OLLI Mission

 
OLLI’s mission is to foster accessible lifelong learning, individual growth, and social connection for learners age 50+ by providing stimulating opportunities to enrich the intellectual, social, and cultural lives of members, regardless of educational background.
 
Through modestly priced tiered memberships, OLLI provides non-credit courses, special lectures, theatre outings, events, and trips. The intellectually stimulating non-credit classes are taught by professors from area colleges and universities as well as professionals from diverse disciplines.
 
Courses are taught in a welcoming environment without the academic pressures associated with formal, degree-granting programs. Textbooks are generally not required and there are no exams, papers or grades to worry about. No specific background is required to join, just an interest in academic learning, the desire to participate with your peers, and a mind that is open to new possibilities.
 
OLLI at Aquinas students seeking a more formal and traditional shared classroom experience with traditional age students can audit Aquinas College courses as Emeritus Scholars for $150 and permission from the instructor. To do this, one only has to be a member of OLLI.
 
OLLI is funded in part by the Bernard Osher Foundation, which supports educational programs and the arts. OLLI at Aquinas is one of 117 institutes in all 50 states funded by the Foundation.