Policies and Procedures for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Ilinois at Urbana-Champaign
This document applies to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Illinois, which is a program of, and subject to the policies of, the University of Illinois, as well as being subject to the guidelines of the Bernard Osher Foundation.
I. Name
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Illinois, at times referred to below by the acronym OLLI or as OLLI at Illinois.
II. Mission Statement
OLLI at Illinois provides educational, cultural, and social programs to engage minds, enhance well-being, and foster joy among lifelong learners.
III. Organization & Affiliations
The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost (referred to below as Provost) will appoint a Director, who is the chief administrator of OLLI. The Director is a full-time employee of the university and is responsible to the Provost for ongoing operations and business management. OLLI will operate under an annual budget presented by the Director in consultation with the Advisory Council (referred to below as Council) and approved by the Office of the Provost prior to the start of each fiscal year. The Council, determined as set forth below, will advise the Director on policies, priorities, and the creation of committees. Individuals on the Council do not have authority to act on behalf of OLLI or the university in legal, financial, or personnel actions.
OLLI at Illinois is a grantee of the Bernard Osher Foundation with affiliation privileges of the national network of Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, including the services and resources of the National Resource Center for Osher Institutes.
IV. OLLI Administration
As chief administrator of OLLI at Illinois, the Director is responsible for the overall management of programmatic, financial, personnel, and managerial matters, and for ensuring that operations conform to university policies. The Director is also responsible to the Osher Foundation as the principal investigator of all grants and endowment gifts according to established guidelines and reporting procedures. The Director will be an ex officio member of the Council, all committees, and task forces and will oversee communication to staff, to members, and to the public through such avenues as the website, eNews, email messages, and semiannual course listings.
V. Membership
Membership is open to all adults. Upon payment of fees set by the Director in consultation with the Council, a member may participate in all OLLI activities. Annual membership runs from July 1 to the following June 30 (referred to below as year).
Membership benefits and conditions are approved by the Council. Membership in OLLI does not confer any further University of Illinois student, staff, or faculty status.
Should the need arise, the Director, in consultation with the Council Chair, may decline or terminate the membership of an individual whose actions are inconsistent with or harmful to the best interests of OLLI at Illinois.
VI. Advisory Council
A. Scope
The Council is advisory and represents the members in its collaboration with the Director. As a constituent part of the University of Illinois, the Council has neither the administrative oversight nor the financial and liability responsibilities common to boards of incorporated entities. The Council’s authority rests solely upon the abiding commitment of OLLI at Illinois to involve its members in fulfilling its mission.
B. Role and Responsibilities
As a collaborative body the Council will work with the Director to oversee general operations, including but not limited to planning, fostering active participation and volunteer engagement, resolving issues, setting fees, raising funds, creating and dissolving committees, and budgeting.
C. Membership
The Council will not exceed thirteen members, all of whom must be current OLLI members who have already been members for four consecutive semesters and have served on at least one OLLI committee. New council members may be proposed by any current OLLI member, including self-nomination. The proposed slate of new member(s) will be recommended by the Nominating Committee to the membership-at-large at least ten working days prior to the annual meeting for approval at that meeting.
D. Terms of Service
Council members serve a term of two years, renewable for a second two-year term, not to exceed four consecutive years.
A former Council member may be nominated for a new term after two years have elapsed since the end of the earlier term. An outgoing Council Chair will be invited to serve for a year as Advisory Council Chair Emeritus/Emerita (ex officio, if this person has already served four years on the Council) immediately following completion of the term as Chair.
E. Vacancies
Council members must attend at least half of each year’s Council meetings. If a member does not do so or misses three consecutive regular meetings, the Chair may ask the Nominating Committee to recommend a replacement. Any Council vacancy arising midyear will be addressed by the Nominating Committee for the following year.
F. Meetings
The Council will meet a minimum of six times per year either in person or virtually. Having a majority of Council members present will constitute a quorum for conducting business at that meeting.
G. Officers
Council officers will consist of the Chair, Vice Chair, *Financial Liaison, and Secretary. Each officer is elected to a one-year term by the members of the Advisory Council.
*Financial Liaison: This officer becomes familiar with the OLLI budget process and assists in making OLLI finances (such as how donations are used) more transparent to OLLI members.
Chair: The Chair will preside over council meetings, conduct the annual meeting in consultation with the Director, appoint chairs of committees in consultation with the Director, serve as an ex officio member of all standing committees, and serve as an advisor to the Director and the Nominating Committee.
Vice Chair: The Vice Chair will assist the Chair and Director and preside over council meetings and conduct the annual meeting in the Chair’s absence. The Vice Chair may serve as an ex officio member of a standing committee in place of the Chair at the Chair’s discretion. The expectation is that the Vice Chair will become Chair the following year.
Secretary: The Secretary will record minutes of all Council and annual meetings. If neither Chair nor Vice Chair is available, the Secretary will preside over council meetings and conduct the annual meeting. (If none of the officers is present, a standing committee liaison [in alphabetical order by committee name] will preside.)
VII. Committees
In addition to the standing and special committees below, task forces and ad hoc committees may be convened by the Director in consultation with the Chair. Additional standing committees may be created, and existing committees may be dissolved, by the Council.
Standing Committees
Chairs of committees will be appointed by the Council Chair and the Director. Committee chairs will serve a two-year term, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. No committee chair may serve more than three consecutive years in that role, with the exception of the eNews Committee chair.
Committee members, appointed by the OLLI Director in consultation with the Council Chair and the appropriate committee chair, will serve for up to three years. There are no term limits for the eNews Committee. The Director and the Council Chair (or Vice Chair, if so designated) will be ex officio members of all standing committees. No current member of the Council will chair a standing committee. A committee member may be invited to serve on a different committee when the member’s original term has expired or on the same committee one year after the original term has expired.
A Council member will be appointed by the Council Chair and OLLI Director to serve as Liaison for each standing committee. The Liaison will serve as an ex officio member of the committee for one year and will represent the Council and its policies at committee meetings. Liaisons will provide committee reports at Council meetings.
Committee meeting schedules will be determined at the start of the year by the Director, Council Chair, and each committee chair. Special meetings may be called as needed.
A. Curriculum Committee
Statement of Purpose: The Curriculum Committee works with the OLLI Director to develop a stimulating, well-balanced schedule of courses for the fall and spring semesters.
Responsibilities: The committee works in partnership with the OLLI Director to help identify qualified instructors and interesting topics for a diverse, intellectually stimulating curriculum. Committee members help disseminate information about the course calendar and submission process; encourage submission of course proposals; approve and refine submitted proposals; and assess course policies, evaluation procedures, and the success of past semesters to determine future directions. The OLLI Director has sole hiring responsibility for all course instructors. The committee meets approximately seven times per year, mostly during peak review times (April-May, October-November).
B. Development Committee
Statement of Purpose: The Development Committee works with the OLLI Director to ensure OLLI’s financial stability.
Responsibilities: In accordance with university policies and procedures, the Development Committee works with the Director and Advisory Council to articulate OLLI’s short- and long-term financial goals and plan and implement fundraising activities to help meet these goals. Committee members explain to OLLI members and supporters the importance of donations, encourage donations, and assist in thanking donors. Members may not approach individuals or agencies on behalf of OLLI without prior approval from the Director. The committee meets every other month for one hour.
C. eNews Committee
Statement of Purpose: The eNews Committee produces three eNews issues and two Bookshelf issues a year for OLLI members and supporters.
Responsibilities: eNews committee members review the publication schedule, brainstorm topics, and undertake such tasks as interviewing, writing, editing, taking photos, and handling technical production. Due to the specific expertise involved in producing each issue, there are no member term limits. Some committee members have been actively involved for many years, but new members are always welcome. The committee meets for one hour six times per year.
D. Lecture Committee
Statement of Purpose: The Lecture Committee works with the OLLI Director to develop a stimulating, well-balanced schedule of lectures and workshops throughout the year.
Responsibilities: The Lecture Committee identifies speakers and topics that will result in a diverse, intellectually stimulating series of lectures and workshops; reviews the success of past lectures to determine future directions; approves and helps coordinate speaker events; and establishes and assesses lecture policies and proposal procedures. The committee meets every other month for one hour.
E. Marketing Committee
Statement of Purpose: The Marketing Committee works with OLLI staff to recruit new members and promote OLLI to the broader community.
Responsibilities: The committee advises staff on OLLI’s member recruitment strategy, the annual marketing calendar, and the content of marketing materials that staff create in collaboration with Strategic Communication and Marketing. The committee also assists with member recruitment and/or community events, helps distribute marketing materials and promote social media posts, and maintains a list of local media outlets and locations for speaker opportunities. The committee meets nine times per year for one hour.
ittee works with OLLI staff to recruit new members and promote OLLI to the broader community.
F. Membership Committee
Statement of Purpose: The Membership Committee creates and implements plans for the orientation and retention of OLLI members.
Responsibilities: The committee is responsible for welcoming new members and reaching out to new and returning members at informal activities designed to engage and sustain OLLI membership. The committee also assists OLLI staff in planning trips and social events and staffing the Annual Meeting and special events throughout the year. The committee meets every other month for one hour.
G. Study Group Committee
Statement of Purpose: The Study Group Committee works with staff to develop four sessions per year of member-led discussion groups, each six weeks in length.
Responsibilities: The committee works with OLLI staff to provide support and guidance to study group facilitators through workshops and training meetings; encourages member participation in the facilitation of groups and suggestion of potential topics; reviews and approves study group proposals and schedules; and assesses proposal policies and evaluation procedures. The committee meets nine times per year for one hour; during peak review times, some meetings may be longer.
Special Committees
A. Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee, in consultation with the Director, identifies, invites, and recommends new members of the Advisory Council for approval at the annual meeting. The slate will consist of as many nominees as there are positions to be filled for the coming year. This committee, appointed in March by the Director, will have four members, one of whom will chair. The chair will be a Council member named by the Director in consultation with the Council Chair. Other members will be drawn from current standing committees and the Council of Chairs.
B. Council of Chairs
The Director and the Council Chair will convene all past chairs of the Advisory Council (and its predecessor body) as needed, but at least annually, to benefit from their institutional memory and collective wisdom.
VIII. Annual Meeting
There will be an annual meeting each June open to all OLLI members. At the meeting the Director and Committee Chairs will present an overview of the year’s activities. Following these brief reports, the Nominating Committee Chair (or designee) will present a slate of candidates for the Advisory Council for approval by a majority of the members in attendance. Additionally, the Nominating Committee Chair will announce the new officers of the Advisory Council.
IX. Conflicts of Interest
Although the University of Illinois System Policy on Conflicts of Commitment and Interest applies to paid staff members, both OLLI staff and volunteer leaders will adhere to this policy in all dealings, such as helping to choose vendors, influencing purchases, and establishing business affiliations. Any OLLI member is expected to disclose potential conflicts of interest and/or to recuse her- or himself from decisions that might benefit the member financially.
X. Parliamentary Authority
The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised and any subsequent Official Interpretations from its authorship team will govern the conduct of business at OLLI in all cases in which they are applicable when they are not in conflict with this document or with university statutes.
XI. Amendment and Revision
Amendments to these policies and procedures must be proposed at one Council meeting, allowed ample time for reflection and discussion, and not voted upon until at least the next meeting, with notice sent to all Council members of the proposed changes and the date, place, and time of the meeting at which a vote will be held.
At least every two years the Council, in consultation with the Director, will examine these policies and procedures and propose any desired revisions.
Revised and approved by the OLLI Advisory Council on January 9, 2025, this document went into effect on February 6, 2025.
Additional Sections Updates:
- Section II. Mission Statement revision May 7, 2026.
- Section VII. Committee, Standing Committees descriptions revision May 12, 2026.
- Section V. Membership revision May 12, 2026.