Frequently Asked Questions - Teaching
Physical Location: 2635 Century Pkwy NE, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30345. (3rd Floor). Phone: 404-727-5489, Office Hours Mon-Fri, 9AM - 4PM.
Atlanta | 2635 Century Pkwy | Emory Continuing Education
Parking: Parking is free and abundant and no parking tag required. OLLI students and instructors may park in the open-air lot directly past the building on the left. Deck parking is reserved for the employees of Century Center tenants.
Teaching at Emory’s OLLI Program
Thank you for your interest in teaching a class at OLLI. Here is some information to assist you in planning your class and preparing your proposal.
Do I have to be an OLLI Member to be an instructor?
No, you do not need to be an OLLI member to offer a course. However, we give all our instructors a free one-year membership and a free class for teaching! You will automatically become an OLLI Member and this benefit will carryover from year to year so long as you continue to teach at least one class each year.
What types of classes are given at OLLI?
Instructors offer a wide variety of classes, and our participants’ taste is just as varied. Classes on art and music, science and technology, history and current events, creative writing and personal memoirs, yoga and exercise, conversational language, and travel destinations … practically anything and everything! We are always looking for new and different classes to enrich our students in unique ways.
As you can see, any topic about which you have knowledge, expertise or experience can be a great way to structure a class. Your course topic is up to you and based on what you’re most comfortable offering to our members.
I’ve never taught a class before (or I haven’t done a lot of teaching); will I get any help?
Yes. There are many people at OLLI who can help you. Our instructors vary in their teaching experiences. Some have taught their first class at OLLI, and others are capping off decades of teaching with their classes. The Curriculum Committee and OLLI staff will be happy to discuss teaching strategies, presentation tips, technical needs, and other help you might seek. Help is here if you need and want it.
Three times a year we offer an Instructor Orientation meeting. If this is your first-time teaching with us, you should attend the first 30-minute session of an upcoming meeting. The logistics of setting up, delivering, and managing classes will be covered by OLLI volunteers and staff. The hour following this initial session will give you an opportunity to meet other OLLI instructors and hear about their experiences.
I have some ideas for classes; can I bounce them off someone at OLLI ?
Of course! Just contact OLLI staff (olli@emory.edu), and someone will contact you to talk through your ideas. You may find, for example, that one of your ideas for a class is already taking place or planned for an upcoming session. In that case, it will help to know what that class is so you can tweak your plans for something complementary to it, or different from it.
Are instructors paid for teaching?
Generally, OLLI instructors are volunteers; however, there are times when an instructor may request to add a stipend to the class registration fee to compensate for teaching-related travel, expenses, and extra time. Please consult with OLLI staff for more information.
How are classes currently being conducted?
OLLI at Emory currently provides classes in multiple formats, including in-person classes, online classes via Zoom and “hyflex” classes that are a combination of both in-person and online experiences. We will work with you to adapt your class to the format that best meets your needs.
We have a variety of courses offered that include topical presentations and lectures; informational sessions (e.g., “how to” classes); discussion and interactive classes; and practical in-person meetings (e.g., instructor led outings).
When and how often are classes offered?
Classes are offered Monday to Friday, except for Emory-observed holidays. Sessions meet as early as 9 a.m. to as late as 2 or 3 p.m., depending on how long the class will take. If you are interested in an evening time, let us know. Most of our instructor-led classes are 60 to 90 minutes long; a couple may be two hours long and some special presentations (e.g., a movie or virtual tour) can be longer.
Course length can be a one-day course or 4, 6, or 7 weeks in length, scheduled to be offered at any of these times:
- 60-minute classes: 10 AM – 11 AM.; 11:30 AM. to 12:30 PM; 1:30 PM. to 2:30 PM.
- 90-minute classes: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM; 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM; 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
How do I submit a proposal?
Submitting a proposal is easy. We have an online proposal form; you enter the required information and click submit! The form lets us know what, when, and how you prefer to teach. Once you submit your proposal you will get a confirmation email from us with a copy of your responses. The proposal will then go to our Curriculum Committee for review and OLLI staff will work with you to set up your class. Click here – for the online proposal link.
Will I receive feedback after I teach a class?
At the end of every class, OLLI staff will email a course and instructor evaluation form to all your participants. The form includes ratings and open-ended comments, and these will be shared with you, the instructor. The evaluations are anonymous. We ask all instructors to remind their students at their last session to complete an evaluation.
Where can I get more information?
Please check out the “Teach at OLLI” tab on the OLLI at Emory website, where you will find the course proposal form and other information and resources. (olli.emory.edu)
You can always call the OLLI office during regular business hours at (404) 727-5489 or by emailing olli@emory.edu.