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How to Start a Lifelong Learning Institute Guide

Can someone who hasn’t gone to college join a LLI?

Lifelong learning institutes are open to anyone, regardless of previous academic experience. All that is needed is a desire to keep one’s mind sharp and the joy that comes from learning something new.

Can I teach a course at a LLI?

At most LLIs, members are encouraged to take part in the running of the program, be it teaching a course, answering the phone, or anything else. So if you have a particular subject that you are knowledgeable and/or passionate about, talk to someone on the Curriculum Committee. They will be glad to help you get started.

Do LLIs have computer groups?

Yes, most LLIs offer computer training. In the early days most of these courses were very basic in nature, but today, with so many people computer-literate, many of the courses are more advanced. Talk to your LLI about their offerings.

What are the fees to join a LLI?

Fees differ, depending on the particular LLI. Some LLIs have a membership fee only, others a mix of membership fees and course fees. Fees can run from a low of about $25 to a high of, on average, $125 per year. By paying a membership fee, people tend to take more “ownership” of their LLI and the chances are greater that they will want to help out to ensure the best program possible. What’s nice, however, is that all LLIs are very cognizant of the budgets of older adults and strive to keep fees as low as possible.

Do LLIs take credit cards?

Some do, some don’t. The best thing to do is give the program you are interested in a quick phone call. They can answer any questions you might have.

What type of courses do LLIs offer?

At the very heart of every Lifelong Learning Institute is the curriculum. Committees, composed of LLI members, decide what courses are to be offered, based on input from other members. A Curriculum Committee puts in long hours planning and organizing. That hard work shows in the quality of the courses offered by each LLI. Here is a brief sampling of some of the courses offered at Lifelong Learning Institutes.:

Music in French Civilization
Four from J.S. Bach
The Elements of Music
Memorable Musicals Art & Ideas: Romantic America
Beginning Watercolor - Pen & Ink
Basic Drawing
American Mystery Writers
Modern Short Fiction of the American South
James Fenimore Cooper’s Greatest Novels
Louisa May Alcott: Her Life & Work
Creative Writing
Everywoman’s Story Project
Life Writing
A Playwright’s Theatre
Theatre & the Public Good
Play Reading for Culture
Plays in Production
Reading & Understanding Poetry
The Epic
Schoolroom Poets
Understanding Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Nutrition & Food Issues
Biology of Aging
Medical Test Results
The Mind/Body Connection
Civil War
Celts: A History of Ireland, Scotland, Wales - Lewis & Clark
Early American History
Local Ecosystems
Local Island Ecology
Municipal Government
Aquaculture Research
Current Affairs/Events
Foreign Policy – Science courses of every type
Mathematics
… the list goes on and on.

Do LLIs have social events?

The social nature of lifelong learning can help us live longer. People join lifelong learning institutes as much for the socialization as for the education. Social activities are a very strong component of LLIs. There, people make lifelong friends. Here are some of the social events taking place at LLIs:
Walking & Hiking Clubs - Theater Trips - Dinner Clubs - Book Clubs - Current Events Groups - Weekend Getaways - Summer Picnics - Theme Festivals - Chess Clubs - Ice Cream Socials - Holiday Parties - Theme Dinners - Card Groups - Bird Clubs - Special Interest Groups
Statewide and regional conferences are also another way LLI members interact on both a professional and social level. Conferences are a great way of bringing LLIs together, to discuss the nature of their programs, their missions, policies and procedures, to share concerns, find solutions, and to celebrate their many victories.

Do LLIs have field trips or other forms of travel?

Yes, travel of all types is very popular with LLI members. Be it a short field trip to round out a course being taken, or a day trip to a local historical site, or overnight travel, all LLIs offer stimulating educational travel. Working with the Road Scholar Charter programs, LLIs also offer their members more wide-ranging travel all around the world. LLIs believe that educational travel, in all forms, is both stimulating and enriching, teaching us about the world and the people who inhabit it.

Is it okay to miss a class?

Things happen that can cause us to occasionally miss a class that we’ve signed up for. When that happens let the office know you won’t be attending that day. If you’ve signed up for a course and then discover you can not take any of the classes, be sure to let the office know right away so they can add someone from the waiting list in your place.

Do most LLIs offer near-by parking?

LLIs do their best to ensure that participants can park as close to classrooms as possible. Sometimes this can be a bit challenging, especially if the LLI is meeting on a college campus. But the LLIs usually work out arrangements with the parking department. In some instances, LLIs have a bus that transports members. If the LLI is meeting off-site, there is almost always easy, nearby parking.