Elderhostel : Non Member Instructors

Original Query from Sue Meyer, University for Seniors, University of Minnesota - Duluth
Our University for Seniors at UMD had a Strategy Planning Session a couple weeks ago. One of our issues is "How many non-members of our group should we ask to teach a study group each quarter?" We are a peer-driven group and do not pay instructors for teaching. Our By-laws at this time state we can offer one class per quarter taught entirely by a non-member. This bylaw has not been followed recently (there were 8 last quarter!). When it was written we offered maybe 10 classes/quarter, currently we offer 23-25/quarter, so it was felt that 3 non-member taught classes would not be out of line. However, some members do feel that we should stay with only 1 non-member class/quarter. Are there other LLR's operating as peer-driven groups that could offer suggestions?

From Joe Scorpion, Academy for Lifelong Learning, Carnegie Mellon University, PA
We are a peer-led/peer-taught group with about 65% of our courses being offered/taught by our own members. However,many of our courses are taught by "non-members," that is, from outside our membership,e.g. Carnegie Mellon faculty, University of Pittsburgh faculty, community resources,etc. We do not pay any of our Study Leaders. This has yet to present a problem-- they serve willingly and many regularly. Why do you restrict yourselves by limiting "non-members?" There is a wealth of talent out there in the community just waiting to be tapped/asked. Many who would gladly serve without compensation. Make it clear from the beginning that you do not pay. You may at some time during the year have a luncheon for the "non-member" study leaders or offer them a small gift of appreciation at the end of their course. We have, at times, done both. You may care to revise your by-laws so that your are not restricted in your use of "non-member" instructors. Hope this is of some help!

From Gene Bammel, SAGE, University of Arizona
The SAGE program at the University of Arizona generally has frowned on outside moderators. We have done it only rarely; there is a very strong sentiment among the members that to moderate, a moderator must be a member. It could be that we have missed some good classes that way, and occasionally we have had difficulty filling our 24 classes per semester goal. I think it depends very much on the capacity of members to create enough appropriate courses, and the availability of "outsiders" who might make great contributions.

From Sarah Benton, Community Academy for Lifelong Learning, State College, PA
I am the program director for the Community Academy for Lifelong Learning (CALL) in State College, Pennsylvania. We consider ourselves a peer led LLI. However, we have no policy regarding whether or not only CALL members can teach for our organization. Our instructors are also unpaid volunteers, but we give them a free one year membership in return, which they can either use themselves or give to a friend. We believe this process "opens a door" into our organization to those who may not have otherwise participated. It's amazing how many begin as volunteer instructors and then become members and great leaders within our organization. I recommend that policy be removed, which would allow you to outreach into the rich intellectual resources that I know are available within the Duluth area. By the way, I worked with Janet Hoag back in the 80's when your LLI was begun. My maiden name was Sarah Anderson and my sister, Sue Rauschenfels works in CE at UMD. My family is still from the area so I visit once a year. Duluth is a spectacular and beautiful city and I'm proud to be a native. Best of luck to your LLI. I knew Jori Peterson and was saddened to hear about her passing.

From Donna Bauer, WCTC/Learning in Retirement, Pewaukee, WI
The curriculum committee plans topics of interest to the membership and gets volunteer teachers/presenters wherever they can - from the membership or from the "outside". Some of those "outsiders" join as a result of the exposure to our group. Even though we focus on members as presenters, we are not hampered by any by-law rule preventing us from seeking teachers elsewhere.

From Dick Phillips, Society for Learning Unlimited, Beloit College, WI
We at Beloit College SLU (Society for Learning Unlimited) operate as a peer driven group. We do have a few non-members instruct. This has posed no problem for us. We have some programs where it is beneficial to call in outside help.

From Nancy L. Sidener, Lagniappe Studies Unlimited, Louisiana State University
In response to the question about instructors from the University for Seniors at UMD: Our ILR, Lagniappe Studies Unlimited, is a part of the LSU Division of Continuing Education. Members pay dues of $50 per year and $17 per class (more if there are special materials). We now have 630 members. Most take at least one course per semester. About half of our instructors are professors or retired professors from LSU or other area universities. Others are specialists in their fields. Almost none of our instructors are members of Lagniappe Studies; each is offered one free course during the semester he/she teaches. Instructors are paid a fee of $300 per semester; $200 for the summer session. Spring and fall classes are held for 2 hours per week for 6 weeks. Summer classes are held for 2 hours per week for 4 weeks. We offered 33 classes for the Spring 2003 session. We also offer morning lectures (free to members and guests) and field trips. All our activities are held off-campus because of the parking problems at LSU. P.S. "Lagniappe" means "a little extra" in Cajun French.