Become an Instructor
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Western Michigan University welcomes individuals from various backgrounds to join us as instructors. Whether you are currently instructing, have experience as a teacher or professor, or are someone with a fascinating career or unique interests you're eager to share, we invite you to become a part of our community. We value the diverse perspectives and knowledge our instructors bring, enriching the learning experience for everyone. The Institute is constantly seeking new instructors to introduce fresh learning opportunities to our members.
To become an instructor, start by completing the online Course Proposal Form linked below. This form will ask for your personal information, details about the course content, and logistical aspects such as preferred class size, location, and room requirements. You can fill out the form at your convenience; it allows you to save your progress and return at any time. Navigate freely through the form, making edits as necessary. Your submission is considered final only after you agree to WMU’s Civility Statement. Once you have completed your course proposal form, you will receive a response summary and have the option to download your final form as PDF.
If you have any questions about becoming an instructor or completing this form, please contact the Institute.
Proposal Submission Deadlines:
Apr 1
Sep 1
Dec 1
Course Proposal Form questions include:
- Your semester preference (please note the deadlines for submission)
- Contact Information (Name, address, phone, email)
- Whether you will be having an additional instructor or guest speaker
- A proposed course title, detailed course description and instructor bio
- Modality preference (online, in-person, or hybrid)
- Your maximum class size
- All instructional and classroom technology needs
- Required instructional materials
- Your schedule preference (days, times, number of sessions and any dates you would prefer)
- Whether you will need a parking permit
Click the button below to download the Instructor Handbook.
What Our Instructors Say
Over the past 10 years, more than 450 instructors have shared their knowledge, expertise, and passion with OLLI’s highly engaged students. In their own words, hear why they enjoy teaching—and why they keep coming back.
I continue to teach for OLLI because the participants are eager to learn and bring an enthusiasm that makes each session enjoyable and rewarding. The experience is always uplifting, and the community we create together is inspiring. It’s truly a privilege to be part of such an engaged and mindful learning environment.
Creating, organizing, and teaching a class helps keep me mentally sharp. I also enjoy interacting with the students.
The beauty of teaching for OLLI is that it gives me a reason to learn more about a topic than I already know and present it to people who have a sincere interest in that topic. It's a win-win situation.
One of my favorite things about teaching for OLLI is the attitude of the students. They are curious and they want to learn! I feel like teaching them is a shared experience and I learn from them too!
We LOVE teaching our History and Literature classes for OLLI. Why? Because it lets us share our passions with other engaged learners...and the discussions that happen with every class we offer are stimulating. For us it is a total win-win!