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You are never too old to learn. In fact, if you ask Carol Zar, M.A.P.A. ’81, who serves as chair of the university’s Lifelong Learning Institute’s (LLI) Steering Committee, sometimes people have more time to enjoy the learning process later in life, especially after retirement.

“LLI is a way for us to stay engaged and interested in what’s going on in the world,” said Zar, who joined the organization about 17 years ago after retiring from a career at NIU as a senior research associate with the Center for Governmental Studies.

“We offer a variety of courses on topics in history and politics, but we also do courses on current topics, like climate change. It’s a way to meet with people who have similar interests and, in many cases, to broaden our horizons and get engaged in different topics we may not have had time for during our work lives.”

The institute, which was established at the university in 2000, is a member-directed group of 100-120 local retirees, usually from ages 60-85 or older. These people enjoy learning in informal, flexible, non-competitive groups and like connecting with peers who share their interests. There are no grades and no tests—just learning for the fun of it.

Elizabeth Bass is a retired NIU writer and editor who previously worked for the alumni and development office and the public affairs office. She has been involved in LLI since its inception.

“I have remained a part of this program because of my love of learning and the welcoming LLI community in which I’ve made real friendships that would not otherwise have happened,” she said, noting that the friendships she has made over the years are just as important as the course content.

“My fellow LLI members were a real source of support when my husband died, and I know that has been true for others,” she said.

LLI is open to everyone, regardless of their level of education or background. All members need is a sense of curiosity and a love of learning. All classes are volunteer-led by “conveners,” with sessions each spring, fall and winter.

Typical topic areas including history, music, science, politics, movies, travel and more. With a cost of $85 for fall and spring classes and $45 for winter classes, members can attend as many study groups as they wish during the term—an “all-you-can-learn buffet” of sorts.

“Some conveners are retired professors. Some are retired teachers. Some have never taught before in their lives. Often, the ones who lead the classes learn as much, if not more than, the people who participate,” Zar said.

Still, it takes a lot of forethought and active planning to bring community ideas to the classroom, according to Zar.

“We solicit possible topics from the folks who are attending classes. Then, we have a Curriculum Committee that will take the ideas to the next level.

They say, ‘Somebody would like to have a class on poetry. Who do we know in our community who might be able to do something on that?’ And then they try to persuade that person to come talk to us about it.”

Zar noted that the global pandemic made it more difficult for members to meet, but volunteers came together through Zoom meetings. Today, LLI is in a rebuilding phase, as its core base dropped during that time, but Zar believes there were some benefits to having to learn to do things differently.

“During COVID-19, we met online, and we had people from all over the country, from as far as Florida and Texas, who joined us and had some prior connection to NIU. What we learned through COVID was that Zoom could work, but it wasn’t our preference,” Zar said. “While our spring and fall courses will still meet in-person, we did adapt our winter courses to be online-only. Now, no one has to go out in the snow, find a parking space or walk through the wind tunnel near the Holmes Student Center to attend.”

Zar also noted that the LLI was a lifesaver for many of its members during the pandemic, while many felt isolated and out of their normal routines.

“It gave us something to look forward to in an organized, regularly scheduled way,” she said.

Bass and Zar agree that the institute nurtures a healthy love of learning that has been inside of them since they were children.

“Like many other LLI members, I look forward to the beginning of each LLI term as eagerly as I looked forward to the semester beginning when I was a student,” Bass said.