Original Query from Jean Zimmerman, Adventures in Lifelong Learning, Glen Oaks CC, MI Our membership fee is $20 for a single member and $25 for a couple. A question has been brought from our membership on whether this fee structure is fair to single members. The question was, "should the difference between the fee for single members be closer to half of the fee for couples?" Based on a one income versus two income household. Our fee structure was determined on estimated administrative fees related to each member and the additional administrative expenses incurred for a member in the same household. Due to savings in postage, printing, etc. the expenses are not double for two people in the same household. Do any of the other LLIs have separate membership fees for singles and couples? What has been your experience with this fee structure?

Second Query from Jim Kneser, VIVA, University of Denver, CO
I would be most interested to hear about charges for membership and for courses. What pricing policies seem to work and what bad experiences have you had? All information would be greatly appreciated.

From Mary Quinn Burkhart, Academy for Lifelong Learners, Auburn University, AL
The issue of charging different rates for single members or couples was raised in our early days. There is only a small savings for us when members are couples---some mailing costs. Other than that, the records keeping, duplicating, space rental, etc., are the same. The Board decided to charge the same fee for a member, whether or not the spouse is a member, too.

From Ann Burdett, Mohawk Valley LLI, SUNY-IT/Utica Rome, NY
We charge $125 per year---per individual. We take in new members and renew old memberships only between May 1 and July 31. This fee entitles each person to at least 2 courses in each of our three sessions. However, we also have 4-5 "bonus" courses which may be taken in addition to the allotted 2/ session. The only additional charges are for the computer courses, which we run in collaboration with the university---using their labs and instructors. We do not charge for any other courses. The first year we tried to charge less per person for married couples. Many found this inequitable and unfair to singles. Also, as already pointed out, there is very little savings to us with married vs. singles. Then there is the issue: what is a couple? How about gay partners? Unmarried couples living together? Sisters or brothers living together? Since our first year we have charged a fee for each individual. There has been no problem for us with this.

From Berny Dumoff, LLI, Albertus Magnus College, CT
We here at LLI at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT have always chared $15 per person, married or not. We do not differentaite between married, living together, or just single. This has worked just fine for us for our 13 years.

From Roxanne M. Knott-Kuczborski, Lifelong Learners Institute, Caldwell College, NJ
We continue to charge an individual membership fee of $15. per person, per semester. What are you charging per course? At Caldwell College-LLI $15. membership -per semester courses--$5. per meeting (i.e., an 8, week class=$40.) Trips are evaluated independently.

From Stew Engel, Elderstudy, Mary Washington College, VA
We, Mary Washington Elderstudy, charge two singles $25 ((2 X $75) = $150 - $125 = $25) more than a couple. Yours is $15 ((2 X $20) = $40 - $25 = $15). I recently calculated the extra cost of having two households at about $8. This reflects mailing & printing costs. Couples control the vote & attempts to reduce the differential have failed. In our case, a differential of about $10 is justified since couples should not be forced to subsidize singles, but the same applies to singles subsidizing couples. The cost difference will vary with the number of mailings you make, the distribution of printed materials, & other variables. Fee differences should reflect cost differences, no more, no less. Fees for Mary Washington ElderStudy cover all courses, all of which may be attended by all members.

From Ruthie Carlson, CALL, State University, PA
Having different fees for single and married members has come up at CALL. Many of our members are widows, and some expressed that it did not seem fair to charge less for those who are married, when in many cases, the financial situation of the married couples, sharing expenses, is better. The only savings to CALL for married couples would be postage. All other record keeping, materials, cost of holding classes, etc. is done by individuals. Our fees are by the individual, whether single or married.

From Joe Scorpion, ALL, Carnegie Mellon University, PA
Our annual membership dues are $40.00 per individual. No Discount for couples---we had this at one time but we dropped it. Our class registration fee is $40.00 per term. We have 3 terms-Fall,Winter/Spring and Summer. Terms run 13 weeks: 6 weeks-a-week off in between-6 weeks.

From Noreen Frye, Institute for Retired Professionals, University of Miami, FL
The University of Miami charges $350 for single and $650 for couples. As you can see, we provide a break for couples. Our fee includes 6 sessions of classes lasting a total of 34 weeks - 5 sessions of 6 weeks (mornings and afternoons) and one 4-week session (mornings only). Our members can take as many classes as they like; they can also audit university classes. The only additional charges are nominal charges for art classes and/or computer classes. Hope this helps.

From Tim Moe, LIR, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
LIR (Learning in Retirement) at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh charges $60.00 a year for a membership. There is not a reduced rate for a couple. Our year has two semesters. Sept to Mid-Dec. and Jan. to the end of May. Our Membership Year is either July to July or Jan to Jan. We have 300 + members. Classes are taught for the most part by our members. We have some outside instructors. We do not pay any of the instructors (inside or outside.) Classrooms are provided by the University free of charge. Our membership money goes to pay for a University secretary who supplies support to our organization and for office supplies (paper, copying, postage, telephone), and a newsletter. Some of our classes are held off campus in Milwaukee and Madison and there is an extra charge for the bus and or tickets for the event. Otherwise that is it. We offer 40+ classes per semester and 5+ tours per semester. Some classes met just once during the semester and some are multiple meetings (2-8 times). Hope this helps.

From Mary Lewerenz, University for Seniors, University of MN-Duluth
I am constantly amazed at the great diversity in the LLIs in EIN. There seem to be as many differences as there are LLIs. It seems to me we must all do what works best for us. Here at University for Seniors at the University of Minnesota Duluth we have 3 terms. We have just increased our membership fees for the 2002-2003 year to $75.00 per term or $185.00 for the 3 terms. Each term is 8 weeks in length. We have between 25 and 30 classes each term. They meet once a week for 2 hours in classrooms on the University campus. A member may take as many classes or as few as they wish. The membership fee is the same. We've had some people who take as many as 8 and a few who only take 1. There are no additional charges for lectures, special events, etc., except for computer classes, meals, theater tickets, and bus trips. We do not compensate our course leaders or outside lecturers even with a honorarium. Those from outside our membership are invited to our spring appreciation luncheon. Our own members just receieve a certificate of thanks. We have nenver considered a different fee structure for singles and couples. Many of the reasons why I think it is a bad idea have already been expressed; What about sisters, brothers or others who live together? How do you define a couple? We've had at least one where a daughter and mother-in-law lived together. The only saving would be in mailing costs and you would still need to get registrations, etc. to both. As a widow of many years, i would dislike the idea of a double standard. I've been to too many things where couples paid less than I did as a single and I resented it. I see this as a divisive issue and think it's best left alone.

From Mary Quinn Burkhart, Academy for Lifelong Learners, Auburn University, AL
AUALL has an annual fee, which is prorated for those joining later in the academic year. This year, the fee is $150 for everyone, no discount given for couples. The fee includes as many courses as a member would like to take, which could be as many as eight during each of our three academic year terms. Most members take two or three. No additional charges for classes, other than for books and materials, if the class has them. We do not pay coordinators or guest lecturers, inside or out, but we do have to pay for meeting space at our hotel/conference center, which is steep.

From Sarah Fletcher, Furman University Learning in Retirement, SC
We charge each person the same membership fee, and don't feel that it is fair to charge a different fee for a couple as for a single. Each person receives the same services whether they live at the same address or not. Our membership seems to feel that this is the most equitable way to set our fee structure. We try to communicate as much by e-mail as possible to save on postage costs. We have about 350 members, and charge $275 for the academic year (3 terms), $125 for one term, and $50 for a new member for just one course. Regular members may take up to 4 courses per term with their membership fee. Additional courses over four cost an extra $20 each. The university provides us with office and classroom space, use of AV equipment, etc. We must cover the cost of salaries for the coordinator, secretary, student worker, printing, postage, copying, materials, computers, etc. through our membership fees.

From Don Tritschler, Salem State Explorers LLI, Salem State College, MA
The Salem State College Explorers (Salem, MA) had a single fee of $100./yr. This coming year we raised it to $150. Since the increase was sizable, the Board decided to make a couple's dues $250. Perhaps this difference from your dues schedule is partly a question of the amount of the dues. Since you are basing dues on budgetary needs, your low $20. suggests that you have a large membership. Our membership is only 350. Perhaps you also have subsidies from your sponsor which include space. Since we have to pay $30-60. per class off campus, we raised our dues so that we may eventually lease or own space, space which will be consolidated and designed to meet our needs (classrooms, office and social) better than at present. I don't think you're going to find a useful answer to your questions outside your LLI, unless you find another one which is similar to yours in size and budgetary needs. I'd appreciate knowing any of your insights on dues. Especially I'd like to know what happens when LLIs offer half-year memberships. Here we regiularly reject the idea because we feel so many people are "snow birds" that we would lose income which we need. It may also be true that we are depriving those who would like to attend classes for a half year only of an opportunity to enjot learning in retirement. If anyone has experience with a change from full-year membership only to full-year and half-year membership, I'd like to know about it.

From Noreen Frye, Institute for Retired Professionals, University of Miami, FL
At the University of Miami, we offer a half-year membership for snowbirds and for others who don't know what will be going on in their lives and therefore feel more comfortable only paying for half a year. Our annual is $350 and our half-year is $275. If they choose to be involved for the entire year, we credit the $275 towards their dues and they only pay the difference. It works well for us. It would be nice to have the full year revenue but I think there's more of a benefit to the organization this way. Hope this helps.

From Gene Bammel, SAGE Program, U. of Arizona
We have gone from $175 to $225 at the SAGE Program in Tucson. We presented our reasons as clearly as we could to the members, and most members took it quite well. Our bigger problem is the parking fee increase from the University, which has gone from $80 a year to $240. We keep looking for some place where parking would be free, but so far no luck.