What is the Elderhostel Institute Network?
The Elderhostel Institute Network is a voluntary association of Lifelong Learning Institutes (LLIs). The old name for LLIs was Institutes for Learning in Retirement or ILRs. An LLI is a community-based organization of retirement age people dedicated to meeting the educational interests of its members. Although every LLI is unique and independent, most LLIs are sponsored by a college or university; provide unique, non-credit academic programs developed by the members themselves; and have an open membership for all enthusiastic retirement age learners regardless of previous education. In addition, most LLIs are governed by their own members, and have members leading some of the academic coursework in lieu of professional faculty.

How did the Elderhostel Institute Network begin?
In 1988, 24 established Institutes for Learning in Retirement collaborated with Elderhostel, Inc. -- a non-profit educational organization for older adults -- to form a voluntary association known as the Elderhostel Institute Network. Both the Elderhostel and Institute movements embrace the same fundamental philosophy that education is a life-long pursuit that enhances the lives of all people, regardless of age. Through cooperative effort, both organizations are able to work together toward this goal in a way that improves the quality and variety of higher education for all older adults.

What does the Elderhostel Institute Network do?
The Network’s mission is to promote communication between established LLIs, and to encourage and foster the growth of new LLIs. LLIs affiliated with the Network share a variety of resources in the areas of curriculum development, membership recruitment and organizational governance. Newsletters, conferences and workshops are used to exchange ideas and experiences among LLIs.

How is an LLI different from an Elderhostel program?
An LLI program is run and attended by its members. The members are local people who commute to the program, and who participate regularly year after year, thus getting to know one another as friends, co-volunteers, and classmates. An LLI program is structured like a typical college program, with regular semesters and often homework. In addition, many LLIs provide volunteer services to their sponsoring institutions or to the community at large. By contrast, Elderhostel programs are short-term residential programs, typically lasting five or six nights in the United States and two to four weeks overseas. Elderhostel programs are run by University, college or other educational institution staff. Most Elderhostel programs do not require homework. Finally, Elderhostel programs are attended by people from all over North America and require travel to and from the program. Elderhostel programs combine learning with travel and thus do not operate on a local, semester-based level.

Elderhostel Institute Network Facts:

• The first LLI in the United States was the Institute For Retired Professionals. It was created in 1962 under the sponsorship of the New School For Social Research in New York City.
• Since its inception in 1988, the Network has assisted more than 200 LLIs with getting started.
• New LLIs are starting up at the rate of 10-20 per year.
• More than 4,000 courses are available each term through the LLIs in the Elderhostel Institute Network.
• Approximately 100,000 people are members of the various LLIs affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network.
• A typical LLI has 200-300 members, many of whom will volunteer their services to lead courses, serve on committees, or help with the logistics of managing the program.
• In general, a typical LLI offers 10-20 courses per term, and has two or three terms each year. Most members take two or three courses per term.

For more information about the Elderhostel Institute Network, please visit the Elderhostel Institute Network web site at www.elderhostel.org/ein/intro.asp.