Camarillo, Calif., June 10, 2008—The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at California State University Channel Islands is the recipient of a $1 million endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation that will become available in summer 2009. The endowment is based on a combination of OLLI at CSUCI’s program quality, sustainability, University support, and size of membership.
“The Osher Foundation has been very generous in supporting opportunities for people over 50 years of age throughout the country, and we are grateful for being accepted as part of the Osher family. We are at the same time proud to have been selected for this endowment based on their rigorous and exclusive standards,” said Marty Kaplan, Director of OLLI at CSUCI.
OLLI at CSUCI was established in fall 2004. Each year to the present, the Bernard Osher Foundation provided support in the amount of $100,000 per year. Typically, after three years of support, OLLI must prove its merit for the endowment or lose continuing support. OLLI at CSUCI, being one of the few that did not begin from an existing lifelong learning institute, was given a fourth year to meet criteria. In fall 2008, OLLI will be issued $50,000 from the Osher Foundation to sustain it until proceeds from the endowment are made available in summer 2009.
OLLI’s mission is to provide high quality university classes for persons more than 50 years old. There are no grades, tests, or university credits; intellectual stimulation is provided for its own sake. In the past year, OLLI at CSUCI included 547 student members.
For media inquiries contact Ceal Potts, Communication Specialist at CSUCI, 805-437-8940 or cecila.potts@csuci.edu.
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CSU Channel Islands is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
CSUCI Mission Statement
Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.
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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.