Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)

Program Details

• BECOME A MEMBER

  Membership is required to participate in Osher classes at CSUSM. There are four membership options outlined below. If you have any questions, please reach out to us!

  Becoming a member of Osher at Cal State University San Marcos will introduce you to a diverse community of like-minded engaging peers, allow you intellectual and cultural exploration opportunities, and will provide you a truly exciting experience. Memberships are required to participate in Osher courses. Occasionally, there may be an event that is open to the public but it will be noted in the course description. The Taste of Osher event does not require a membership to attend.

  Memberships are valid July 1 - June 30 (unless membership is a specific term only). Memberships may be purchased at any time, but will not be prorated. Memberships are non-refundable and non-transferable. 

  Membership benefits include:

  • Access to a wide array of courses
  • Complimentary intersession discussion groups
  • Special Osher member pricing on select noncredit Extended Learning courses
  • Discounts on local attractions through CSUSM's Associated Students, INC.
  • Free student admission to the CSUSM Arts and Lectures program

  General Membership

  • $35 yearly fee and pay as you go for courses and trips
  • Class prices vary depending on the number of weeks in the course series
    • One day is $18, five weeks is $80, etc.
  • Most courses meet once a week for two hours and are held from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. or from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
  • Each student must have their own Osher account
    • Purchase only ONE membership per account

  Purchase General Membership

  Annual Membership

  • $560 yearly fee for unlimited courses throughout the year (some exclusions apply)
  • Simply pay one fee and select an unlimited number of courses from 100+ offerings throughout the year
  • Destination learning trips, special events, pop-up lectures, art supplies for hands-on art courses or museum entrance fees for art appreciation courses are not covered.

  Purchase Annual Membership

   

• FREE & POP-UP LECTURES

  Free Lectures for Members

  Below is a list of upcoming courses with a link to learn more and register for that course. View the list of courses in the registration portal. 

  The Chinatown Orphans on Sonora Street

  The Chinatown Orphans on Sonora Street offers a poignant journey into the Fong family in Stockton, California, from the 1920s through WWII. Fong Wy, himself an orphan, nurtures his seven children with boundless affection, fostering joy through simple pleasures like roller skating and shared moments over Sunday comics and cupcakes. However, tragedy strikes for the seven children as both parents pass away by the time Rose—the oldest—was just 12. Left to fend for themselves, the seven siblings drew on their father's teachings of resilience to navigate Depression-era challenges, surviving on free wieners, chicken feet, watermelon, and joyful singing. For those interested, books will be available for purchase in class.

  • Date: Friday, Sept. 13, 2024
  • Time: 9:30-11:00 a.m.
  • Location: CSUSM ELB 470/Hybrid
  • Instructor: Russell Low
  • Free for Members

  Register Now

   

  Pop-Up Lectures

  Pop-up lectures are an addition to regular programming.  Fees apply to all.  No membership discounts.

  • No pop-up lectures currently scheduled
• DESTINATION LEARNING

  Carlsbad Walk and Talk

  Join us on this one-hour walk as we stroll through historic Carlsbad along the main drag and State Street. We will spend as much time as people are interested. Stops will include the New Village Arts Theatre, which was redone last year, and along the way observing glass blowing from outside. Afterward, we can lunch at Village Faire, with lots of indoor and outdoor choices. This is a great opportunity to get a little exercise, meet new friends and have a nice lunch!

  • Date: Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024
  • Time: 10:00-11:00 a.m. 
  • Location: Carlsbad, meeting site TBD
  • Free to public

  Register Now

  Please note: No refunds or discounts on Destination Learning Trips/Events

   

  Trip to New York: Oct. 2-6, 2025

  Join us for an unforgettable 5-day trip to New York City in 2025! Highlights include Greenwich Village, Wall Street, Two Broadway Shows, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, 9/11 Memorial, 9/11 Museum.

  Trip costs include: 

  • 5 days/5 meals: 3 breakfasts, 2 dinners
  • Round-trip air from San Diego International Airport, air taxes and fees/surcharges, hotel transfers 

   

  Book now and save $400 per person (expires 4/2/25)

  • Double: $3,399 (regular); $2,999 (discounted)
  • Single: $4,199 (regular); $3,799 (discounted)
  • Triple: $3,369 (regular); $2,969 (discounted)
  • $698 deposit due at registration
  • Final payment due 7/2/2025

   

  To register, fill out the forms by clicking the button below.

  Register Now

• CLASS UPDATES & CANCELLATIONS

  Cancelled Classes

  Please check back for any class cancellations

  Class Updates

  The Beatles: 1965 Tour - Cancelled
  Scheduled for Monday, Sept. 30 (originally scheduled for Sept. 11) from 1:00 – 3:00pm

  The Beatles: 1966 Tour - Cancelled
  Scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 1:00 – 3:00pm

• LOCATIONS

  Spring 2023: Classes will be held both via Zoom/hybrid and in person in the following locations:

  • CSUSM Extended Learning Building (ELB)
    • 288 Campus Way, San Marcos, CA 92078

  Classes may be held at various locations throughout North County and Southwest Riverside County and are subject to change each semester. Destination learning and special event locations vary. 

• UPCOMING EVENTS

  Upcoming Events

  Uncovering Hidden History: Ah Quin and the San Diego Chinese Mission School Movement, 1870-1946

  Join us for an enlightening lunchtime with Professor Susie Lan Cassel as we dive into the previously untold story of the Chinese Mission schools in early San Diego. Long thought to be a minor movement, Cassel’s meticulous research reveals a vibrant educational network of over a dozen schools across multiple Protestant denominations.

  Through Ah Quin’s diary entries, historic maps and other rare documents, discover how Ah Quin—often considered the informal mayor of San Diego’s first Chinatown—and his family played a crucial role in shaping these evangelical efforts. This talk reexamines the way we connect with our past. Why were local Protestants so invested in the Chinese community? What did this mean for Chinatown and the city at large? Join us as we rediscover part of San Diego’s rich, multicultural heritage in this fascinating exploration of community, evangelism, and education.

  This is a special lunch and learn event.  No discounts apply.

  Co-produced with the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum.   

  • Date: Friday, Jan. 24, 2025
  • Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m. 
  • Location: CSUSM ELB 470/Hybrid
  • Cost: $30 (Osher Membership Required)

  Register Now

   Be sure to join the mailing list at the bottom of this page to stay updated on upcoming courses and events!

• TASTE OF OSHER

  View previous Taste of Osher events:

  • Taste of Osher - Fall 2024
  • Taste of Osher - Summer 2024
  • Taste of Osher - Spring 2024
  • Taste of Osher - Fall 2023
  • Taste of Osher - Summer 2023
  • Taste of Osher - Spring 2023
  • Taste of Osher - Fall 2022
  • Taste of Osher - Spring 2022
  • Taste of Osher - Fall 2021
  • Taste of Osher - Spring 2021
  • Taste of Osher - Fall 2020

   Be sure to join the mailing list at the bottom of this page to stay updated on upcoming courses and events!

• VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

  Volunteer Opportunities

  We encourage our passionate and enthusiastic members to consider volunteer opportunities at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.  Volunteering is a great way to connect with peers and give back to your community.  Whatever level of involvement you choose, we are sure to have a role just right for you!
  

  Classroom Ambassador

  Goal: To provide outstanding customer service to members and instructors by acting as main point of contact for questions/concerns during class hours.

  • Serve as main point of contact during class hours
  • Notify Osher staff of any questions/concerns
  • Serve as an "assistant" for the instructor (Introduce them, assist with handouts, etc.)
  • Make announcements as assigned by Osher staff
  • Manage attendance sheet
  • Welcome new students 

  Intersession Facilitator

  Goal: To facilitate and lead (4) week intersession discussion groups for Osher members

  • Select an educational DVD provided by the Osher office
  • View and study the DVD before the start of class 
  • Initiate discussion topics each week for class members
  • Manage the flow of conversation to spark new ideas for conversation

  City Ambassador

  Goal: To promote Osher throughout the community and disseminate catalogs where appropriate

  • Disseminate Osher catalogs throughout the community (libraries, community centers, churches, coffee shops, etc.) or as assigned 
  • Refer potential instructors to Osher staff
  • Seek new opportunities to promote Osher (Presentations at local rotary meetings, Kiwanis clubs, community groups, etc.)
  • Be knowledegable about the Osher program overall to assist with questions from the community

  International Mentorship Program

  Goal: To engage in English-language conversation with international students from the American Language Culture Institute at CSUSM

  • Engage international students in discussion to help them practice conversing with native English speakers
  • Share meaningful experiences and explore cultural values together
  • Form lasting relationships with students from around the globe!

  If you'd like to volunteer with Osher or have questions regarding any of these opportunities, please let us know.

• MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS

  Learn From the Best

  OLLI at CSUSM instructors are exclusively selected and have tremendous expertise and passion for their fields of study. Instructors include current and retired CSUSM faculty, faculty from other colleges and universities, experts in their respective fields, local authors and artists, medical professionals, and local law enforcement. Learn more about each instructor!

  Current Instructors

  If you're interested in becoming an instructor, please contact Sherie Cambra at scambra@csusm.edu or (760) 750-8716 to learn more. 

• ABOUT OLLI AT CSUSM

  Osher at CSUSM

  Mission Statement: The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at California State University San Marcos (OLLI at CSUSM) is an intellectual and social community of inquisitive learners established to engage people over 50 years of age through higher education and the arts. With scholarly and invigorating programming, OLLI connects members to the brightest minds and ideas in our society, including university-level professors and successful professionals who are leaders in many fields. The program strives to inspire seasoned learners who share intellectual curiosity and a quest for knowledge.

  Established in 2004, OLLI at CSUSM is one of 124 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes nationwide supported by the Bernard Osher Foundation.

  OLLI facilitates a meaningful learning experience, increase community involvement and enhance social connections, all beneficial to a flourishing life. 

  If you want to renew your enthusiasm for learning, explore new interests and make new friends, OLLI is for you!

  The Bernard Osher Foundation: In 2004, Cal State San Marcos Extended Learning was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation to establish the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).  After growing the program and reaching 500 members, Cal State San Marcos was endowed $1,000,000 to ensure the program’s continued growth.  The Bernard Osher Foundation, headquartered in San Francisco, was founded in 1977 by Bernard Osher, a respected businessman and community leader.  The Foundation seeks to improve quality of life through support for higher education and the arts.  The Foundation provides postsecondary scholarship funding to colleges and universities across the nation, with special attention to reentry students.  The Foundation also supports selected centers in integrative medicine at Harvard University, the University of California, San Francisco, and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.  In addition, the Foundation supports a growing national network of lifelong learning institutes for mature adults.  Each provides a distinctive array of non-credit courses and activities specifically developed for seasoned adults aged 50 or older who are interested in learning for the joy of learning. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, operating on the campuses of 124 colleges and universities from Maine to Hawaii, have a National Resource Center at the University of Southern Maine.

• SUPPORT OLLI AT CSUSM

  Your Support Matters!

  The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is a non-profit program that is self-support and receives no state funding. Your support matters and planned gifts can be very helpful to ensuring the continued success of our program.

  Please consider giving to the Osher program at Cal State University San Marcos and help sustain this vibrant community of learners now and in the future. There are many ways to give and your donations are tax-deductible, secure and private. Learn more about giving options.

  You can enhance OSHER at CSUSM by:

  • DONATE IN HONOR OR MEMORY OF A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE: the perfect gift for any occasion! Your recipient will be notified by a beautiful card from Osher with your personal message inside. Please contact our office directly at 760-750-8613 for this option.
    

  • OSHER MEMBER SCHOLARSHIPS: enable others to experience Osher.

  • INSTRUCTOR SUPPORT: ensure that Osher can recruit and retain highly-qualified faculty.

  • INSTITUTE OPERATIONS: improve the overall quality of Osher through program development, community outreach and promotion.

  • ENDOWED FUND: An endowed gift is one that lasts a lifetime. Creating an endowment in your name (or a loved one’s name) is similar to placing funds in a savings account and providing the Institute with the interest from your gift. Your investment (or principal) is never expended, but the income from the gift is used to assure a lifetime of support for the program.

  • PLANNING YOUR ESTATE? Consider leaving a gift in your will or bequest, gifting through a charitable trust, a gift annuity, life insurance, pension plan, IRA or through real estate.

  Yes, I want to support OLLI now!

• FAQ & STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES
  Show All

  • What is Zoom and where do I start?
    Zoom is a safe and secure app that allows you to engage in live Web conversations with your instructor using audio, video, and text-based chat features.
    View the step-by-step guide we created for OLLI members. 
  • Do I have to purchase an Osher membership before enrolling in courses?
    Yes, you do have to purchase a membership in order to participate in Osher courses. Occasionally, there may be an event that is open to the public but it will be noted in the course description. The Taste of Osher event does not require a membership to attend. For information regarding membership options, please view the membership section on this page.
  • Are there any exclusions in the Annual Membership that I should be aware of?
    While the annual membership allows you to take an unlimited number of courses throughout the year at no additional cost, some exclusions apply. Destination Learning trips, special events, wine appreciation , art supplies for hands-on art courses, or entrance to museums for the art appreciation course are not covered. For questions regarding the annual membership, please contact el@csusm.edu or call (760) 750-4020.
  • Is my OLLI at CSUSM membership valid at other OLLIs?
    No. Every OLLI program is a separate entity and each university/college has its own membership program.
  • When and how do I register and pay for a course?

    Prior registration is required to attend OLLI courses.  Payment for each course is required in full at time of registration. We accept MasterCard, VISA, Discover Card, American Express and checks. There are three easy ways to register for OLLI courses:

    1. Online - The easiest and most secure way to register for a course is through the online portal.  Creating an account is required, but it’s quick and easy. Registering online allows the option for payment by electronic check which eliminates the 2.65% credit card convenience fee.
    2. By Phone - Call the office of Extended Learning at (760) 750-4020.  All credit card payments are subject to a 2.65% convenience fee. Electronic check payments are now accepted by phone.

    View step-by-step guide on how to register for classes.

  • Is parking included in my course fee and do I need a parking permit?

    Parking at all off-campus course locations is free and no parking permits are required. Parking on campus requires a permit, 365 days a year no exceptions. Parking fees for Osher members is currently $5 per day. 

    View step-by-step guide on how to purchase a parking permit.

  • What are your cancellation, drop, and refund policies?

    Cancellation notification must be made in writing. Written notice should be emailed to el@csusm.edu 72 hours before the class begins to receive a full refund (less a $5 processing fee per drop and if it was paid with a credit card, the 2.65% convenience fee). No refunds will be issued once a course has started. No refunds will be given on Destination Learning trips. Memberships are non-refundable and non-transferable. Refunds may take four to six weeks for completion.

  • When are courses offered?
    Courses are offered in the fall, spring, and summer. The fall and spring semesters are 10 weeks in length while the summer semester is five weeks in length. Most courses meet one day a week for five weeks, or are single two-hour lectures scattered throughout the semester.  Select courses (writing and art appreciation) meet one day a week for ten weeks.
  • Who teaches the courses?
    OLLI at CSUSM instructors are exclusively selected and have tremendous expertise and passion for their fields of study. Instructors include current and retired CSUSM faculty, faculty from other colleges and universities, experts in their respective fields, local authors and artists, medical professionals, and local law enforcement. View instructor biographies.
  • I’d like to request an OLLI presentation for my senior community or club. Who should I contact?
    We’d be happy to arrange an OLLI presentation for your community, club, or special event! Contact Sherie Cambra at scambra@csusm.edu or (760) 750 - 8716.  
  • What do current and former students say about the program?
    View Osher student video testimonials. 

  
  

   

  Mandatory Notifications

  • Effective July 2016, all credit card transactions will be charged a convenience fee of 2.65%.
  • Title IX notice
• CONTACT US

  (760) 750-4020 or

  Sherie Cambra
  Program Director
  scambra@csusm.edu
  (760) 750-8716

  Amy Sprout
  Program Coordinator
  asprout@csusm.edu
  (760) 750-8613