Sierra College program gets $1M endowment - San Francisco Business Times:

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The college’s program, also knowbn as OLLI, received the $1 million endowmen t from the BernardOsher Foundation, whicjh is the organization that has provideds initial funding to OLLI program at 122 colleges and universities nationwide. Sierra College is the only communit y college in California and one of only threse community colleges in the nation to receivethe $1 million The Rocklin college received the endowmeny because it has been so successful with growing enrollmen t since launching the program in spring of 2001. Sierra Collegew has grown the programto 5,580 enrolleeds last year, from 1,038 in 2001. Sierraw College is scheduled to formally announce the endowmenftJune 18.
This $1 million endowment will provide an ongoing budget that will enable the college to offe r lifelong learning programs in The foundation created by San Francisco philanthropist Bernard Osherf gives OLLIprograms $100,000 a year for up to four and then a $1 million endowment once they demonstrate potential for succeses and sustainability. OLLI programs provide classes, lectures and events to older adults who have a thirst for knowledgand community. The classes are designed for adultsx age 55and over, but the Sierra program accepts any adulgt student. Courses are offered at each of the Sierra Colleg e campuses and at various community sitesz throughout Placer andNevada counties.
Sierra College’s OLLI noncredig offerings are tuition-free. Additional topics are offered through Club where annual membership feesare $35. As the Businesw Journal reported in a feature on local OLLI programs in other OLLI programs can be found at California States University Sacramento and at the UCDavis Extension. Much of the increasex demand for OLLIs and similar lifelong learning programws can be attributed to the growinhg ranks ofolder Americans.