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.
In-Person Courses
Online Courses
| Course | Time | Tuition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Museums Today: Tradition, Innovation, and AdaptationIN PERSON: Go behind the scenes with North Carolina Museum of Art Chief Registrar Maggie Gregory to learn more about the day-to-day workings of the modern museum. Balancing the mission of preservation and interpretation, museums… - |
1:30PM - 3:00PM | $45.00 | available |
| Course | Time | Tuition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limits of Presidential Power?IN PERSON: Explore the evolving power of the presidency and the checks designed to restrain it. Why did the Founders structure government as they did? How has executive power expanded, and at what cost? This course examines key… - |
11:00AM - 12:30PM | $90.00 | waitlist_available |
| The World TodayONLINE: Do you enjoy following and discussing current events? Each week, we will look at news and issues from around the world and at home. The instructor will provide an agenda with notes and links, and members of the class are… - |
11:00AM - 12:30PM | $90.00 | available |
| Course | Time | Tuition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mastering Monochrome: Unlocking the Art and Value of Black-and-White PhotographyONLINE: Embark on a journey beyond color imagery to discover the art of creating evocative images in black-and-white. Learn the what, why, when, and how of making black-and-white photographs through brief, focused presentations,… - |
1:30PM - 2:45PM | $90.00 | waitlist_available |
| Course | Time | Tuition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Ching DivinationIN PERSON: The 3,000 year-old I Ching (Yìjīng 易經) or Book of Changes is a core text of Chinese culture. Daoists, Confucianists, and Buddhists have provided commentary through the centuries, but it predates them all. It appears to be… - |
1:30PM - 3:00PM | $90.00 | available |
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
Workshops
| Course | Time | Tuition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2025 Kickoff
You're Invited
Too Hot to Handle:
The Surprising Truth About Heat and Human Health
Join OLLI friends - both familiar faces and new - for a casual social hour with light appetizers and refreshments starting… |
3:00PM - 5:00PM | $10.00 | available |
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:
- During registration: The online registration system will automatically add a new membership to your cart when you enroll in courses.
- 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.
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.
| When | Event |
|---|---|
| Spring 2025 | |
| April 3 | Last Day of Spring 2025 |
| April 7-10 | Makeup week |
| When | Event |
|---|---|
| Summer 2025 | |
March 19 | Course catalog published |
April 15 | Registration opens at 9:00 a.m., ET |
April16 | Registration opens at 9:00 a.m., ET |
April 17 | Zoom Basics and Refresher for members, 10 a.m., ET |
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.