President's Blog: From the Heart

By Eric F. Spina

There are no exams. No grades. No compulsory attendance. And the professors volunteer their time.

“We’re here because we want to be here. We’re not watching the clock for when the class ends. We’re keeping the teacher after class,” said Ellie Shulman, 86, who’s been taking classes and moderating others at the University of Dayton’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (UDOLLI) for the last 30 years.

Last year more than 2,000 students between the ages of 50 and 90-something enrolled in peer-led seminars, making it one of the most vibrant and successful lifelong learning institutes in the nation.

I recently spoke at a UDOLLI “lunch and learn” session where I gave my annual “five things to know about UD” talk, updating an auditorium full of retirees on everything from the profile of this fall’s first-year class to news about the changing national landscape for intercollegiate athletics. Then I peppered them with questions. Here’s what I discovered: 

• In an auditorium filled with more than 100 people, only three were enrolling for classes for the first time. Most have been involved in the program for at least five years or more, and three for an incredible three decades. In a word, UDOLLI is popular.
• But that’s not the first word that comes to mind when asked for just one word to describe the experience. “Wow!” one student blurted out. Other answers came in staccato fashion: “fun,” “enlightening,” “educational,” “rewarding,” and “connections.”
• Favorite seminars run the gamut from the history of rock and roll and understanding local government to artificial intelligence and the best Seinfeld episodes.

“I have enjoyed each UDOLLI seminar from my start during the pandemic when we attended exclusively using Zoom,” said Brian Butcher ‘82, who retired last year from Bon Secours Mercy Health as principal trainer for the electronic health records system.

“My wife, Michele, and I always gain useful knowledge from the variety of seminar topics ranging from jazz musicians to local history to biking on our trails,” he said. “Plus the social interaction while on campus is uplifting. UDOLLI contributes to the quality of life for seniors in the greater Dayton area.”

During the winter, Brian will moderate a session on the history of the Super Bowl. Since UDOLLI is a peer-run program, students not only take seminars, but some volunteer to teach them, too.

When the fall program kicks off today, it will feature 84 seminars, of which 49 are new offerings and 16 are Zoom classes. For a flat $80 fee, students can register for as many seminars as they’d like in fields as diverse as art, health and fitness, literature, sports, travel, music, religion, and contemporary events. You can learn about the world’s greatest paintings, try your hand at stand-up comedy or jump into beginner Mah Jongg or photo book creation.

UDOLLI is fueled by the energy and enthusiasm of founding director Julie Mitchell, who works with a curriculum committee on developing the offerings as she recruits retired professors, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base scientists, a former Dayton city manager, theologians and community leaders to lead the discussions. It’s supported, in part, from a $2 million endowment from the Osher Foundation.

If I were to use one word to describe UDOLLI, it would be joy. Here, in an intellectually stimulating environment, students soak up wisdom and learn simply for the joy of it.

(To learn more about UDOLLI and its 30^th anniversary events, visit its website and download a catalogue.)