Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Osher Foundation logo and group of OLLI members

 

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is an inclusive community of nearly 2,000 adults who share a love of learning. By becoming a member, you’ll join peers who seek to foster connection, exploration, and engagement. We take pride in providing an excellent lifelong learning experience for our members.

Mission Statement: OLLI at Duke fosters a dynamic community of lifelong learners by providing diverse educational programs, social engagement, and volunteer opportunities that inspire curiosity, connection, and personal growth.

Connect with others who share your love of learning. 

Explore new ideas and activities. 

Challenge yourself. 

Build community with your peers. 

Each year, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) offers approximately 200 courses across three terms: fall, spring, and summer. Our Curriculum Committee, comprised of dedicated members, carefully reviews and selects courses to ensure a diverse and engaging program. Course topics are inspired by member suggestions, as well as contributions from instructors and advisors, with the goal of providing a balanced selection that offers something for everyone.

Our courses typically cover the following areas:

  • Art and Architecture
  • Economics & Public Policy
  • Hands-On Art
  • History: Past & Present
  • Literature and Languages
  • Performing Arts
  • Photography
  • Religion & Philosophy
  • Science & Technology
  • Society and Culture
  • Wellness Activities
  • Writing

OLLI’s unique set of excellent and passionate instructors come from diverse backgrounds, including retired faculty from Duke and nearby institutions, graduate and postdoctoral students, working artists, local business owners, independent scholars, and the occasional politician.

Do you have a suggestion for a course topic or know someone who would make a great OLLI instructor? We’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to Jenny Levine at jenny.levine@duke.edu.

There are no courses open for enrollment at this time.

There are no In-Person Courses open for enrollment at this time.

There are no Online Courses open for enrollment at this time.

There are no courses open for enrollment at this time.

As we age, our learning styles may evolve, but the drive to grow intellectually remains strong. Experiential learning—gaining knowledge through hands-on activities such as traveling, engaging in fitness programs, or exploring hobbies—becomes increasingly valuable. These opportunities not only stimulate the mind but also deepen connections to personal interests and foster individual growth.

OLLI also offers workshops, short-form courses available à la carte as an additional benefit to members. Announcements about upcoming Workshops are shared in the member newsletter.

For more information about experiential learning and workshops, please refer to the catalog or member newsletter. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at olli@duke.edu.

Experiential Learning

There are no experiential learning opportunities open for enrollment at this time.

Workshops

There are no workshops open for enrollment at this time.

Find your course links for Duke OLLI courses in the Student and Instructor Portal

OLLI Registration

Viewing OLLI at Duke Course Catalog Online

Joining OLLI at Duke is simple! Annual membership dues are $60. Memberships can be purchased March 1 and are valid through June 30 of the following calendar year; please note that dues are nonrefundable.

Membership benefits
As a member, you’ll enjoy access to:

  • Register for classes
  • Participate in special events
  • Join Special Interest Groups
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Social activities

How to join
There are two easy ways to become an OLLI at Duke member:

  1. During registration: The online registration system will automatically add a new membership to your cart when you enroll in courses.
  2. From our website: Click here to add a current membership to your cart.

For questions or assistance, feel free to contact us at olli@duke.edu.

Dates

Summer 2025 registration:

For classes held on Monday and Tuesday, registration opens Tuesday, April 15 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

For classes held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays, registration opens Wednesday, April 16 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

Registration remains open through the first week of the course. To transfer or drop a course, please email learnmore@duke.edu. Please refer to the refund policy for more information.

Check out the video below for a demo of how to register for an OLLI course. The OLLI at Duke FAQ page lists questions about the registration process.

OLLI Registration video demo

Enrollment and Waitlists

Course capacities are set by instructors, staff, and parking limitations. Most online courses have higher enrollment limits, while in-person courses tend to be smaller and fill quickly. You can find the maximum enrollment for each course at the bottom of its description. Click the Courses tab on this website to review course profiles.

If a course reaches capacity, members can join an automated waitlist. When a spot becomes available, the system will offer it to the next person on the waitlist via email.

Members will have 48 hours from the time the email is sent to accept the spot and complete payment. If no action is taken within that time, the offer will expire and the spot will be offered to the next person on the list.

Payments

Courses are individually priced, with fees (including any materials costs) listed in the course catalog and on each course's profile page on this website.

Payment of course fees is required at the time of registration and must be made by credit card. Please note that checks are not accepted.

OLLI’s refund policy can be found on the OLLI Policies page.

All OLLI events are in Eastern Time (ET). Please read carefully as all dates are subject to change.

WhenEvent
Spring 2025
April 3Last Day of Spring 2025
April 7-10Makeup week
WhenEvent
Summer 2025

March 19

Course catalog published

April 15

Registration opens at 9:00 a.m., ET
-For classes held on Monday and Tuesday

April16

Registration opens at 9:00 a.m., ET
-For classes held on Wednesday and Thursday

April 17

Zoom Basics and Refresher for members, 10 a.m., ET
MLK Day, OLLI office closed

May 1

New Member Meet & Mingle

May 5

First day of Spring 2025

 May 26

Memorial Day, no classes, OLLI closed

June 16

Last day of Spring 2025

 June 19

Juneteenth, no classes/events, OLLI closed

June 17-20

Makeup week

OLLI at Duke keeps members informed and engaged through a variety of resources:

  • OLLI Newsletter
    The OLLI newsletter is curated by staff to share updates about upcoming events, special workshops, and course registration details. Click here to sign up for our newsletters and stay in the loop.

Online Learning Website
OLLI at Duke has developed a dedicated website for online learning activities. This site features Zoom how-to guides, technical assistance requests, and details about the current term. Visit the site at https://www.olliatduke.online for more information.

Our online courses are taught via Zoom. Links to your class can be found in your Student Portal by logging in at the top right of this website.

In-person courses are taught at our classroom facility at the Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W Cornwallis Rd. Durham, NC, 27705, unless otherwise noted in the course description. 

Please join our newsletter mailing list for more information on in-person events.