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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Featured Galleries: August 7, 2007 SOLIR to expand with $100,000 grant By Julie French Ashland Daily Tidings A $100,000 grant is expected to usher in a new era of growth for lifelong learning at Southern Oregon University. The money, from the Bernard Osher Foundation, will be used to expand classroom use and upgrade audio-visual equipment in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, formerly known as Southern Oregon Learning in Retirement. "We're hoping the relationship with Osher will be a longtime relationship," said Jeanne Stallman, executive director for extended campus programs at SOU. "We hope it will eventually lead to an endowment of the program." The foundation grants money to applicants only by invitation, usually to start-up programs. SOU is a unique recipient of the grant because its program has been in existence for 14 years and now boasts more than 650 members and 49 classes for the upcoming session. "We have been very successful doing what we were doing without any support, but we really had reached a crossroads," Stallman said. "We did everything we could but couldn't grow this program anymore." OLLI-SOU staff said the name change and funding from Osher would not significantly alter the course of the program. "Their philosophy is that we know how to run our programs better than they do," said Sally Klein, the OLLI-SOU coordinator. "As long as we follow the goals that we set out in our grant proposal, then we are successful." Once the improvements are made, OLLI-SOU will be able to handle more students and classes, she said. They also plan to begin advertising for the first time. Up until now, membership has increased only through word-of-mouth. "When I moved here in 1995, I heard from a neighbor who was a member, so I went," Charlotte Bowen said. "I think it's the best thing in the world." Bowen now serves as the governing council president. She has taught several classes in art history and is looking forward to a class on Gilgamesh taught by Marc Ratner for the upcoming fall semester. It will be held in the 150-seat Meese Auditorium to accommodate the high demand. Ratner, an English professor by vocation, has been teaching classics such as Dante and Virgil through OLLI-SOU for five years. "A lot of people are really interested in the classics," he said. "Sometimes they had it when they were in college, or they've never read them." He is a volunteer, as are all OLLI-SOU teachers, but he said the grant has added the possibility of a small compensation for instructors. Even if he isn't paid, Ratner said he plans to continue teaching and attending classes. "I did it all my life," he said. "I can't stop." Advanced registration for fall classes has ended, but applications will be accepted up to the start of classes on Sept. 10. Staff writer Julie French can be reached at 482-3456 ext. 227 or [email protected] . To post a comment on this story, go to www.dailytidings.com . Current Comments: Maybe now they can afford to put in their own parking? Richard Cranium - Ashland OR - August 7th, 3:32 PM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief New Hampshire Primary Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us