What's New

For students who took the class on the Cold War, here is an audio interview by Terry Gross of David Hoffman about his book "The Dead Hand":

"This riveting narrative history of the end of the arms race sheds
new light on the frightening last chapters of the Cold War...

New this Fall 2009

  • OLLI Introductory Offer: This fall only, one course for $80
  • New OLLI program in Sonoma at Sonoma Vintage House starting Fall 2009
  • SSU OLLI at Sonoma Mountain Village on Tuesdays this fall

About the Program

Welcome to the OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute, a program featuring courses for those in their later years of life, or in retirement. The following is a summary of some of the program features:

  • Taught in on-campus classes, participants can access the learning opportunities and excitement of an esteemed University
  • OLLI students can attend stimulating and intriguing courses and lecture series offered by distinguished retired faculty and other experts.
  • Areas of study range across the Arts and Humanities, the Social Sciences and Natural Sciences, including special topics of contemporary interest to Institute participants.
  • OLLI students have access to numerous campus resources, including the Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center and Library, the University Art Gallery, the Sonoma Film Institute, and educational travel opportunities. Parking, food service and other university facilities will also be available.
  • Courses are offered purely for the pleasure of learning--no tests or grades!

Academic Calendar

Fall 2009 Dates

Open House:

SSU

 Friday, August 28, 2009 9AM-noon
Person Theater
(park free in the "F" lot Open House morning only.)

Additional SSU Information:

Mondays 9/14 to 10/28 + two Fridays,
9/11 and 10/2
Tuesdays 9/8 to 10/29
Wednesdays 9/9 to 10/16
Thursdays  9/10 to 10/29

Note on holidays at SSU: Courses begin Tuesday, September 8. No classes will be held on Monday, September 7, due to the observance of Labor Day and Monday, September 28, due to the observance of Yom Kippur. For classes falling on those Mondays, class will begin Friday, September 11, and Friday, October 2 2009.

Open House:

Oakmont

 Tuesday, August 25, 2009 from 2-4pm Berger Center

Open House:

Sonoma

Thursday, September 3, 2009 from 10am-11:30am
Summer 2009 Film Series Dates

not yet published for 2010

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Frequently Asked Questions

When and where are courses taught?
The OLLI courses are taught on the SSU campus in eight week sessions. Courses typically are taught once a week either from 9:45-11:30 a.m. or 1:00-2:45 p.m. Morning classes are generally taught in the Cooperage or Student Union Multi-purpose Room. Afternoon classes meet in the Cooperage. For more information contact email or call 664-2394.

What campus amenities come with membership?
OLLI membership allows you access to the learning opportunities and excitement of one of the California State University system’s most desirable campuses. SSU is dedicated to quality education in the liberal arts and sciences. Campus amenities include:

  • The Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center
    and Library
  • University Art Gallery, bookstore and cafeterias
  • Evert B. Person Theatre featuring award winning
    jazz ensembles; chamber music series, imaginative drama, dance and musical performances
  • Sonoma Film Institute
  • University Pool and Fitness Center

What is the cost of membership?
Institute membership of $170 per session, plus a $60 program administrative fee, entitles members to take up to four classes each session. Please remember that OLLI membership cannot be prorated or refunded.

Is Financial Aid available?
A limited number of scholarships are available each session. A written letter of application for scholarships is required. For those wishing to apply, please call Barbara Brooks, 707/664-2691.


What about parking and transportation?
Convenient parking is available to Institute members. Parking permits will be available at the Open House. SSU is an AA/EEO institution and disability parking places are available on campus.  If you have special needs, such as transportation to/from your vehicle to class, please call (707) 664-2612.

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Advisory Board

board of directors
Bob Gilchrist, Lou Miller, Dan Markwyn, Kip Cutting, Jeanne Johnson, Deborah Eid, Connie Codding, Dan Lanahan, Ed Stolman

Campus Amenities

Access the learning opportunities and excitement of one of the California State University system's most desirable campuses. SSU, situated in Northern California's wine country, sits on 270 acres in Sonoma county and is dedicated to quality education in the liberal arts and sciences providing 34 academic programs, 41 bachelor's degrees and 13 master's degrees.

SSU has a student population of more than 7,000 students with over 2,000 students living on campus.

Campus amenities include:

Exciting educational opportunities include:

  • Festival on the Green
  • Educational travel opportunities
  • The new Donald & Marueen Green Music Center modeled after the Tanglewood facility, Ozawa Hall located in Lenox, Massachusetts. The facility promises state-of-the-art acoustics and seating for 1,400 people, with an open lawn for an outdoor audience of thousands. This project is still under construction.
  • Home to an Environmental Technology Center, a state-of-the-art teaching laboratory for students, faculty and community environmental personnel.
  • An expanded student apartment complex.

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Donor Information

"At SSU learning has no age limits. We grow by opening our minds and creating new interests through the pursuit of information and knowledge."

Ruben Armiñana SSU President

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is healthy and strong but we survive upon the generosity of private donors. Currently, the Lifelong Learning Program, with an operating budget of $400,000, must raise two-thirds its funds from private sources. One-third the budget is derived from student tuition and the remainder must be raised from our student body, private contributors, foundations and business partners.

Until a mature lifelong learning endowment fund is generated to substitute the need for annual fundraising, the OLLI Program must raise operating revenue every year. Many donors and students have generously stepped forward to support the financial goals of the program, but annual fundraising is imperative to ensure its continuation and good work.

Your support of the SSU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is greatly appreciated,

Ideas for Giving Back to Your Osher Lifelong Learning Institute:

The following represents ways you can creatively give back to your Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, which helps to sustain the program and its future:

  • Consider an Annual Gift
    to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute which keeps the good works of the program thriving each year.

  • Develop a Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Faculty Chair.
  • Consider establishing a faculty chair in your family's name
    or group together with friends to pool your resources. Your support of a faculty chair will ensure that the program can hire and maintain the best faculty possible for lifelong learning.
  • Involve your clubs and service organizations.
    Do you belong to a service club or organization that could fund a faculty chair or provide a gift for the Institute and help assist the program? Call us! We can help you present the program and speak to your group.
  • Consider an endowed fund.
    An endowed gift is one that lasts a lifetime. Creating an endowment in your name (or a loved one's name) is similar to placing funds in a savings account and providing the Institute with the interest from your gift. Your investment (or principal) is never expended, but the income from the gift is used to assure a lifetime of support for the program.
  • Help us outreach to businesses.
    Do you know of any businesses that would like to help sponsor the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute? Introduce us ­ we have a complete program to engage businesses and expose them to our program through special benefits and amenities.
  • Contribute to a student scholarship fund.
    The Lifelong Learning Program has been fortunate to receive generous scholarship commitments, and will always be in need of continued support.
  • Planning Your Estate?
    Want to help the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute? Consider leaving a gift in your will or bequest, gifting through a charitable trust, a gift annuity, life insurance, pension plan, IRA or through real estate. There is a wide range of gifting vehicles, which can provide you income for a lifetime along with valuable tax savings

Ready to help? Proceed to a printable donation form.

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