These include seminars on personal finance, famous musical composers, the history of Broadway, line dancing, sketching, the Supreme Court and the United States Constitution, poetry, and even one regarding the San Diego Zoo's gorillas. Information about classes like these can shared using brochure printing.
Ellie Monroe, the vice president of programs and a course instructor, commented:
“We have about 110 classes that we put on each year on average.”
The OLLI program was established at Cal State Fullerton about 45 years ago to benefit Orange County's seniors. Data from the Orange County Office on Aging shows that around 14% of Orange County residents are above 65 years old, and that figure is expected to rise rapidly.
Bernard Osher, a wealthy businessman and Maine native with a love for learning, established OLLI in 2001 as a not-for-profit self-sustaining organization. His substantial funding has resulted in a $2m fund for Cal State Fullerton's OLLI program. Similar programs exist at around 125 other campuses throughout the country.
Cal State Fullerton's OLLI program is open to people who are retired and semi-retired, and costs a $275 annual membership. No prior college education is required. Membership allows users to enroll in as many classes as they like, although some may demand additional fees such as travel expenses.