Osher Lecture Series

In January 2003, the University of Vermont received a generous grant from the Bernard Osher foundation to establish OLLIs (Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes) that provide courses and programs for Vermonters age 50 and over. The University received three subsequent grants followed by a $1 million endowment in October, 2006 to permanently establish the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UVM. In 2010, the Bernard Osher foundation granted additional funds to the University to establish a new OLLI on the UVM campus. OLLIs now exist in nine Vermont communities in Brattleboro, Rutland, Montpelier, Newport/Derby/Stanstead, Springfield, St. Albans, Lamoille Valley, St. Johnsbury and on the UVM campus in Burlington.

OLLIs offer new and diverse learning opportunities for serving the intellectual needs of Vermont’s older citizens through non-credit courses and programs offered at an affordable cost in communities throughout the state. Local community members, in collaboration with UVM, design the curriculum and enroll in non-credit classes taught primarily by active and retired UVM faculty or other area college faculty and experts.