ABCs of OLLI
Accessibility
OLLI’s building at 4801 Massachusetts Ave. NW is accessible to members using walkers or wheelchairs. All classrooms have hearing loops, and OLLI offers large-print materials, video captions, and technical assistance for members with visual or hearing impairments.
Live captions are available in Zoom by selecting More > Request Live Transcription. For class recordings, click the CC icon to enable captions.
Please contact the OLLI office if you need accommodations to access classes, handouts, or other materials.
Adding or dropping study groups
Members may add, drop, or change study groups through the second week of a semester, the first week of the June Minis, or the Friday before the February or July Shorts.
American University Benefits
AU Library: All registered OLLI members may use the AU Library. The library is located on the main campus at the west end of the university quadrangle. Request a Special Borrowers Card from the Circulation Desk. Tell them you are an OLLI member. We send a list of our members to the library when each academic session begins. See more information below.
AU Fitness Centers: OLLI members are eligible for an annual membership at the Jacobs Fitness Center (202-885-6267) at a discounted rate.
Books
Books are available through Politics and Prose bookstore at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, 202-364-1919 or online. Politics and Prose offers OLLI members a 10% discount on books for study groups.
You can also buy books and help support Black-owned bookstores in the District, Maryland, and Virginia, including the following stores. Many offer online ordering and shipping.
- In DC: Loyalty Bookstore, Mahogany Books, Sankofa, and Solid State Books
- In Maryland: Black Stone Bookstore & Cultural Center, Everyone's Place, and Wisdom Book Center
- In Virginia: Books and Crannies, Harambee Books & Artworks, House of Consciousness, Positive Vibes, and Urban Moon Books
Books also can be ordered online (often at reduced prices) or purchased at other book stores. The following are some online suggestions for purchasing books, in alphabetical order: AbeBooks.com, AddAll.com, Alibris.com, Amazon.com, BookOutlet.com, BookFinder.com, eBay.com, and Powells.com.
Contact Information
Please log into your OLLI account to ensure your contact information, including home and cell telephone number(s), email, as well as emergency contact name and relationship are current and accurate.
Directory
We publish a membership directory each semester listing members’ names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails. Please fill out this section of the registration form carefully. The directory is available online to download during the second week of the semester for current members only.
OLLI at American University is highly sensitive to the privacy interests of members and believes that the protection of those interests is one of its most significant responsibilities. We publish the member directory as a courtesy to members. We expect members to respect other members’ privacy. The directory is not to be shared with others outside of OLLI. If you have questions about this policy, please contact us by phone at 202-895-4860 or email at [email protected].
drinks & snacks
Coffee and tea are available in the Social Space on the 5th floor for OLLI members. There are also vending machines with water, soda, and snacks on the 4th and 6th floors.
Email and E-Newsletter
We use email as our primary means of communication. Please make sure that you check your email several times per week during the semester. Also, we send a weekly newsletter Friday mornings via email.
Fourth Study Group
Once class assignment letters are emailed after the lottery, members may log into their account on the website to add a free fourth study group.
Gift certificates
Give an OLLI gift certificate to a loved one for an upcoming academic session. To purchase a gift certificate, email or call the OLLI office.
Handouts
Downloadable class handouts are available each academic session on the handouts page of the OLLI website under Classes and then either Semesters/Minis or Shorts. Handouts remain available through the end of the session. If no handouts are listed for a class, we have not received any from the Study Group Leader. Some SGLs prefer to email handouts to their class members directly or have them printed (for in-person classes) in lieu of placing them on the website.
Hearing Loops
All OLLI classrooms are equipped with hearing loops that amplify voices and reduce background noise. Members with hearing aids equipped with t-coils can activate them to use the system. If unsure whether your hearing aids have t-coils, consult your audiologist.
Members without t-coils or hearing aids may use receivers and headphones available in each classroom. Place the receiver around your neck or upright on a table (it must remain vertical), put on the headphones, turn on the receiver, and slowly adjust the volume. If you experience whistling while wearing hearing aids, try removing them to eliminate feedback.
In smaller classrooms, the system amplifies both the instructor and class members to facilitate discussion. In Room A, instructors use lapel microphones, and handheld microphones are provided for questions.
We encourage members with hearing difficulties to take advantage of this technology.
Hybrid classes
We offer select courses each semester in a hybrid format. This means members attend live, both in-person and online. We strive to provide the best possible audio experience for online participants in our hybrid classes, but at times there can be some variation in sound quality which we always work to overcome.
Lecture Series
OLLI offers four lecture series throughout the year. During each semester there is a lecture on Fridays from 1:30-2:30 PM. In January and May, there are lectures on various weekday mornings from 10:30-11:30 AM. No registration is required for online lectures. Lectures are always free and open to the public. Join OLLI's email list to receive information about lectures.
Library
Current OLLI members and Study Group Leaders have access to American University’s Bender Library, located on the main campus. A government-issued photo ID is required to obtain a borrowing card and check out books. OLLI provides the library with a list of eligible members before each academic session.
Members may borrow up to 25 books for four weeks, with renewals available (subject to recall). Most electronic resources are accessible on-site only; remote access is restricted to American University students, faculty, and staff.
Click here to view the current library hours. Learn more.
Lost and Found
There is a lost and found box outside the OLLI office. Please check there if you have misplaced something.
Lottery
Read How the Lottery Works to learn how classes are assigned.
Lunchtime Options
Members can also brown bag lunch with OLLI friends in one of the social spaces on the 5th floor. Buy lunch to carry out or eat in at Millie’s, Pizzeria Paradiso, Starbucks, or Wagshal’s Market — all within one block of 4801 Massachusetts Ave. NW.
Map
View a map of OLLI's location.
Membership Fees
The fee paid for each session is a membership fee. It allows members to take from one to three study groups during that session. The fee is NOT a fee per study group. The membership fee entitles you to all of the benefits of membership at OLLI at AU. Membership in OLLI is not transferable. Spouses or partners must have their own individual memberships. Below are the membership fees for each academic session:
- Fall Semester and Spring Semester—$330 each (or $600 for both semesters, payable only in the fall)
- February Shorts and July Shorts—$100
- June Minis—$100
Minis
Minis are study groups held once-a-week for four weeks during the month of June. Each day’s session in the four weeks is 1-1/2 hours long. The membership fee for the June Minis is $100 and allows members to take from one to three study groups during that session.
Nametags
Please wear your OLLI nametag to all classes and events that are held in-person. Plastic nametag holders and lanyards are available on the table outside the office.
Parking
See parking page.
podcast
OLLI at AU produces a podcast series, "Curiosity Never Retires." Each short episode introduces a Study Group Leader and his/her upcoming course. Listen to podcast episodes.
Privacy Policy
OLLI at American University is highly sensitive to the privacy interests of members and believes that the protection of those interests is one of its most significant responsibilities. We publish the member directory as a courtesy to members. We expect members to respect other members’ privacy. The directory is not to be shared with others outside of OLLI. If you have questions about this policy, please contact us by phone at 202-895-4860 or email at [email protected].
recordings
Accessing Class Recordings
Recordings are available to members who have paid for the current academic session, as well at Study Group Leaders for that session. To view recordings, log in to the OLLI website and select Classes > Semesters/Minis or Classes > Shorts. Members may view any recording from the session, even for classes they are not enrolled in.
Digital Library
Members registered for any academic session during the current fiscal year (July 1–June 30) also have access to OLLI’s permanent Digital Library, featuring selected recordings from previous sessions.
Recording Availability
Recording status may change after the catalog is printed based on Study Group Leader preferences or office capacity. Updates are posted on the OLLI website and shared in the weekly newsletter.
Registering for Recorded Classes
Please do not register for a class if you intend only to watch recordings. Classroom seating is limited, and registering without attending may prevent another member from participating. You do not need to be enrolled in a specific class to view its recordings—payment for the academic session provides access to all available recordings from that session.
Refunds
The office must receive requests for refunds by the deadline specified in the catalog. A $10 processing fee will be assessed. Refunds are accepted through the second week of a semester, the first week of the June Minis, or the Friday before the February or July Shorts.
Scholarships
If you need scholarship assistance, please refer to the Scholarships page, then download and complete the scholarship request form on that page. All requests are confidential.
Semesters
OLLI at AU has two regular academic semesters: Spring, which begins in late February, and Fall, which begins in September. Study groups meet for 90 minutes each class session and run between 7-10 weeks in length. The three time slots each day are 9:45-11:15 AM, 11:45 AM-1:15 PM, and 1:45-3:15 PM. The membership fee for each semester is $300 and allows members to take from one to three study groups. A full year can be paid for in the fall, for $550.
serendipities!
OLLI at AU members and their friends are invited to give a talk or presentation to the OLLI membership as part of our Serendipities! program. Serendipities! are scheduled through the OLLI office and held on Mondays at 3:30 PM via Zoom.
Shorts
We offer February and July Shorts, two- to five-day immersion study groups. Each day’s session is 1-1/2 hours long. The membership fee for each of the Shorts weeks is $100 and allows members to take from one to three study groups during that week.
Shuttle
There is an AU shuttle that travels from the Tenleytown metro stop to the Spring Valley Building. Anyone, including OLLI members, can ride the shuttle. View the shuttle route and schedule.
Social events
OLLI encourages a sense of belonging to this vibrant community with a full schedule of regular social events, including happy hours, a lunch club, member appreciation week, semester wine & cheese welcomers, and a holiday party. Visit the events calendar to see all upcoming events.
Spring Valley Building
American University and OLLI at AU refer to 4801 Massachusetts Ave. NW as the Spring Valley Building.
Study group representative (SGR)
Each class has a volunteer Study Group Representative (SGR) who is a registered member and helps the class run smoothly. Responsibilities vary by class format but may include sharing OLLI announcements, taking attendance, collecting materials fees, reporting classroom issues, and reminding members about feedback forms and SGL gifts. To volunteer, check the appropriate box when registering online or on your paper form. SGRs for hybrid classes must attend in person. View detailed SGR duties.
Transfers
Membership in OLLI is not transferable. Spouses or partners must have their own individual memberships.
Trips
OLLI offers local tours and trips each semester. Trips sometimes include boxed lunches or meals at a restaurant. Trip destinations have included:- Arlington Cemetery
- National Cathedral
- Museum of the American Revolution
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Vending Machines
There are vending machines with water, soda, and snacks on the 4th and 6th floors.
volunteer
OLLI at American University is a member-driven organization that relies on volunteers to enrich its programs, foster friendships, and build community. Members are encouraged to get involved in a variety of ways:
- Board and Committees: Help shape policies, programs, and activities.
- Study Group Leaders: Share knowledge and interests by leading classes.
- Study Group Representatives: Help classes run smoothly. Volunteer when registering; hybrid SGRs must attend in person.
- Other Opportunities: Serve as a Welcomer or Coordinator.
Waitlists
If a seat opens in a class which has a waitlist, staff will contact members via email and offer a seat in the order in which they appear on the waitlist.
Weather Policy
OLLI follows American University’s weather policy. If AU closes, online classes will continue as scheduled, hybrid classes will meet online only, and in-person classes will move online when possible. Makeup sessions will be arranged for classes unable to meet online. If AU has a delayed opening, all OLLI classes will meet at their regularly scheduled times.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi at OLLI is free. The Network Name is AUGuest-ByRCN. No password is required.