Frequently Asked Questions

If you can't find your Zoom link, please contact us by email at olli@sfsu.edu. We watch our general email address before a class starts, and up to 10 minutes after it begins, to ensure that everyone gets in.

To find and keep track of your Zoom links, here are two tips we hope will be useful:

Search:

Every email app will have a “search” function. Try searching with words very specific to the course or meeting: words in the title of the course or the instructor’s name. These terms would likely be more effective for pulling up your specific link than “SFSU,”, “OLLI,” or even “ZOOM”.

File:

To effectively keep track of your Zoom links, we recommend creating “Folders” in your email app. Each app is a bit different, but it’s a way you can move and group emails you’d like to keep track of and access easily. In Gmail, these “Folders” are called “Labels” but serve the same purpose.

Please view a short video on how to create new Labels. When a small circle appears around the cursor, that indicates a “click” of the mouse.

In most cases, yes, we are recording classes taught on Zoom, but some instructors do not want us to record. Please check with us by email at olli@sfsu.edu if you want to know for sure that a class will be recorded. Also note that we do not record writing classes and may or may not record a small art class.

We do not send recordings automatically. If you would like a class recording, first you need to be enrolled in the class. Then send a request by email to olli@sfsu.edu and we will send it to you. It is best to send the request after the class when we have it in hand and can forward it to you. We do not have a mechanism for tracking the many requests for recordings we get.

Yes. If you would like a class recording, first you need to be enrolled in the class. Then send a request by email to olli@sfsu.edu and we will send it to you. It is best to send the request after the class when we have it in hand and can forward it to you. We do not have a mechanism for tracking the many requests for recordings we get.

We ask that you watch a class recording within two weeks of the date it was recorded. After that we cannot guarantee that the recording would still be available.

Please refrain from sending links to recordings to people who are not registered for the class. You may share the recording with a spouse or others in your home.

Courses may be dropped up to one week before the start of the session for a full course credit. Requests must be received at least one week before the start of the session (for 5-6 week classes), or the class itself (Mini Course). If you have a multiple course package, your credit will be added back to your package. If you purchased the course a la carte, a credit will be maintained on your account for use within one year from the date you drop the course.

If you drop a course within seven (7) days of its start, you may transfer into another course in the same term, as space allows.

Credits may be submitted in writing by email to olli@sfsu.edu. Please put DROP in the email Subject line, and be sure to mention which course(s) you are dropping.

In the event that a course is canceled you will be issued an automatic credit to your account, or added back to your multiple course package. If you opt to use the credit immediately by transferring into a new class during the same session, please notify the OLLI Office as soon as you can and your transfer will be handled internally. Other options include adding a course credit to your account for use within 365 days of issue. While crediting your account is our preference, a refund may be requested by email to olli@sfsu.edu.

1. Click on “Reset My Password” on the Sign In page:
2. On the next page enter your Username and email address.
   1. Enter your Username
   2. Enter the email address you used to register your account
   3. Click button “Reset my Password” — this triggers an email from our system with a temporary password you can use to log in to your account.
   4. Once you click, “Reset my Password,” a confirmation message appears below the button:
3. Retrieve temporary password from your email account.

Finances should not be a barrier to lifelong learning. Through the generosity of Maryalice Reinmuller, in loving memory of her husband Hal Wanaselja, fee assistance is available for OLLI classes throughout the year through an application process.

Please see guidelines and application.

The Osher Institutes were all set up to engage people over the age of 50 so yes, serving people over the age of 50 is our mission. However if a class appeals to you or if you are on the cusp of age 50, please let us know by email at olli@sfsu.edu. We hate to turn anyone away!

Your OLLI SF State membership allows you to take classes only at OLLI SF State. There are 124 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes in the United States and all are run independently. See list of the entire OLLI network. 

Each Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is run independently so it is not possible to take classes at another OLLI without registering separately for their classes (and sometimes membership.) Memberships are not reciprocal.

However, OLLI SF State offers two distinct programs of courses that do not require a membership: one-day Mini Courses and our free Speaker Series. Please check our Courses page to keep up to date on our offerings. We invite all to join us for these special programs, and, bring a friend! Please note: though membership is not required for these programs, all participants are required to establish an account, so you are able to register for a class.

Please contact us via email at olli@sfsu.edu and we’ll be able to help.

At this time, OLLI Staff must manually apply any credit from an account. Please email us at olli@sfsu.edu and we’ll be able to help.

At this time, OLLI staff must manually apply any credit from an account. If you registered for a course and were not able to use the credit, please know that credit does not expire.

So the next time you’d like to register for a course and have that credit applied, please contact us by email at olli@sfsu.edu before you begin the registration process. OLLI staff will register you for the course and apply your credit at the same time.