“We currently have 125 members on campus, but we also provide classes at nine satellite locations, most of which are assisted living/independent living facilities,” said LLI Director Linda Maurice. “Our longest member came here for 30 years before recently going to an assisted living facility. Our youngest member is 58, while our oldest is 92.”

 

Although there are many variations of NSU’s Lifelong Learning Institute located locally, regionally, and nationally, Maurice takes pride in the fact that the LLI is unique. “Very few have heard of a similar organization that has such a far reach into the South Florida community bringing classes to those who can’t get to the campus,” she stated. “This allows us to provide educational outreach to hundreds of seniors who cannot travel to our campus.”

 

LLI members are exposed to an interesting array of guest lecturers that provide seminars and interactive sessions on a broad range of topics. These informational seminars address areas such as art, music, literature, philosophy, history, politics, creative writing, current events, science, and health care. “We offer an eclectic mix of educational sessions to appeal to all segments of our membership” Maurice explained. “For example, we have a former Sun-Sentinel journalist who comes in monthly to discuss issues such as media, politics, and ethics.”

 

Beyond classroom-based lectures, LLI members also have the opportunity to participate in field trips to museums and other places of interest. Due the myriad educational and social opportunities offered at the LLI, members can become as actively involved as they wish.

 

Being actively involved as “lifelong learners” is a major reason why individuals become LLI members. In fact, one of the most attractive perks available to members is the opportunity they have to audit courses at NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences. “Currently, LLI members can audit two classes for free a semester, but we’re looking at expanding the auditing option to include other NSU colleges because it’s a great way to promote intergenerational learning.”

 

According to Maurice, the Lifelong Learning Institute represents many things to its members. “For many of our members, coming to the LLI is of paramount importance because it represents a phase of exploration in their lives after retirement,” she explained. “Through their interactions at the LLI, many of our members start new careers and develop new interests. One of our members had never written anything other than a business letter in his life. However, after he got involved in one of our peer-led programs on creative writing, he blossomed. He started writing on a regular basis and went off and wrote a book at the age of 72, which was published.”

 

During a visit to the LLI’s satellite facility in Boca Raton, Maurice actually witnessed a minor miracle involving one of the lethargic live-in residents who suddenly sprung to life at a specific session. “I once brought in a lecturer who discussed and played swing and jazz music,” she said. “A man in the audience was usually unresponsive, but the wife said he started to tap his feet and begin responding. He used to be a musician with Benny Goodman, and the music just woke him up. Going into these facilities encourages us to remember that many of these older adults have led fascinating lives.”

As the Lifelong Learning Institute looks to the future, plans are underway to diversify the membership and take the institute to even higher levels of excellence. “In the short-term, we’d like to continue what we do,” Maurice stated. “We are appreciated and loved by many people in and around the tri-county area. But a primary goal is to maintain and increase our quality while also increasing the number and variety of programs we offer. We truly want our members to feel as if this is their home away from home.”