Education Matters | Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College

By Tom Reese | August 2024

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College offers individuals over age 50 opportunities to attend affordable non-credit courses. OLLI has just surpassed over 1,000 members as it gears up for its sixth fall season of classes.

OLLI is quite successful with the 50-plus crowd in Sarasota and Manatee counties. This non-profit institute is supported through student registrations, memberships, and private contributions. OLLI’s courses are offered year-round and are primarily based on a liberal arts curriculum.

“Once people retire, they often look for new adventures,” says Sheila Reed, OLLI’s Assistant Director. “At OLLI, students can take classes, lectures, workshops, and enjoy movies. Our subject areas range from art appreciation, music, and literature to history, psychology, technology, and more. Taking classes at OLLI is a great way to experience lifelong learning.”

The mission of OLLI is to enrich the lives of mature adults in Sarasota and Manatee counties by providing affordable and outstanding educational programs and social interactions that cover a broad spectrum of topics and are rich in intellectual stimulation, often interactive in scope, and worthy of academic consideration.

There are no tests, grades, or homework assignments for students. You simply become a member, sign up for classes you want to take, and sit back and enjoy the educational experience. All classes are held at the Ringling College Museum Campus at Sarasota Art Museum.

“Most of our members and instructors have had wonderful life experiences and have retired from all kinds of professions and careers yet they are still eager to learn. People retire, but learning never does and that is the beauty of lifelong learning,” says Sheila. 

This fall, classes and workshops include topics such as Local Dark Money in Sarasota and Manatee Counties; LBJ and Florida’s Civil Rights Movement; Addressing Ethical Concerns in AI; Senior Dating 101; The Florida Seminoles: Trail of Tears; Diet Wars: The Good, Bad, and Ugly; Unseen Women Who Made a Difference, and many more opportunities. 

There are two membership levels to OLLI at Ringling College — Gold and Silver. Membership is good for 365 days from the day you join or renew. You must be a Gold or Silver member to register for a multi-session course. You do not need a membership to register for some specific lectures, workshops, programs, or presentations. 

Silver members pay an annual fee of $25 and receive the following benefits: access to more than 200 liberal arts courses, access to Shared Interest Groups (SIG), rewarding volunteer opportunities, a monthly e-newsletter, and a 10% discount at Bistro at the Sarasota Art Museum. 

Gold members pay $85 annually and receive the following benefits in addition to those listed above: a 10% discount on tuition and other educational offerings, early registration privileges, and three free lectures per academic year. This is the most popular option for OLLI members as registration for classes fills quickly. 

Tuition for classes range from $15 to $95. While the summer classes have already passed, the fall academic season is right around the corner beginning September 30 and running through November 22. 

“I’ve seen the importance of lifelong learning and keeping your mind active,” says Sheila. “Having a place where you can have lively discussions and exchange ideas, can make all the difference when it comes to enjoying retirement. What makes our program special is that people do connect, create bonds, and develop friendships. People choose OLLI because they can be part of an active and interactive community. If you’re looking for a place to explore lifelong learning and make friends, OLLI is the place to be.”

The two most popular recurring programs are CONNECTIONS: Documentary Film Series, and Listening to Women.  

Julie Cotton is the creator of the CONNECTIONS series now in its ninth year this fall. CONNECTIONS is an opportunity for OLLI students and guests to connect with many of today’s pressing issues via the penetrating perspectives of contemporary documentary films. As the name implies, the themes for the films will showcase the CONNECTIONS humans have with one another, with our environment (including technology), and with other species that share our planet.

Holly Freedman launched Listening to Women in 2019. Listening to Women is a six-part series that features women whose innovations and accomplishments, locally and globally, are having an impact and influencing lives. Each week students meet women who are driven by a cause and have the passion and determination to achieve outstanding success in various fields. Since its inception, more than 80 women have told their stories and have educated and inspired audiences of men and women. 

Listening to Women 2025, starting on January 23rd, will include an Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense, a U.S. Congressperson, four college presidents, a restaurant proprietor/entrepreneur, a high-ranking law enforcement officer, an opera performer/educator, and a session with Vickie Oldham, President and CEO of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition.   

OLLI at Ringling College also has plans to relaunch its travel program that allows students to travel together internationally to experience different cultures and unique histories.  

OLLI has partnered with Collette Travel for a 10-day tour to Rome and the Amalfi Coast in May 2025. Tour highlights include four days in Rome and three days along the Amalfi Coast with stops at Sorrento and Pompeii. The Amalfi Coast is a popular tourist destination, with sheer cliffs and a rugged shoreline dotted with small beaches and pastel-colored fishing villages. 

If you are interested in becoming a member of OLLI at Ringling College and attending upcoming classes, please visit www.olliringlingcollege.org to register online in September. 

OLLI is also always looking for individuals interested in teaching and volunteering, whether it be working in the office or helping with special events. You don’t need a teaching degree to be an instructor at OLLI. You only need a passion for a subject and the desire to share your knowledge. Information can be found on its website and by calling 941-309-5111.