OLLI at MSU Strategic Plan 2025-2028

Mission

As part of Montana’s land-grant university, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at MSU offers intellectually stimulating and enjoyable programs that foster lifelong learning and community engagement for individuals aged 50 and over.

Intentional Focus 1: Foster Community

OLLI at MSU will enable meaningful engagement for members and broaden the scope of diverse, stimulating, and enjoyable member-driven programming. (MSU Strategic Plan Goals 3.1, 3.2, 3.3)

Goal 1.1: Expand membership to serve a broadening audience

Metric 1.1: Through recruitment and retention, OLLI will increase its membership to 1,000 by the end of 2028.

Goal 1.2: Establish and nurture mutually beneficial relationships with other community organizations

Metric 1.2.1: OLLI will annually assess the value of its community relationships.

Metric 1.2.2: OLLI will annually identify and assess opportunities to both deepen and broaden community relationships.

Goal 1.3: Promote a sense of belonging among OLLI at MSU members

Metric 1.3.1: During 2025-2026, OLLI will employ a variety of tactics designed to help members feel welcome and connected to the OLLI community. 

Metric 1.3.2: By July 2026, OLLI will develop a methodology for assessing members’ sense of belonging. 

Metric 1.3.3: By 2027, OLLI will assess members’ sense of belonging. 

Metric 1.3.4: By 2028, OLLI will implement a plan to respond to the results of the assessment of members’ sense of belonging.  

Goal 1.4: In support of MSU’s land-grant mission, increase programming beyond the Gallatin Valley

Metric 1.4.1: OLLI will increase the annual number of travel programs to Montana regions beyond the Gallatin Valley.

Metric 1.4.2: OLLI will seek to collaborate with an organization in neighboring counties to host events/programs. 

Intentional Focus 2: Advance MSU’s Land-Grant Mission

OLLI at MSU will strengthen its ability to contribute to MSU’s mission.

Goal 2.1: Expand and deepen mutually beneficial opportunities and relationships with MSU academic departments and units, faculty, and staff

Metric 2.1.1: Each academic year, OLLI will actively seek collaborations with faculty members, academic departments, and other MSU units on programs and presentations. 

Metric 2.1.2: Each academic year, OLLI will make at least one in-person presentation to relevant faculty and staff councils/committees/groups about the advantages of collaborating with OLLI. 

Metric 2.1.3: By December 2025, OLLI will pitch an article about OLLI to University Communications and the MSU Alumni Foundation for publication with wide distribution beyond the Gallatin Valley. 

Goal 2.2: Increase connectedness between OLLI members and MSU

Metric 2.2.1: Each semester, OLLI will partner with an MSU unit to feature the unit’s work and facilities in an OLLI program. 

Metric 2.2.2: OLLI will highlight upcoming MSU events of interest to OLLI members in its newsletters and on its social media platforms. 

Metric 2.2.3: OLLI will seek to collaborate with MSU faculty teaching courses and conducting research on aging, health, and well-being to enable their students to engage with OLLI members for mutually beneficial learning. 

Metric 2.2.4: OLLI will assess OLLI member connectedness to MSU at least every two years. 

Goal 2.3: Ensure that OLLI’s strategic plan, goals, and communications reflect MSU’s newest strategic plan

Metric 2.3.1: Within a year of MSU’s adoption of a new strategic plan, OLLI will review and revise, if necessary, its strategic plan, goals, and communications to advance the goals of MSU’s strategic plan.

Intentional Focus 3: Improve Capacity

OLLI at MSU will build its capacity for sustainable growth.

Goal 3.1: Become more self-sustaining through donated funds, revenue-generating activities, and volunteer labor

Metric 3.1.1: By the end of calendar 2025, OLLI will create a volunteer recruitment and training plan for implementation in spring 2026.

Metric 3.1.2: By 2027, OLLI will create new programs that produce at least an additional $20,000 in net revenues annually.

Metric 3.1.3: By 2028, OLLI will raise at least $100,000 in donations, sponsorships, and/or grants.

Goal 3.2: Annually identify and budget for consistent and affordable classroom and lecture space

Metric 3.2.1: OLLI will maximize classroom space utilization. 

Metric 3.2.2: OLLI will investigate alternatives to the Museum of the Rockies auditorium in anticipation of its closure for renovations. 

Goal 3.3: Develop a plan and budget for improved participant access to all courses and events 

Metric 3.3.1: By fall 2026, OLLI will assess technological needs to better serve members and, as needed, create a plan for implementation by 2028. 

Metric 3.3.2: By fall 2028, OLLI will study how to increase member participation in fee-based programs. 

Metric 3.3.3: By fall 2028, OLLI will assess the need for more affordable programs and determine the best strategy for achieving greater affordability.