Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Do you like to Learn? Exercise? Travel? Are you 50 or older? OLLI is the place for you!
OLLI at Southern Miss
CELEBRATE WITH US!
Members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) are active adults who share a love of learning. Members enjoy innovative and enriching programs in an inclusive environment with others who share their interests. Many members are retired, but it is not a requirement to join, nor do you need to be a graduate or otherwise affiliated with Southern Miss. Our members come from a wide range of backgrounds, vocations, and connections to local community.
There are only 125 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes in the United States. In Mississippi, OLLI programming is available exclusively at Southern Miss, in Hattiesburg and Long Beach.
The platform Zoom provides us an opportunity to learn and socialize together online, whether in Hattiesburg, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast or anywhere in the world, as long as the Internet is accessible. It allows us to participate in courses with peers from both campuses and most anywhere, no driving required.
Zoom is a user-friendly program, and instructions on downloading it are available in the short, straightforward video available here: Zoom with OLLI! If you need assistance or practice on Zoom, please call us, 601.266.6554.
No matter where you live, you may enroll in classes listed for either campus or on Zoom. A number of courses will be held both in-person and on Zoom and several on only Zoom.
Not yet a member? Request a class schedule guide by emailing olli@usm.edu and providing your name and mailing address.
Below are OLLI's Fall 2025 semester details.
The OLLI administrative team is working feverishly now to produce the class schedule guide for the fall 2025. Guides will be mailed to current members in mid-August.
Registration Dates
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 | Beginning at 9 a.m.
Online and email registration (olli@usm.edu)
Thursday, August 28, 2025 | Beginning at 9 a.m.
Phone Registration
Friday, August 29, 2025 | Beginning at 9 a.m.
Walk-in Registration
Class Dates (10-Week Semester)
Monday, September 8 - Friday, October 10 | Term I (Five Weeks)
Monday, October 13 - Friday, October 17 | Fall Break | No Classes
Monday, October 20 - Friday, November 21 | Term II (Five Weeks)
Do-it-yourself online or email
Do it yourself online by clicking on the yellow icon in the center of the group picture
above labeled "Register" and enrolling in your preferred courses, or email your class
request list to olliFREEMississippi now and an OLLI staff member will enroll you when online registration opens.
Phone
Call your local OLLI office and ask an OLLI staff person to enroll you.
Hattiesburg | 601.266.6554
Long Beach | 228.214.3277
Walk in
Walk in to your local OLLI office and an OLLI staff person will be happy to enroll
you.
Hattiesburg | 3601 Pearl Street | Peck House
Long Beach | 730 E Beach Blvd | 212 North Academic Building
| Beginning Monday,
September 8: Gulf Coast Library, Room 107A
To expedite your phone or walk-in registration, we kindly ask you to have your class request list handy when you call or come in.
OLLI classes sometimes reach maximum enrollment capacity on day one of registration; therefore, to increase the likelihood of obtaining a seat in your preferred class(es), we highly recommend that you register yourself online or email your class request list to olliFREEMississippi%20so that an OLLI staff person can enroll you when online registration opens. Registration requests sent via email will be entered on a first-received-first-registered basis.
Come learn and socialize with us!
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Learning is for Life!
- Jeopardy Socials | 1st Fridays at 11:00 a.m.
- The Days of Art and Music | Thursday, September 4 at 2:30 p.m.
- MS Book Festival | Saturday, September 13 | Time TBD
- Gulf Coast's 10-Year Celebration and Ribbon-Cutting | Friday, September 5 at 11:00 a.m.
- Cruisin' with OLLI | Monday, October 6, 3:00 p.m.
- Dogwood: A National Guard Unit's War in Iraq | Tuesday, October 14 at 10:00 a.m.
- It's an Ill Wind That Blows No Good: Restoring the Historic Gulf Coast After Katrina | Tuesday, October 21 at 2:30 p.m.
- Hattiesburg Fall Art Reception | Friday, October 31 at 1:00 p.m..
- Hattiesburg Veterans Appreciation Day Dinner | Tuesday, November 11 at 5:00 p.m.
- Hattiesburg Holiday Social | December 2 at 11:00 a.m.
- International and OLLI Giving Day | December 2 at 11:00 a.m.
- Gulf Park Holiday Social | Thursday, December 11 at 11:00 a.m.
OLLI offers classes that meet the needs and schedules of active adults. We typically divide the Fall and Spring semesters into two five-week terms and offer a six-week term in the Summer, with no classes the week of July 4th. Fall terms typically begin in September and October. The Spring terms typically begin in February and March. The Summer term typically runs during June and July. During each term we offer three different formats of learning experiences: classes, seminars, and field trips. All Hattiesburg classes and seminars are held at the Peck House or Asbury Annex (unless otherwise indicated). Gulf Park classes are held in the North Academic building and the Gulf Coast Library, unless otherwise indicated.
Our goal at OLLI Southern Miss is to create environments that maximize the learning experience for all members. Many of our programs offer a forum for the lively and even passionate exchange of views. To that end, our learning community follows principles of courtesy and mutual respect that promote reasoned discourse and intellectual honesty. Opposing viewpoints are honored and appreciated to preserve the dignity of others.
Transgressions may include denigrating others’ views or opinions, threatening behaviors, offensive or abusive language, disruptive classroom conduct, sexual harassment or discrimination, and monopolizing discussions. Personal attacks are especially unwarranted.
OLLI members, instructors, facilitators, staff, or guests who do not or cannot adhere to the principles of courtesy and mutual respect may be removed from class or denied the privilege of future participation.
The Bernard Osher Foundation was founded by Bernard Osher in 1977. Through the foundation, his philanthropy has benefited a wide range of educational, cultural and other nonprofit organizations across the United States. Currently, the foundation provides support to four distinct programs:
- Osher Scholars and Fellows
- Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes
- Osher Integrative Medicine Program
- A Local Arts and Educational Program
Bernard Osher is a successful businessman and community leader, a patron of the arts and education, whose philanthropy has affected countless organizations over the past quarter-century. His wife, the Honorable Barbro Osher, Consul General of Sweden in San Francisco, serves as chair of the foundation. To learn more about Bernard Osher, his philanthropic interests and investments, please visit the foundation's website: http://www.osherfoundation.org.