{"id":150092,"date":"2026-02-10T12:18:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T12:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/150092\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T12:18:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T12:18:06","slug":"usfs-lifelong-learners-prove-education-doesnt-stop-at-graduation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/150092\/","title":{"rendered":"USF\u2019s lifelong learners prove education doesn\u2019t stop at graduation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>USF\u2019s 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<\/p>\n

USF\u2019s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute<\/a> at USF allows adults aged 50 and up to continue their education while providing them with opportunities for research and intergenerational connections.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Veronica Maxwell, the director of OLLI-USF, said that while the program doesn\u2019t offer credits for its members, it serves as a hub for older adults to create an academic and social community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe like to say we learn for the joy of it,\u201d Maxwell said.<\/p>\n

Maxwell said OLLI-USF serves roughly 1,400 members and offers about 300 low-cost courses<\/a> across the Tampa Bay area each academic year.<\/p>\n

OLLI offers both in-person and online classes<\/a> to make participation accessible \u2014 and includes courses such as history, science, computer technology, music, literature and artificial intelligence, according to OLLI-USF\u2019s course listings<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Volunteer instructors, who are often retired faculty or eager professionals, teach the courses for the program, she said.<\/p>\n

Maxwell and OLLI-USF students said the program is a reminder that curiosity, connection and growth do not end at graduation \u2014 they evolve.<\/p>\n

Related: USF students aged 60 and up embrace lifelong learning through new club<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

USF\u2019s 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In 2005, the program received a major endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation, which allowed it to join the OLLI network \u2014 further expanding its offerings and renaming the program, according to OLLI-USF<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Bernard Osher Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports education initiatives \u2014 including lifelong learning \u2014 across the U.S., according to its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Maxwell said that since its founding at USF, the learning institute has emphasized its members\u2019 connection and engagement to community.<\/p>\n

She said members are welcome to participate in groups formed over common passions \u2014 such as photography, opera, movies, games and literature.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> and the Florida Aquarium<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Maxwell said the program also hosts guest lectures throughout the year, which have welcomed President Rhea Law and Tampa mayor Jane Castor.<\/p>\n

Related: 70 years of USF: A university shaped by community and developments<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

USF joined the international Age-Friendly University Global Network<\/a> in 2023, receiving the designation of an age-friendly university<\/a>.<\/p>\n

An age-friendly university means \u200b\u200ba campus that intentionally supports and includes older adults in learning, research and community life, according to the Age-Friendly University Global Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Maxwell said the age-friendly<\/a> designation reflects USF\u2019s commitment to inclusion across generations.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegardless of your age, we still want you to feel that this is a place where you\u2019re welcome,\u201d Maxwell said. \u201cThere\u2019s value in people as they age.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re building an intergenerational model,\u201d Maxwell said. \u201cIt helps students make meaningful connections, sometimes even reminding them of their grandparents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maxwell said OLLI-USF helps reignite a \u201csense of purpose\u201d when life is marked by major transitions, such as the change from working life to retirement.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople will say to me, \u2018OLLI saved my life,\u2019\u201d Maxwell said. \u201cIt becomes a lifeline through companionship, learning and community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: USF student reflects on Black History Month through poetry<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alan Carlson, 78, is an OLLI-USF member and volunteer, and said the program gave him direction after retirement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carlson said he had been widowed for \u201cseveral years\u201d and was doing volunteer work for a radio station at USF.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when Carlson heard an ad about OLLI-USF and decided to join in 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are three reasons for being part of OLLI,\u201d Carlson said. \u201cThe first is classes. The second is camaraderie. And the third is contribution, making a difference. For me, my favorite part is the third part.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carlson said he initially started by taking a few classes, but later found out there were \u201cmany more things\u201d he could get involved with.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

\u201cEverybody wants to make a difference,\u201d Carlson said. \u201cOLLI gives you a chance to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carlson said he would encourage anyone interested to join OLLI-USF \u201cwithout hesitation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll get some of the same opportunities, but what they do with it will be something that will be unique to them,\u201d Carlson said.<\/p>\n

Maxwell said she hopes more people recognize that learning has no expiration date.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t stop living, regardless of your age,\u201d she said. \u201cFun and learning are things you should enjoy throughout your life.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"USF\u2019s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers non-credit courses to adults ages 50 and older to foster academic and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":150093,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[135,137,136],"class_list":["post-150092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150092"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150092\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=150092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}