April 2026 OLLI Newsletter

Updates from the Director

Hello, OLLI at Iowa State members!

I’ve given Beth the month off from writing her usual newsletter greeting because I have a couple of exciting announcements to share.

OLLI Office Location

Over the past several months, my CELT colleagues and I have learned a great deal about balancing an on‑campus office with off‑site classes, meetings, and the high level of service our OLLI community deserves. With all this coming and going, it became clear that a change in location would better support our work.

A few months ago, Deb Schildroth, executive director of Heartland of Story County, reached out regarding an office space opening at Sixty Forward. After thoughtful collaboration and acquiring the necessary approvals, I’m thrilled to announce that OLLI at Iowa State will move its office to Sixty Forward starting this month!

With a move of this magnitude, we find ourselves in need of a few office furniture items. Below is a list of items needed, perhaps you have some items you could donate to fill these needs. If you are interested in donating any of these items or have questions about them, please contact Heather.

• Office desk chair (1)
• Small conference table (1)
• Chairs for small conference table (2 – 4)
• Rectangular skinny tables (2)
• Two-drawer filing cabinets (2)

OLLI Staff

We have also determined that it’s time to expand the OLLI at Iowa State team. In April, we will begin accepting applications for a Communications Specialist. This new team member will partner closely with me on graphic design projects, website communications, various publications, and will also assist with class facilitation as needed.

The position will be posted on the ISU Employment Opportunities webpage in mid‑April and will remain open through the end of the month. After the posting closes, we will begin scheduling interviews and moving forward with the selection process.

Do you know someone who might be an excellent fit? Please encourage them to visit the Employment Opportunities webpage in mid‑April for the full position description.

Heather Bristow, Director

To become a Friend of OLLI at Iowa State by a show of financial support, please go to https://isu.foundation/olli and select the Friends of OLLI at Iowa State fund.

Spring Classes Begin April 6

Spring is in the air and with it comes the fresh new start to so many things….including OLLI at Iowa State classes. The curriculum team worked hard to secure over 40 courses and field trips in which we can explore new adventures and topics. From science to cooking and everything in between, there is a little something for everyone. Check out the online catalog today on the Course Information page of our website for more information and to register.

Already registered and need to make changes? You can do so by clicking the Edit Order button on the confirmation email you received after your initial registration. After you sign in, the list of courses you are currently registered for will appear.

• If you need to cancel, simply remove the checkmark next to the class you need to cancel.
• If you want to add more, skip this page by clicking the button on the bottom of the page and then select the additional course(s) you want to add on the next screen.

Any time you need assistance with your registration, please contact the ISU Extension Registration Services Team at registrations@iastate.edu or (515) 294-6222 for assistance. These folks are managing our registration system and are a phenomenal resource for us to have.

Course Update

After the catalog was published, the ISU Creamery requested some changes for their Butter Workshop (course #31). The class limit has been increased to 30 people this is double what was listed in the catalog. They also asked that registration for this particular class close on April 17, so they can have time to secure enough materials for all participants. If you are interested in this course, make sure to register before April 17.

Digital Accessibility and OLLI at Iowa State

As some of you may recall, our March 2026 OLLI at Iowa State newsletter introduced the new accessibility requirements that apply to all course recordings. Here’s a quick recap: recorded courses will now be stored on the Zoom cloud, where automatic audio transcriptions are generated. To view captions while watching a recording, you can click the CC icon in the bottom‑right corner of the video and select Audio Transcription. Please remember that these captioned recordings will remain available for 60 days after the class session.

However, recordings aren’t the only area affected by the updated regulations. Any course-related documents we share—including copies of slide presentations—must now meet digital accessibility standards. As you can imagine, ensuring that all volunteer instructors have the proper tools, training, and time to create fully accessible slide decks is a significant undertaking.

Because our Spring 2026 term is especially full, the additional staff time needed, and instructor training needed to support this transition, we unfortunately cannot provide copies of instructors’ slide presentations this spring.

“I do hope to find options for ways we can once again provide copies of presentations for instructors who wish to share them,” said Heather Bristow, Director of OLLI at Iowa State. “I have a few ideas up my sleeve, so stay tuned.”

OLLI at Iowa State Membership

These next couple of months are packed with lifelong learning opportunities and social experiences! New members will have full access to all upcoming courses and the complete collection of OLLI Talk recordings from this year (see the list of titles below). To request a link to these recordings or for more information about the OLLI Talks, email Heather Bristow at hbristow@iastate.edu.

OLLI at Iowa State membership benefits for 2025-2026 include:

• Connection to a community of enthusiastic learners
• Access to quality non-credit educational opportunities (priced separately)
• Nine OLLI Talk programs with no cost or registration ($225 value)
• Monthly newsletter
• Weekly Friday emails during class sessions about the next week’s activities
• Ames Chamber Artists complimentary pair of concert tickets ($30 value)
• Central Iowa Symphony complimentary pair of concert tickets ($40 value)
• ISU Library card for use at Parks Library for $5 (non-ISU retiree, Iowa residents only) ($15 value)
• Octagon Center for the Arts 10% discount on a purchase of $25 or more
• Stephens Auditorium Buy One Get One ticket offers to select shows

Your $35 membership pays for itself quickly – watching just two OLLI Talks covers the cost. Everything after that is a bonus!

This year’s OLLI Talks

• A Life After ISU with George Strawn
• All Things Iowa State Athletics with Jamie Pollard
• Evolving from Edisonian: The Imperative of Modeling with Rick Arthur
• From Avian Influenza to Innovation: Updates from the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Lab with Rodger Main, Drew Magstadt, and Yuko Sato
• McFarland Park Lake Restoration Project with Pat Shehan
• Prairie Valley Wetlands – The In’s and Out’s with Sara Carmichael

To become an OLLI at Iowa State member or to renew your membership, visit our website at https://olli.iastate.edu/ to complete the online membership form. Or you may contact Heather Bristow.

Kiplinger Spotlights Lifelong Learning

When OLLI at Iowa State member Dean Phillips shared the March 2026 Kiplinger Magazine article “Make Learning a Lifelong Affair” with director Heather Bristow, she immediately reached out to author, Diane Harris, for permission to pass it along to our community.

Just as this newsletter was being written (and after waiting to receive the link for nearly three weeks), the article became publicly available online making it easier to share with all of you. We are delighted to share it with you now and hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Read the article:

https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/happy-retirement/back-to-school-at-60-lifelong-learning-for-retirees

Mark Your Calendars!

First Friday Coffee

Friday, April 3, 2026  |  9 a.m. CT

We will be meeting in person at Sixty Forward (205 S. Walnut Ave, Ames) & online with Zoom (link available on the events page of our website) for the April First Friday Coffee.

Central Iowa Symphony

Fireworks Fiesta

Saturday, May 2, 2026  |  7:30 p.m. CT  |  Ames City Auditorium, 520 6^th Street

Rich melodies and pyrotechnics abound as pianist Mei-Hsuan Huang performs one of the most beloved and challenging works in the repertoire, Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto. This extraordinary display of virtuosity is perfectly matched with a trio of brilliant dance works by Mexican composers that will bring the symphony’s season to a dazzling conclusion. If you have done so yet, be sure to use the two complimentary tickets you received with your OLLI at Iowa State membership letter.

OLLI Takes a Hike: McFarland Park on Foot

Friday, May 8, 2026  |  2 p.m. CT |  56461 180^th St., Ames, IA

Come hike the trails of McFarland Park with Nancy Franz past Story County Conservation Board member and other OLLI at Iowa State members. This gem of a county park has 5.5 miles of concrete and dirt trails through prairies and woods and along waterbodies. Participants should come prepared to hike three miles on a variety of terrain including hills. The hike will include observing wildflowers and spring bird migration, at their peak during this time. Come dressed for the weather and trail conditions. Participants are invited to explore the Conservation Center exhibits before or after the hike, the center is open from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The hike will be postponed if weather makes the hike unsafe.

OLLI at ISU Advisory Council & Teams 2025-2026

The OLLI at Iowa State Advisory Council includes the executive team and coordinators of the Advisory Teams. OLLI staff and Project Team Coordinators serve in an ex-officio capacity. Feel free to visit with any of these individuals about course ideas, volunteer opportunities, and any additional programming comments.

MISSION

OLLI at Iowa State nurtures a joyful community of lifelong learning for adults of all ages. We offer non-credit educational courses and social experiences that spark curiosity, connection, and personal growth, specially designed for mature learners.

VAULES

Adaptability, Curiosity, Integrity, Knowledge, Passion