Volunteer for Osher
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Help Osher Thrive: Volunteer for Osher
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Osher community. Their unwavering dedication, tireless efforts, and infectious enthusiasm are the driving forces behind our classes, special events, and diverse offerings. Without the invaluable contributions of our volunteers, we simply wouldn't be able to provide the enriching experiences that our community cherishes. Join us in making a difference and become a vital part of our mission. Your involvement will not only benefit others but will also bring you a sense of fulfillment and joy. Sign up today and help us continue to create a vibrant and supportive community!
Opportunities
Learn more about volunteering with Osher Behind the Scenes!
Learn more about volunteering for Osher by taking one of our FREE classes each term, Osher Behind the Scenes. Look for these fun classes in our course listings to see the schedule for any given term. We will offer three options:
You joined Osher and paid your membership dues for a year of fun. Now what? This single-session free class will welcome new members, provide a "meet and greet" opportunity to socialize a bit with others new to Osher, and show you the ropes of how to get involved. We will cover the material in our Member Handbook, letting you know how you can get the most out of your membership benefits...everything from where to get your U of U student ID card, to where to use it for discounts, to the many campus amenities available to Continuing Education students. Our program becomes stronger with each new member!
Did you ever wonder about how the Osher program operates behind the scenes? This single-session free class will introduce you to the magic of how Osher staff and volunteers recruit instructors, organize classes, and create four fascinating six-week terms each year. We will outline duties performed by the esteemed Osher Curriculum Committee. Our founder, Bernard Osher, intended his Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes to be member-driven and volunteer-led within a community of peers, ages 50 and better. Every single member, instructor, and volunteer brings their wealth of life experiences and knowledge to the classroom, building a very special community of curious adults who value education and class discussions highly. Come learn how it's done, share your ideas, and maybe even think about teaching a course yourself for your fellow Osher members.
Do you love attending Osher Special Events each term? Are you curious about how we select and organize our many varied fun events and who is responsible for planning them? This single-session free class will give you a behind-the-scenes tour of how Osher staff and volunteers run this very special and unique aspect of our program. Volunteerism is the foundation of Osher and especially of Special Events. We've slowly been gearing up after Covid changed the way events were done in 2020. We're getting back to more in-person meetings at familiar venues and exploring new places too. Come learn how it's done and maybe even plan a new special event yourself for your fellow Osher members or share your ideas for fun places for Osher to visit.
Become an Osher Ambassador
Want to help fellow members feel welcome at Osher? Consider being an Osher Ambassador!
Osher Ambassadors create that special spark. By greeting members, assisting classes, distributing brochures, and more, you help spread the magic of Osher throughout our community.
Greeters say hello to members, help them find their classes, show them to the Osher Lounge for coffee and tea, and much more during the first week of each term.
- Commitment: minimum of one shift during the first week of a term
- Shifts: 9-9:30 am, 11-11:30 am, 1-1:30 pm, and 3-3:30 pm (the last of which is a lower-attended class time session, so not as needed)
Classroom assistants read announcements from our weekly email newsletters, take roll, and set up name tents in our in-person classes 5 or 10 minutes before class begins.
- Commitment: minimum of one shift in one class for the length of the term (4-6 weeks)
- Shifts: 9:20-11:00 am, 11:20 am – 1:00 pm, 1:20-3:00 pm, and 3:20-5:00 pm
Zoom classroom assistants start Zoom classes, transfer hosting to the instructor, provide basic tech support, read announcements from weekly email newsletters, take roll, and report attendance back to the Osher staff.
- Commitment: minimum of one shift for the length of the term (4-6 weeks)
- Shifts: 9:15-11:00 am, 11:15 am – 1:00 pm, 1:15-3:00 pm, and 3:15-5:00 pm, and occasionally 5:00-6:30 pm
- Requirements: must have a computer, a stable internet connection, and attend a training with Osher staff.
Brochure distributors take our term brochure (and other printed materials) to various locations around Salt Lake City and the county.
- Commitment: variable; typically a few days in March, May, August, and/or December.
- Shifts: variable; typically 1 or 2 hours on 1 or 2 days in March, May, August, and/or December.
- Requirements: must have your own transportation and the ability to drive or go with a driver
Event supporters help with our three big events of the year. There are multiple roles: greeters; member and instructor check-in support; name tag printing, stuffing, and alphabetizing; organizing syllabi at tables with corresponding instructors' map; showing instructors to their tables; setup and cleanup.
- Events: Fall Open House (early August), Member Luncheon (early December), and Spring Fling (early March).
- Commitment: variable depending on the role; typically 3-4 hours the day of the event
Contact the Osher Office at 801-585-5442.
Be part of the Special Events Committee
Looking for something more involved? Consider being part of the Special Events Committee!
Special Events Committee volunteers are the brains, legs, and hearts behind all of our special events. From identifying opportunities to attending to making sure everything runs perfectly, these volunteers are what make our special events extraordinary and meaningful. View our archive of previous years brochures for ideas about Special Events we’ve held before in past terms.
Special Event Hosts attend, greet, and gather the group, take attendance to report back to the Osher team, and ensure all goes well during the event or tour, including that the speaker is loud enough for everyone to hear.
Special Event Planners arrange all the details with a contact person at each venue or location and submit the necessary information (contact name, phone, and email; parking information, exact meeting location, etc.) to Osher via a Google Form. Special Event Planners have the option to host the event or arrange for an alternate host (i.e. find another volunteer to host it in their place).
- You can visit our Google Form and apply to be a Special Event Planner!
- Requirements: submit Google Form at least 4-6 weeks before the event for marketing and promotion
- Timelines: Special Events are usually planned for when classes are not in session, so Osher members can stay connected and enjoy activities between terms.
- Fall Term
- Classes run from mid-September to mid-October
- Proposals: due May 1
- Courses & Special Events Posted for Registration: early August
- Winter Term
- Classes run from mid-January to mid-February
- Proposals: due Oct 1
- Courses & Special Events Posted for Registration in early Dec
- Spring Term
- Classes: Late March to early May
- Proposals: due Dec 1
- Courses & Special Events Posted for Registration in early March
- Summer Term
- Classes: Late May to end of June
- Proposals: due March 1
- Courses & Special Events Posted for Registration in early May
Contact the Osher Office at 801-585-5442 or email us at osher@utah.edu and include "About My Special Events Committee Application" in the subject line.
Be part of the Curriculum Committee
Been an Osher Member for multiple years? Consider being part of the Curriculum Committee!
Curriculum Committee volunteers help support our 200+ instructors and assist in creating our portfolio of classes every term. They recruit and mentor new instructors, review course proposals, ensure a balanced range of topics, and help monitor course quality. These volunteers must have good computer skills with the ability to use Google Drive.
- Attendance at monthly meetings in the Osher offices and on Zoom
- Email and phone availability between meetings
- Review the course proposal packet for each of the 4 terms
- Continuous outreach, support, and recruitment of instructors
- Review of course survey data to monitor quality
Fall Term
- Classes: mid-September to October
- Proposals: due May 1
- Courses Posted & Registration: early August
Winter Term
- Classes: mid-January to mid-February
- Proposals: due Oct 1
- Courses Posted & Registration: early Dec
Spring Term
- Classes: Late March to early May
- Proposals: due Dec 1
- Courses Posted & Registration: early March
Summer Term
- Classes: Late May to end of June
- Proposals: due March 1
- Courses Posted & Registration: early May
Be the first to know about upcoming courses, become part of the process of selecting courses and instructors, and help bring new ideas, topics, and outstanding teachers to the community!
Contact the Osher Office at 801-585-5442 or email us at osher@utah.edu and include "About Curriculum Committee Application" in the subject line.
Instructors can volunteer too!
Instructors who volunteer their time and expertise help us keep our tuition costs as low as possible while enhancing our community through sharing their knowledge, passions, and joy of teaching and learning together among peers.
- 90 minutes, once a week, usually meeting for 6 weeks (i.e. one class during one term), but shorter and single sessions are also welcome.
- Most classes run for 4-6 weeks (usually not longer than 6 weeks)
- Email and phone availability leading up to and between classes
Fall Term
- Classes: mid-September to October
- Proposals: due May 1
- Courses Posted & Registration: early August
Winter Term
- Classes: mid-January to mid-February
- Proposals: due Oct 1
- Courses Posted & Registration: early Dec
Spring Term
- Classes: Late March to early May
- Proposals: due Dec 1
- Courses Posted & Registration: early March
Summer Term
- Classes: Late May to end of June
- Proposals: due March 1
- Courses Posted & Registration: early May
Instructors have the option to audit an Osher class without paying tuition, during the term in which they are teaching (to encourage community building); special fees still apply
Contact the Osher Office at 801-585-5442.
