Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
Teach a Course
Guidelines for Course Proposals
We hope you will decide to teach a course at OLLI, and are sure you will enjoy the experience.
As an aid in preparing the Class Proposal, we would like you to keep the following things in mind:
- Every effort will be made to accommodate your first choice of time and date, but this will not always be possible. That is why we ask for alternate choices. Selecting only one specific time and date may make scheduling your class impossible, so please be flexible.
- Please make your preferences clear, e.g., references such as "the same, but a week earlier/later" can result in confusion!
- Each term is 10 weeks in length and each class is usually scheduled for one session per week, but you can teach as many weeks as you wish, between two and 10. While we accept courses of only one session, we encourage those to be presented as part of our Community Lecture Series. Please help the scheduling process by avoiding requests that are in "the middle" of the 10 week block. A 4 or 5 week class that starts during week 3 and ends during week 7 makes it almost impossible to utilize the weeks in front of and after the requested time period. This is simply not the best use of our classroom availability. As a result, your class may have to wait for a later term. We realize that personal vacations/schedules, etc., come first, but your help will be greatly appreciated. Any complications you have should be explained on a separate piece of paper and attached to this proposal to aid the scheduling process.
- In addition to offering classes at the Campbell Center of SOU in Ashland, we offer classes at the Higher Education Center in Medford. The HEC has state-of-the-art classrooms, and you may be more likely to have your class at the time and day you wish if you teach in Medford. Classes may not be used to promote commercial interests, whether to sell a book, or to publicize a business or profession. You may state your background, including business affiliation, at the start of the first class session, but should not do so thereafter. Personal development courses must be taught on an academic rather than a therapeutic basis.
- Please be clear about any audio visual needs you will have. All classrooms have A/V capacity, so we need to know exactly what you want to use to enhance your presentation. It is your responsibility to attend A/V training sessions and rehearse a presentation using the equipment. Printfast will keep a copy of the charges to be included with their invoices to OLLI.
- In addition, please tell us if you need to have tables available for the students.
- You can get photocopies of handouts (within reason!) for your class. If you cannot get the originals for photocopying to the OLLI coordinator or office volunteer one week before class, you may go to Printfast at 1700 Ashland Street, make copies for yourself, and charge it to the OLLI account. Printfast will keep a copy of the charges to be included with their invoices to OLLI.
- When writing your course description, please try to catch your readers' attention. Your students would like to know what you will teach, how you will approach the subject matter, and whether there will be reading, homework, computer resources, videos, CDs, etc. We are trying to create a good "fit" between classes and students.
- When in doubt, consult the Chair of the Curriculum Committee, Bob Hilton at jobob2466@earthlink.net or 488-0771.
Spring 2010 Course Proposal Form [PDF]
Click here for information on facilitating Northwest Earth Institute discussion courses. (PDF)
