CLEMSON — The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Clemson University is the winner of the ACHE Older Adult Model Program award for 2008. The award will be presented at the Association for Continuing Higher Education’s (ACHE) awards ceremony at its 70th annual conference in Nashville this November.
OLLI at Clemson University is aimed primarily at retirees who teach and learn from instructors and each other in a wide range of interest areas from photography to computer training, cooking to woodcarving. From 13 courses in 2002, the program has grown to 83 in the current catalog.
“We are grateful to receive this recognition from the ACHE. This past academic year OLLI at Clemson has been fortunate to form new collaborative relationships with Clemson faculty and administration to offer an innovative travel program to our members, titled OLLI ABROAD,” said Tracy Mainieri, coordinator of the travel program. “The ACHE award honors this collaborative effort.” It’s been a year of significant achievement for OLLI at Clemson University. The program was awarded a $1 million endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation in April, plus a $50,000 grant to cover operating costs until the endowment begins producing revenue in three years. In March, Patrick Square LLC announced that it would build a permanent home for the program in the traditional neighborhood development off Issaqueena Trail. The Charles K. Cheezem Education Center will give OLLI members an off-campus headquarters more conveniently located for the needs of its members.
The ACHE (www.acheinc.org) is an institution-based organization of colleges, universities and individuals that promotes lifelong learning and excellence in continuing higher education. In order to stimulate, encourage and reward outstanding contributions to the advancement of continuing higher education, ACHE established awards for different categories, including leadership, meritorious service and outstanding service to underserved populations. The Older Adult Model Program award recognizes an ACHE member for a program or activity that provides outstanding learning opportunities or service to an older adult population. The program must have at least a three-year plan and target a retirement-age population. 
The president of ACHE is Christopher Dougherty, associate dean at Rutgers University-Camden in New Jersey.