Frequently Asked Questions
Information for prospective and current members.
General Information
What is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Southern Oregon University?
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Southern Oregon University (OLLI at SOU) is an educational and social community for adults 50 or better who enjoy diverse and stimulating learning opportunities led by current and retired educators and subject matter enthusiasts. We are part of a national network of over 120 college and universities with an endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation.
Are there any requirements to become a member?
OLLI at SOU is designed for mature adults (age 50+) who have an interest in the pursuit of lifelong learning. There are no requirements that involve prior college experience. When you join OLLI at SOU, you are considered a “non-degree seeking student” at Southern Oregon University and become a member of OLLI at SOU’s 1700+ member community.
What are the benefits of becoming a member?
An OLLI at SOU membership offers array of benefits, including unlimited access to 300+ courses, programs, events, travel excursions, and more. Enjoy performances from SOU’s Oregon Center for the Arts for only $5 per ticket and get discounts on SOU sporting events.
How do I become a member?
It’s easy! Just follow the steps on our Join Us page or call the office at 541.552.6048 or complete this Membership Application Form and return it to the OLLI at SOU office.
Can I become a member if I don’t live in the Rogue Valley?
Yes, absolutely! We have many members who live in other parts of Oregon and out of state, too.
When can I join?
Our membership year runs from July 1 through June 30. The vast majority of our members join in July, but you can join anytime. Registration begins about five weeks before each term begins. Check our calendar for upcoming term registration dates.
What does it cost to become a member?
OLLI at SOU has an all-inclusive annual membership of $150. The membership year runs from July 1–June 30, but you can join anytime throughout the year. Membership fee financial assistance is available. Select courses, programs and activities may have additional fees for materials or supplies. Catalog and online descriptions include details of any required books or supplies. Travel programs will also indicate the cost for participation. OLLI at SOU membership fees are nonrefundable.
Can I pay for my membership with a credit card?
Yes, you can pay with a Visa or Mastercard. You can also pay by check, payable to OLLI at SOU.
What do membership fees go toward?
Membership fees are used for facilities, parking, infrastructure, administrative staff and IT student support, classroom technology equipment, website and database operation and maintenance, outreach materials, and membership programs and events.
How can I apply for financial assistance towards the membership fee?
Access the membership fee financial assistance form here or contact the OLLI at SOU office by email at olli@sou.edu or call 541.552.6048 to request one.
I am new to the area. Are there ways to meet members?
OLLI at SOU offers many ways to meet other members. Please visit our homepage for upcoming News and Events, Programs, and becoming an OLLI volunteer—all of which are great ways to meet members.
Where is the OLLI at SOU office located and when is it open?
The OLLI at SOU office is located at 655 Frances Lane on the SOU campus in Ashland. Parking is available on the street and in designated parking lots. Visit our Contact Us page for maps and more information on our locations.
Beginning on the Tuesday after Labor Day, the office is open Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. PT. Visit our Contact Us page for summer hours, holidays, and seasonal breaks.
Is there a Help Desk and who do I call if I have a question?
OLLI at SOU office volunteers and staff are happy to answer your questions. Our office phone number is 541.552.6048 and the email address is olli@sou.edu , and we are located at 655 Frances Lane on the SOU campus in Ashland.
Where can I find a program catalog?
We produce a print catalog for each of our ten-week academic terms: fall, winter, and spring. The catalog includes a description and schedule of all our courses and information about our other programs and activities. Our online course catalog is available each term about six weeks before the terms begin.
How do I get an OLLI at SOU name badge?
Once you have joined or renewed your membership, contact the OLLI at SOU office by email at olli@sou.edu or call 541.552.6048 and ask for a name badge to be printed for you.
Can I volunteer at OLLI?
Yes! OLLI at SOU is a member-driven organization, and volunteers are vital in enabling us to maintain our programs. Please visit the Volunteer page for more information.
Are there courses and activities during the summer?
During the summer months, the SOU Youth Programs holds summer camps at the Campbell Center, and there are no OLLI classes. In July and August, OLLI at SOU staff prepares for the coming academic year. The OLLI at SOU Open House, which is open to public and OLLI at SOU members, is the premier summer event.
Are night/weekend courses available?
Currently, courses are offered Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT and occasionally on Saturdays. Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) and other OLLI programs and events are occasionally offered on evenings and weekends.
Is there a travel program available?
Yes, we are launching a travel pilot program in 2025.
How can I learn more about teaching at OLLI?
Volunteer instructors are the heart of the OLLI member experience. Please visit the Teach at OLLI page for more information. You do not need to be an OLLI at SOU member to teach at OLLI.
As an OLLI member, do I have access to SOU student health services? The gym?
OLLI at SOU members do not have access to SOU’s student health services or athletic facilities. Discounts for OLLI at SOU members are available at select SOU Raider games and music and theater performance at SOU’s Oregon Center for the Arts. OLLI members who are 65 years or older, have been an Oregon resident for at least one year, and are currently enrolled in an OLLI course are eligible to Participate in SOU’s One-Credit Program which provides the opportunity to check out books at the SOU Hannon Library. Please visit the Why Join page for more information.
Are the SOU Campbell Center classrooms available for OLLI member use?
The SOU Campbell Center facilities are only available for OLLI at SOU approved courses, programs, activities, events, and meetings during the academic year (September–June).
Does OLLI at SOU have a code of conduct?
Yes. The OLLI at SOU Council adopted an OLLI Code of Conduct to ensure a mutually enjoyable classroom environment for OLLI students and instructors. As an extension of the SOU community, OLLI members, instructors, volunteers, and staff are all expected to abide by the SOU Code of Conduct as well.
Registration and Courses
Where are the classes offered?
Courses are offered online using Zoom and in-person. Most in-person courses are offered at the SOU Campbell Center, located at 655 Frances Lane in Ashland. We also offer courses in Medford downtown at the RCC/SOU Higher Education Center and the Rogue Valley Manor. We occasionally use other area venues in the Rogue Valley, which are noted with addresses in the course catalog. Please visit the Contact Us page for addresses, driving details, maps, and parking information
Can I register for courses online?
Yes, current members can use OLLI’s online catalog to register for courses. The online catalog has the most up-to-date information and is the fastest, safest way to register.
Alternatively, current members can register for courses by completing a Course Request Form and emailing, sending, or dropping it off at the office. The OLLI office staff will input your information by the next business day.
How can I get the courses I most want?
OLLI at SOU has two registration periods: Priority and Open. Priority Registration is the first period when you can request up to three of your most highly desired courses. Priority registration increases your chances of getting the courses you want (but is no guarantee).
Open Registration, which allows members to register for any course that has space until registration is closed, begins less than two weeks after Priority Registration ends.
Please visit the Catalog/Register Page to learn more about getting the courses you want.
Is there a maximum number of courses I can register for?
Space permitting, you can enroll in as many in-person and online courses as you can fit into your schedule. Remember that some courses have a limited number of available seats, so please do not register for courses you do not intend to attend.
How can I get a list of the courses I am registered for?
You will receive an email whenever you are registered into a course or are added to a waitlist. You can also view and print a list of all your OLLI courses by visiting the My Account page and click on course list. If not already signed in to the account, you will be presented with the sign-in page first.
How do I contact my instructor?
OLLI at SOU instructors contact their students at least one week before the course begins. Contact the OLLI at SOU office by email at olli@sou.edu or call 541.552.6048 if you do not hear from your instructor.
What should I do if I can no longer participate in one of my registered courses?
If you need to drop a course, send an email with “DROP” and the course title in the subject line to olli@sou.edu , or call 541.552.6048 to request the drop.
If you will only miss one class session, please notify the instructor by email directly.
Why aren’t there more courses held in Medford?
Starting Fall 2024, the Rogue Valley Manor will become our second venue in Medford. (The RCC/SOU Higher Education Center downtown has long been our “main” Medford location.) Instructors are volunteers and choose where they wish to teach their course. We are actively recruiting instructors for both of our Medford venues and welcome any referrals.
Do courses have homework or tests?
OLLI at SOU embraces learning for the fun of it. There are no tests and no grades. Some courses, particularly in literature, writing, and film, expect work outside of class. Course descriptions in the online or print catalog are the best source for this information.
What is a waitlist?
Instructors set an enrollment limit for their course. For example, lecture courses are typically larger than a discussion or hands-on activity course. If the number of people trying to register for a course exceeds the maximum set by the instructor, a waitlist is created. Names on the waitlists are ordered by the date/time the request was processed.
If I am on a waitlist, how will I know if I get registered in the course?
Members will be notified by email if they are moved from Waitlisted to Registered.
I am waitlisted for a course, but I heard from a friend that there are empty seats. May I attend?
Instructors set the maximum enrollment limit for their course. If the room seats more than their enrollment limit, there will be empty seats. Please respect the maximum number of students the instructor has requested. Please contact the OLLI office by phone at 541.552.6048 or email olli@sou.edu with questions about whether there is space in a specific course.
I submitted the one-credit course form to the OLLI at SOU office. How do I check out books at Hannon Library?
It takes up to two weeks for the one-credit information to be processed and visible to Hannon Library staff. When checking out, tell the librarian you are an OLLI member who registered as a one-credit SOU student.
Are there hearing assisted devices for the classrooms?
Presently, the Campbell Center classrooms are not equipped with hearing-assisted devices. We do ask all instructors to wear the lapel microphone. In some instances, SOU Disability Resources can accommodate needs of OLLI members.
Can I bring a beverage to class?
Yes! The Campbell Center Members’ Lounge is a great place to enjoy refreshments before or after your class. There is a selection of tea and coffee, as well as a vending machine for snacks. We encourage you to bring your favorite travel cup from home. There are guest ceramic mugs too, but please wash the mug and return it to the lounge cupboard before you leave.
In the Campbell Center classrooms, there is an assortment of beverages and instant hot water. In accordance with SOU’s sustainability goals, single-use disposable beverage cups are not supplied.
Can I invite a guest to class?
Members and instructors may invite a guest to one class on the following conditions: there are seats available, there is no waitlist, and there is permission from the instructor. Course participants cannot attend on a regular basis without being an OLLI at SOU member and registered for the course. Students who wish to bring a guest are to ask for the instructor’s approval first.
Online Courses
Can I join and register for online courses if I don’t live in southern Oregon?
Yes. You can join OLLI at SOU no matter where you live and can enjoy as many online courses and programs as your schedule permits. Visit the Join/Renew page to become an OLLI at SOU member.
Do I need to have the Zoom app to participate in online courses?
You do not need the Zoom app to participate in an online Zoom course but you do need access to the internet on a computer or a cell phone and a web browser. Your instructor will email you a Zoom link that will enable you to join an online class.
How do I get onto Zoom?
We’re glad you asked! We have specific Zoom help pages with instructions and resources. Contact the OLLI at SOU office at olli@sou.edu or call 541.552.6048 to be connected to an OLLI member who can help you.
Can I use a public library to take online courses?
You can access your class from any computer with a web browser connected to the internet by clicking on the Zoom link emailed to you by your instructor. Check with your library for what internet services are available.
Is there a way for all Zoom participants to be muted?
We encourage all online instructors to mute all students once the class is underway and to re-mute students as needed. Please contact the OLLI at SOU office at olli@sou.edu or call 541.552.6048 if you have a suggestion for improving an online course.
Communication
How do I keep up to date on what is happening at OLLI?
Visit our News & Events page to learn about what’s happening. The page includes links to the current and past editions of the OLLI at SOU weekly Newsflash and information about upcoming programs and events.
The Newsflash is emailed to members every Monday morning. If you are not receiving the weekly Newsflash email, first check your email Spam or Junk folder, then contact the OLLI at SOU office at olli@sou.edu or call 541.552.6048 if you still have not located the Newsflash.
How will I know if classes are canceled or delayed because of weather?
The OLLI at SOU office and in-person classes follow the main SOU campus closures due to inclement weather. The OLLI at SOU inclement weather policy is as follows:
- If SOU is on a two-hour delay, all 9 a.m. in-person Ashland classes are canceled. All remaining classes for the day are unaffected, and 11 a.m. classes resume as normal.
- If SOU closes campus for the day, all in-person Ashland courses are canceled.
OLLI at SOU members and instructors will be notified by email of a closure or delayed opening. The OLLI at SOU homepage and Facebook page will announce inclement weather closures, as will the OLLI voicemail message. For confirmation of a weather-related closure, visit OLLI at SOU homepage, or call 541.552.7672 for more information. The campus will be open unless there is a recorded message stating otherwise.
How can I be sure I am receiving emails from my instructor?
Be sure the email address you used for your membership registration is the email address that you check on a regular basis. Also be sure to regularly check your Spam/Junk folder.
To verify and update the email address used by OLLI at SOU, sign-in to your account and click View or Make Changes to My Account and then click and Profile.
How can I provide feedback to the staff or OLLI at SOU leadership?
We welcome feedback. Contact the OLLI at SOU office at olli@sou.edu or call 541.552.6048 or use our Online Suggestion Box. OLLI at SOU also conducts an annual member survey towards the end of spring term. We encourage members to provide feedback on all aspects of their experience.
Is there a way for me to provide feedback to my instructor?
Instructors are encouraged to ask their students for feedback—whether that be in-person or via email. Students are always free to contact instructors with comments and suggestions. Student Feedback Forms can be found under “Instructor Resources” on our Resources page. The Curriculum Committee also emails all students in courses taught by new-to-OLLI at SOU instructors a survey once the course has ended.
