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Hello and welcome to Focus on OLLI. What is OLLI? OLLI is a program at UNLV dedicated to active retired or semi-retired individuals who understand the importance of keeping themselves engaged. OLLI is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNLV. Every month this program will dig into favorite classes, interesting teachers and members as well as special events offered through OLLI.
Announcer 0:00
This is a KU NV studios original program.
Wesley Knight 0:03
The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Keith McMillen 0:16
Hello and welcome to focus on Olli. Olli is a program at UNLV dedicated to retired or semi retired individuals who remain engaged and active in civic activities and lifelong learning. Olli is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNLV. Olli is made possible by support from the Bernard Osher Foundation, established by philanthropists Bernard and Barbara Osher with a mission to support lifelong learning, higher education and the arts. This series is designed to give you an in depth look at the Olli program and encourage you to join in the fun and welcome back. This is our December podcast, and we are changing it up a little bit today, there are structural changes happening around Olli at the university, and we thought we would bring them to you, live with the people involved. And we'll start with our new Executive Director, Dr Nicole. Hudson. Nicole, welcome.
Dr. Nicole Hudson 1:17
Thank you for having me. So excited to be here and so excited to be with the students of Olli. Fantastic.
Keith McMillen 1:25
How. How did you come to ollie? Have you been at the University for any length of time?
Dr. Nicole Hudson 1:29
I have. I've been with the universe UNLV for six years. My first job was working with our UNLV online division in faculty development. My job was to teach faculty how to teach online and the best practices of that as we know 2020 happened was super busy helping our campus make the pivot, but more importantly, helping folks find the love of learning through online education. Over the past couple of years, though, I've been in a newly created role at UNLV as the Executive Director of Workforce Education, and what that involved was me working with the community employers or governmental agencies as our world is changing and folks need more skills based hiring, looking at the skills that we're developing. My job was to help academia translate that, and so had a previous background in HR, so it was my dream job in that I love to bridge the gap between higher ed and again, workforce. But now fast forward to this role. I actually taught in continuing education in 2015 so I was mentioned an HR background. So I taught succession planning for this group, and always kept a pulse on what they were doing, not only because of the needs of the community and short term programming workforce programming, but I get a pleasure and opportunity to work with folks like Rob, who I've known for many, many years. Our children went to middle school together, and so it's kind of nice to be able to work in a unit where, again, a familiar happy face that I've worked with long campus, but now in leading the unit and again, trying to help us still continue to connect in the community.
Keith McMillen 3:04
Thank you. And our other guest today is Dr Rob levran, who is the durian. What's your new title? Is it long enough?
Robert Levrant 3:14
It's evolving. It's currently the senior director of community education and enrichment,
Keith McMillen 3:22
but involved in Olli, you've been with us for a decade,
Robert Levrant 3:25
exactly since September of 2015, fantastic.
Keith McMillen 3:30
Now, the big question is, what has changed?
Dr. Nicole Hudson 3:35
The big thing that's changed is the rebrand. So again, utilizing the term lifelong learning, which Ali has already done over the years. Now UNLV lifelong learning is our rebranded continuing education unit. We were also considered the division of educational outreach. It's now UNLV Lifelong Learning LL. And so part of that change is not just changing the name, but our focus and making sure that we are we are supporting learning at all stages of life, from personal to professional to again, community. Think that's the big piece. We were already Ali's already been, actually the best example of this work, and now the rest of the unit is kind of adopting it. You know, how do we connect in the community? How do we connect with with learners? How do we make sure learners are learning the things that they want to learn, and so that's the goal. And I'm again excited, because Ali is such a bright spot for the division, but also for the campus community. The opportunities we have in the workforce side and the personal enrichment side are to model many of the things you're already doing.
Keith McMillen 4:40
Okay, so, how does this affect? Does it affect Olli students directly Rob
Robert Levrant 4:46
Absolutely and in really positive ways. Our Olli members are such a wealth of experience and background and knowledge that could serve. In many more ways than have already to benefit the university. Our faculty who come and speak to Olli are always blown away by the level of engagement and the level of interest, and when they get to know our members on an individual basis, the backgrounds and the knowledge that they bring to campus every day, and this will create ways for Olli members to reach themselves a broader a broader scope of the university, mentoring students, teaching classes, more broadly to the community. There's just so many opportunities that we're just starting to scratch the surface.
Dr. Nicole Hudson 5:45
Absolutely, you know, we have made one of the changes with the leadership team. When we met, we created the LiFE framework and try to kind of language what we're doing. So Life stands for learning, innovation, flexibility and empowerment. And when you think of those things, those words, what we get an opportunity to do is bring it to life. So I'm excited, as I said, just to be able to utilize the framework of Olli. And how do we duplicate that in workforce development? How do we, you know, again, utilize our members, our instructors, to teach each other the skills and leverage the skills they have. Fantastic.
Keith McMillen 6:27
Will we see more engagement from the university itself in this program? I know we have nurses to come and visit us, because we are a certain age group of active adults, which a lot of the nursing schools don't have access to
Dr. Nicole Hudson 6:43
very much. So no, and it's great. Yes, absolutely. The goal is to have more engagement. Just most recently, during our soap box series, just earlier in November, we had our governor come and speak to Ali members, and I was a little bit of the warm up act to meet with Ali members beforehand, and it was just a wonderful exercise to ask members, first of all, what did they want to learn? And one of the things they talked about was technology. That's, you know, we have students in technology majors. Our Office of Information Technology on campus has the most student workers on campus in a concentrated group, why not utilize them to help our students learn our Olli members learn technology. In the same vein, our Olli members said, what can they contribute? And so we are looking at programming, such as some of the life skills that they expressed an interest in, some multi generational education opportunities. And so just Rob and I, just earlier today, we're meeting with our risk management team and just trying to put together some programming that elevates the experience of an Olli member, but also allows us to make sure that we're serving and bringing them across campus.
Keith McMillen 7:53
Lot more fantastic. Can you give us any hints what might be in the future here? Or do you want to not talk about that yet?
Dr. Nicole Hudson 8:01
Spoiler alert, what can we talk about? Well, one of our opportunities, and I'm really excited by this. And so again, your Olli members are listening. So let me elevate this one we have in our workforce development programs where we're looking to bring alumni or community members in to practice the skills with learners, and so, for example, say we have a supervisor, management, leadership program where they need to practice giving you know, feedback. That's an opportunity for Olli members to support some of our work, getting your retirees who have had careers doing the very skills that we're trying to teach the new generation how to do that is one thing that's actually pressing and needed, and we are looking for all the members to offer that expertise. Doesn't mean we still don't have an instructor teaching the class, but what this gives is a low stakes opportunity to practice the skills with folks and, you know, kind of knock, knock, the cobwebs, webs off a little bit with nerves to practice
Keith McMillen 9:06
fantastic that I I can think of two or three people right off the bat that might be very interested. I would love their names, not on the air. So I don't want to volunteer for anybody. But what changes now, Rob, you've been busy doing a lot of things right now because we, we know you've your office is closer to Ali, but you're farther away.
Robert Levrant 9:32
Well, I'm not sure that I'm farther away. I'm just more behind the scenes right now we've been working on doing a lot of fundraising efforts. Our fundraising total right now is at about 35,000 so that's pretty exciting. Little ways to go, but we're definitely on the right track and but also administ. Creatively within the Olli administrative team, we've expanded to take on the personal enrichment side of what was continuing education as well. So with that came many more classes that are being administered from the same office, but with two additional team members who are joining me and Beth and working to build some right now we're still building them as two unique programs, the personal enrichment classes, which are community courses for art music, Italian, all sorts, all sorts of topics. But over time, I'm hoping to find more connections, more opportunities to get those boundaries a little more fluid, and more opportunities for teaching, for learning, expanding the scope of what Ollie teaches and what personal enrichment teach, based on this more what I think will be a more effective framework to Bring these classes forward,
Keith McMillen 11:17
I am maybe partially confused personal enrichment makes a certain amount of sense to me, but I'm not sure what the definition really is. Yeah.
Dr. Nicole Hudson 11:29
So personal enrichment are, you know, again, the types of courses that enrich our lives. And so the difference between our workforce development courses are the courses that may align to a job. And so, for example, we have programs in information technology, cyber security, human resources. Those are the curriculum that leads to job, whereas, again, personal enrichment just makes her life better. Why? You probably kind of don't see the differences in Ali you, you talk a lot about personal enrichment, so we just need to bring those types of programs and courses to the community at large. We do it at a smaller scale, again, mainly like the watercolor, little more of the arts, but you do so much more so like theater and and again, more music courses to the community. So yeah, it's really bringing Olli, for that population, to more of a multi generational population, and opening our doors to the community in a greater way.
Robert Levrant 12:29
And if I could add to that, Olli really is about personal enrichment in a very broad sense, where most of our members take three or four classes each semester, which are generally not in related subjects. They could be all, all different types of topics where our personal enrichment students mostly come in and take a deeper dive into one area. But by having this new Nexus. I think there's going to be new opportunities on both sides to take broader or deeper courses of study
Keith McMillen 13:10
that could prove to be very interesting, very, very interesting. So what's the goal right now? Is there one? Obviously, we're trying to get this thing integrated. But how's it working?
Dr. Nicole Hudson 13:24
Yeah, it's going well, it's a lot of work. You know, I've been primarily focused for the unit on our workforce development programs, our community, our folks need to make sure that they're employed at the bottom line, and we have an obligation to make sure that our citizens can find and retain employment. And so I've been working on that curriculum and with our team, and we're also hiring and building that team to help us with workforce workforce aligned programs, along with our campus community, again, we have programs already on campus, and so what are our noncredit offerings? What shorter term programs we can offer that may tee up those larger opportunities. But because of the conversation that I had with Olli members again during the governor's visit, we are kind of taking a longer approach to really focusing on our summer school offerings, which I'm really excited by these are the multi generational programs that we wanted to bring to life. Spring is just starting in a couple months, so we couldn't get on the other side of it quick enough, but we're laying a foundation for, again, multi generational coursework, bringing that technology into or technology that Olli members wanted to learn, but also increasing our personal enrichment courses and partnerships with campus. So I'm super excited by that. I think there's some good things to come. It just, you know, again, we need to do our due diligence. We needed to make sure we asked folks what they wanted, rather than just tell them what we want to teach them. And so we're really looking to bring that in spring.
Keith McMillen 14:57
That can be very exciting. I know a lot of people have a. Expressed interest in more information on all kinds of topics,
Dr. Nicole Hudson 15:04
all kinds of topic, topics. I mean, some financial topics. You know, comments came up about understanding bitcoin and cryptocurrency and all of those things that twofold, we have to do our due diligence in to make sure we're instructing the right way with the right disclaimers and language, because we're not providing financial advice by any stretch, but also making sure that, again, there's some interest in those types of programming.
Keith McMillen 15:27
Oh yes, yes, and you're right about the depth of knowledge in our Olli community, it surprises me every week I teach a thing that is based on TED talks, and there was one about a cancer treatment that sounded very promising, but the TED talk was 10 years old, and somebody suggested what happened to it? Well, one of our students raised his hand. He's a retired oncologist. He knew exactly what happened to it, and it turned out it was just too expensive and too specific, but it led to another treatment, which is now being that's great. We had the expert right there in the audience, and everybody came away better.
Dr. Nicole Hudson 16:12
That's exactly it. You know, one of the things Rob and I have talked about since I'm joined, and just as we've been ideating on opportunities, is, is we want to talk also about topics like spirituality and have conversations, right? I think one of the things that we can bring in this space and in our world is how to have more civil conversations, go figure, right? But to be able to open the door and allow and create space for that, again, multi generationally as well. There's so much that are all of our folks now. We have five generations in the workplace. And so how do we talk civilly? But how do we really have conversations with those experts in the room?
Keith McMillen 16:52
Fantastic, yes, yes, and yeah, civil discourse is you could probably do a master's program on that. I don't know absolutely. So the immediate changes, we are changing Ollie's hours a little bit. That is correct. Oh, I'm a bad boy. Yeah. Okay, so the class length are being shortened a little bit. It probably won't be significant. It won't make a big difference to the classes I know I teach, but why are we doing this?
Robert Levrant 17:29
The reason is twofold. On the one hand, there's more and more demand for classroom space, and we're trying to squeeze in another class period when we were at the paradise campus, Olli members, the way the layout was, Olli members didn't really see all of the other students who were using the facilities. We were in different buildings. The classrooms had entrances from the exterior. You wouldn't cross paths with people the way we do, and it may be too so Ollie members often thought they were the only ones there, and but from six to 930 we've always had robust course offerings. On the weekends, we've always had robust course offerings, and we're trying to get some of those a little bit earlier in that three to five time bracket. But at the same time, Olli members have been speaking with their enrollments, with their schedules and with their comments that they don't like those afternoon classes as much we want to be able to continue offering as many classes as we have been offering on campus, but it's harder and harder to justify when we see a drop off by half the number of students at least each day for that last class. We'd already moved the classes back half an hour this fall, and then we're just going to move it back a little bit more, and then get people out at 215 instead of 345 where we were two years ago. And I think we're going to see more more members taking those classes, and a little bit more flexibility with the types of classes we offer in that last that last period to bring some more excitement to that third, third class period in the ollie day.
Dr. Nicole Hudson 19:25
Absolutely, you know, one of the asks that I had in my leadership role is to really find ways to continue to bridge the gap between our continuing education community programs in campus and so it mimics a little bit more of the campus flow and campus schedule, a little bit more, and so we can leverage some of those, even campus programs coming to the community. And so so we feel it's a it's a small change. I don't foresee a lot more changes to be made with the Olli community. I say, if it's not broken, we don't need to break. To make anything change. It is a shining light. And so again, I'm grateful. I'm thankful. I get an opportunity once a month to send to our leadership talking points. And over the past few months, all the talking points have been on Ollie, on the work you've done at Art Walk on again, having securing the soap box series with the governor. There's just so many bright spots. I'm not trying to monkey with it. So if I can let the listeners know that our goal is just to enhance programming and also provide more resources, my job is to tell more of that story as I talk to Rob and hear more again about our fundraising efforts. But there's so much of a story to tell and Ali and the participants and members, and my job is to continue to elevate that.
Keith McMillen 20:45
Fantastic. Thank you. Thank you for doing that because, yeah, it's made a certain it made a big difference in a lot of people's lives. Absolutely, I was talking to some students who were new this semester as part of the membership experience committee. And one of our questions was, you know, how has it been? Has it been good for you? Are you excited to come back? And two of these ladies complained. They said, We love it, but we don't know what we're going to do in December and January until you start up again. So I think that's a plus,
Dr. Nicole Hudson 21:20
that is a plus, but we are working on some things to fill in the gap, because it is a gym and and Rob shared the same sentiment to me that folks wonder, what do we do during those off months? And so we're trying some creative solutions for you this year.
Keith McMillen 21:36
If anybody asks the third Friday of every month, Ollie shows a movie. Okay, that's going to happen in December and in January. Very good So, and in fact, it's happening this Friday. Okay, if anybody's around, they might want to stop in and see Miracle on 34th Street with, oh, that's Edmund Gwen, wonderful one. Yeah, Natalie Wood. I mean, it's a it's a great cast, it's a great movie, and it's perfect for the Thanksgiving weekend. It is great, great choice. I'm Yeah, yeah, yeah. Beth Daniel, Beth Davis and I go through, and we've already picked next year, so we've got some exciting stuff coming up. Good. So where else do we need to go with this? What else should Ali members be looking at, I know the personal enrichment usually involves additional fees. Are the YALI members going to get any help with that?
Robert Levrant 22:32
Well, I think that's one of the things that we're looking at. We're looking at really revisiting, really reevaluating the pricing structure. So it's a little early to say, but there may be opportunities for discounts, there may be opportunities for leveraging, but I think we're going to really see some new, new and encouraging and also, there are things that Ali members that Ali hasn't been able to provide for its members because of our all inclusive model, and this may give us some structure to add some additional programming that that Olli members could benefit from at a at a reasonable price that we wouldn't be able to otherwise see within the Olli framework, for example, foreign language classes, Ollie's model just doesn't lend itself for that computer, computer skills training. We've experimented with it in the past, but it wasn't sustainable for Olli. There may be some opportunities, either within the personal enrichment framework, or within the Olli framework, using some of the tools that we have in personal enrichment, might open some
Dr. Nicole Hudson 23:47
new doors. That's a great point. Yeah, the technology conversation came up, and so we are trying to explore what that can look like. What are some of the technology tools and resources we can provide to all members, not just Ollie, but the community at large. As technology continues to change and evolve, you know, we want to be we're UNLV. First and foremost, we want to be responsive to community needs and what that looks like, and, more importantly, keep cost low and affordable and accessible. That is part of our framework. And cost creates access, and so we want to, want to be mindful of that, so we're working through all of those resources today.
Keith McMillen 24:27
That's that, yeah, there's a lot going on there. There is, and I know you mentioned the summer school thing and intergenerational both of my granddaughters had taken some advantage of summer school offerings here when they were still in high school, or even gram or junior high, and they loved it.
Dr. Nicole Hudson 24:48
Yeah, we have on campus some really good, what we call dual enrollment programs, where high school students are starting to take their college work, and that's a trend that happens nationally. But there are. Students that want to do some fun courses. And so I think we have a space and an opportunity to allow some of those fun, you know, your summer mornings, before it gets too too hot, some engagement multi generationally, to teach and learn from each other.
Keith McMillen 25:17
Yeah, I look forward to that. Of course, my granddaughters are too old now, one of them is actually in a master's program here already, so I don't have any kids to drag along
Dr. Nicole Hudson 25:26
Nourse, but we can have a lot of kids we can give you. Yeah, I know
Keith McMillen 25:30
if you don't have your own
Dr. Nicole Hudson 25:33
for you, but we know that. I mean, we talk about things that we want the next generation to know, and I think we're obliged to give them those skills and resources.
Keith McMillen 25:43
This looks like the bright future for all of us here, and I hope many people will come and take advantage of it. Is there anything else you want to add before we wrap this up for the day?
Dr. Nicole Hudson 25:54
No, I just want to make sure folks have my name again. I've had a chance to meet several of the Olli members at different events, and I'm excited by that, but it's Nicole Hudson and I am again, just in the hallways as well. And if you are interested in helping us on the Workforce Development those practice courses, looking for some assistance there. Fantastic.
Keith McMillen 26:15
Rob, anything. Last words,
Robert Levrant 26:18
just that we're on the crux of opportunities that we never saw, never never saw as possible, and even just two years ago, we're in a spectacular facility. We are fully staffed for the first time since just after the pandemic, and we are really just poised for some tremendous growth in what we do for our members. And it's I've never been more excited about where Ollie stands.
Keith McMillen 26:57
Ollie folks, it sounds like it's time to sit down, keep your hands and feet inside the car and buckle up. It's going to be a great year. Thank you both for coming and spending your time with us. If folks have other questions, listen to the end and you'll get phone numbers and addresses where you can send those questions. So thank you very much, and we'll be back next year. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for listening to focus on Olli. There are several ways to get more information. Our web address is Olli O L, L, I, dot, u n L v.edu, you may also email us at Olli at U N L V, that's Ollie O L, L, I, A, T, U, n, l, V, at sine, unlv.edu, you can also just give us a call at 702-895-3394, Monday through Friday, between the hours of eight and five, except, of course, on university holidays.
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