Who We Are

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is a community of vibrant adult learners at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, NY. We welcome anyone who wants to learn regardless of their background. You do NOT have to be affiliated with RIT or any other university to participate in the OLLI program.

We are part of a national network of OLLIs across the US. Each OLLI is affiliated with a college or university, is funded in part by The Bernard Osher Foundation, and is unique and operates independently, with offerings tailored to meet the needs and interests of its community. However, some OLLIs do collaborate to share courses; currently we partner with OLLIs at the University of Arizona, California State University - Chico, Arizona State University, and Dartmouth College which allows us to offer many more courses. 

A Dual-Track Program

A membership at RIT's OLLI allows you to participate in one or both of the following tracks:

• Attend OLLI classes in-person at our dedicated building just south of the main RIT campus or online via Zoom from home
• Audit RIT undergraduate classes for free, in-person or online from home, plus take advantage of other RIT campus perks

See the Membership Benefits page for more details.

Flexible Learning Options

We offer courses in subjects from the arts to technology, language to history, science to literature – all without the pressure of exams or grades! In a relaxed and informal atmosphere, our students (referred to as "members") share knowledge, spark ideas, inspire new thinking, and forge friendships. No college credit is earned; it's simply for the joy of learning. Most of our classes are hybrid format which means you can participate either in-person in our classrooms or via Zoom from your home. Having this flexibility is great if you can’t come in person due to your travel, illness, out-of-area residence, or other reasons. 

Course Proposals and Development 

We welcome course proposals from both members and non-members, however our course leaders are all volunteers and do not receive monetary compensation. No previous teaching experience is required, just a passion to share your knowledge with others. Leading a short, one-session class gives you the opportunity to “try out” course leadership to see if it is for you, and our Course Offerings Committee can guide you if you would like assistance with creating your course. OLLI class members are energetic, curious, have a lot of life experience to bring to the discussion, and they want to be in your class to learn! There are no grades, exams, or other requirements; our course leaders call it "dream teaching"!

To submit a proposal for a course you'd like to teach, go the Resources page to fill out the Course Proposal Form. You should be prepared to include a course title and description, the text or materials that will be used, the type of instruction planned (i.e. lecture, discussion, seminar) the length of the course, and other pertinent information about the course.

Governance and Volunteerism

Since we are part of RIT's Division of Government and Community Relations, we follow many of the university’s established policies. However, we do have autonomy over many aspects of our program, and a member Council consisting of a chairperson, vice-chairpersons, and supporting committees oversees it. In addition to Council positions, members volunteer to be course leaders, social event planners, tech support, etc. We so appreciate our dedicated volunteers who assist staff to keep the program running!

Go to the Resources page to view the Council organizational chart and our handbook.

Extracurricular Activities

In addition to taking classes, you can attend social events such as picnics and holiday parties. Browse our Ruth Estes Memorial Library, full of favorite books, and check them out for as long as you like; there are no due dates! Enjoy our art gallery, located in the lobby and fireside lounge areas, where members’ artwork and photos are displayed.