opportunities, but what they do with it will be something that will be unique to them,” Carlson said.

Maxwell said she hopes more people recognize that learning has no expiration date.

“Don’t stop living, regardless of your age,” she said. “Fun and learning are things you should enjoy throughout your life.”