Print schedule cover image: Osher member headshots split into interlocking puzzle pieces
Photos by Osher members & SPCS; design by Vivian Marcoccio

Registration now open for Fall 2022 Osher Institute classes

August 23, 2022

Registration for fall 2022 classes offered by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Richmond is now open to all members. Members can log in and register online through the Osher registration portal.

Peggy Watson, C’76, Osher Institute director, pens a letter to current and prospective Osher members in each semester’s schedule of classes. This semester, the theme of “Putting the Pieces Together” unites the classes and print schedule design and imagery.

The recent pandemic, a 40-year high on inflation, climate change, gas prices and supply chain shortages, among other things, continue to rock our world. It’s unsettling but we realize that change is inevitable, and we learn to adjust.

Your Osher Institute is changing, adjusting, and responding to what is happening around us. We hope that we’re doing this thoughtfully, purposefully, and with you in mind. We want to ensure that the Osher Institute offers different activities in a variety of ways so it can be the right fit for each member regardless of individual preferences.

As we enter into our fall semester, we are moving forward with ideas generated in our May Osher leadership retreat and will do so with your 2022 Osher Membership Survey comments and suggestions. Our hope is that we can successfully respond with options that appeal to members who have assorted interests. Here are just a few of the ideas and plans we’re addressing:

  1. Continue to offer classes using different delivery methods, primarily in person or online via Zoom and ensure both are offered throughout every semester.
  2. Search for new, interesting topics and speakers to keep our programming current, appealing and beneficial.
  3. Bring members together for more social events, whether online or in person.
  4. Find new ways, using new tools, to market the Osher Institute to potential members.
  5. Seek grants that will allow our institute to focus special projects and events.
  6. Find ways to enrich and strengthen our relationships within the University.

What is “the right fit” for the Osher Institute? We believe there’s no single answer, but rather an assortment of pieces that fit together into a wonderful puzzle that allows members to pick and choose the parts that work best for them.

If you love social events, we have happy hours for you! If you love the outdoors, we have hiking and biking groups. If you’re competitive, we have Game Nights (and they are VERY competitive). If you love taking classes, we have plenty of choices — some single lectures and some over several weeks — and many topics from which to choose. If you’re a really serious student, you can join the undergrads and audit semester-long classes. If you love theatre and travel (local, domestic, and international), you’ll love hearing that these groups are BACK and ready to welcome you! If you love collegiate sports, we’ve got plenty to offer, especially Women’s Basketball! Let us help you discover the courses, events, and group activities that suit you.

What is “the right fit” for you? We hope that you will find pieces of our puzzle that are just what you want. And, we hope you’ll continue to tell us about those missing pieces that we should add. We want our UR Osher Institute to be just the right fit for you.