Calendar
Unless otherwise noted, programs take place at the Reuter Center and are free and open to everyone. Please note that you must have either a UNC Asheville annual parking permit or a visitor permit to park on campus 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Visit the Campus Parking for OLLI Members page for instructions on how to purchase an OLLI-subsidized annual parking permit. Daily and monthly visitor permits must be obtained through the UNC Asheville parking site; OLLI does not provide visitor permits.
August
Wednesday, August 5, 7 p.m. | WNC Sierra Club
Partner Program: “River Cane and Restoring Streambanks” (in-person + online)
We will learn more about local efforts to restore our rivers and stream banks while mitigating flood risk, post Hurricane Helene. Local organizations are planting river cane, a culturally and ecologically significant plant, to prevent future streambank erosion.
Join online via Zoom, and read more on the WNC Sierra Club’s website.
Thursday, August 6, 7 p.m. | Astronomy Club of Asheville
Partner Program: “Small Town Universe Documentary Screening”
The film Small Town Universe paints an intimate and captivating portrait of life in Green Bank, WV, home to the world’s most sensitive radio telescope and the only U.S. town where WiFi and cell phones are either severely limited or basically useless. In this uniquely radio-quiet community, scientists use the U.S. National Science Foundation Green Bank Telescope to search for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence and advance the field of radio astronomy while residents navigate through pivotal moments of existence, forming deep connections with the universe, science and one another.
For more information visit the Astronomy Club of Asheville’s website.
Monday, August 10, 10 a.m.-Monday, August 17, noon
CFS fall 2026 lottery registration
Log into the online registration system to view courses and to register. Volunteers will be available for walk-in registration assistance Monday, August 10-Friday, August 14, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily; Monday, August 17, 10 a.m.-noon; and Monday, August 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Thursday, August 13, 1 p.m.
Member Social: “Ice Cream Social”
Join your OLLI friends in the Reuter Center’s lower level to socialize! Grab an ice cream, renew your OLLI membership and parking, join Shared Interest Groups and register for fall courses.
RSVP for the ice cream social.
Friday, August 14, noon
Scholarship application deadline for CFS fall 2026 tuition (lottery registration)
Visit the Forms page to access the CFS Fall 2026 Scholarship Request form.
Friday, August 21, noon
Payment deadline for CFS fall 2026 tuition (lottery registration)
Registrations with an outstanding balance for CFS tuition after noon on (a) Friday, August 21 during lottery registration, or (b) Friday, September 18 during open registration, will be cancelled. Members may be able to re-register for tuition and dropped courses based on availability.
Friday, August 21, 5 p.m. | Death Café
Partner Program: “Death Café”
Death Café is an engaging gathering with storytelling and conversation about a topic that too often alienates people in our death-phobic culture. At Death Café, participants break into small groups of five or six people and discuss personal stories related to the death of loved ones; loss of jobs, relationships or marriages; or loss or death of parts of ourselves. These programs are facilitated by Karen Sanders, Greg Lathrop and Saïd Osio from Third Messenger. Learn more about Death Café by visiting the Death Café website, the Third Messenger website, or facebook.com/deathcafeasheville. If you have questions about meetings of Death Café at the Reuter Center, please contact Karen Sanders at 828-778-8882.
Friday, August 28-Sunday, August 30
Reuter Center and OLLI offices closed for the Paths to Creative Retirement workshop
Call us at 828-251-6140 or email us if you have any questions or concerns.
Friday, August 28, late afternoon
CFS fall 2026 schedules emailed to lottery participants
Lottery participants can also log into the online registration system starting Saturday, August 29 to view schedules.
Monday, August 31, 10 a.m.
CFS fall 2026 open registration begins
Log into the online registration system to view courses and to register. Volunteers will be available for walk-in registration assistance Monday, August 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
September
Tuesday, September 1
CFS spring 2027 course proposals open
Visit the Forms page to access the CFS Spring 2027 Course Proposal form. Instructors may choose to proposal a course on the term’s theme, “USA at 250: Revolution, Evolution, Innovation, Inspiration“; read more about the theme term.
Monday, September 14
Scholarship application deadline for CFS fall 2026 tuition (open registration)
Visit the Forms page to access the CFS Fall 2026 Scholarship Request form.
Tuesday, September 15, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wednesdays, September 16-November 11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Wednesday, November 18, 2-6 p.m.
OLLI Program: Leadership Asheville Seniors
Leadership Asheville Seniors—a learning and civic engagement program planned and led by its graduates and community members—provides a multifaceted view of Asheville and Buncombe County. Through discussions with community leaders and tours of Asheville and Buncombe County, newcomers and longtime residents alike can gain new perspectives and consider ways to contribute their diverse experiences and talents for the good of the community.
For more information, visit the Leadership Asheville Seniors page; to register for LAS 40, log into the online registration system.
Friday, September 18, 10 a.m.
OLLI Event: “New Member Welcome/Returning Member Refresher” (in-person + online)
Are you new to OLLI at UNC Asheville and the Reuter Center? Are you returning after being gone awhile? Do you just want to catch up on organizational developments, learn more about volunteering, figure out how things work and meet new people? Come learn about all that OLLI has to offer. Watch the OLLI Observer weekly e-newsletter for more information and how to RSVP.
Friday, September 18, noon
Payment deadline for CFS fall 2026 tuition (open registration)
Registrations with an outstanding balance for CFS tuition after noon on (a) Friday, August 21 during lottery registration, or (b) Friday, September 18 during open registration, will be cancelled. Members may be able to re-register for tuition and dropped courses based on availability.
Friday, September 18, noon
Last day to drop all CFS courses for a full refund
Visit the Forms page to access the CFS Fall 2026 Drop Request form.
Friday, September 18, 1 p.m.
College for Seniors Information Session: “Preparing to Be a Class Representative”
Have you signed up to be a class rep to support one or more of your College for Seniors instructors? We will review the role of these important classroom volunteers and practical matters such as how to work the lights and microphones, where to pick up and drop off attendance clipboards, how to check in course participants and when and where to get help if needed. This info session is especially geared towards new class reps, but experienced class reps are welcome to attend as well.
Register to attend in person.
Friday, September 18, 1 p.m.
College for Seniors Information Session: “Zoom Café” (online)
Are you planning to participate in an online or hybrid course, program or event? This info session is a great opportunity to learn basic skills and improve your experience of our video-conferencing software! We will review how to install and update the Zoom app on your device, log into a meeting, change your Zoom name and background, mute/unmute, post/respond in the Chat box, use the “raise hand” function and reactions, move into and out of breakout rooms, participate in polls and more. We will also leave plenty of time for your questions and to troubleshoot your device.
Register to attend online via Zoom.
Monday, September 21
First day of CFS fall 2026 term
Log into the online registration system to view courses and to register.
Monday, September 21
Last day to drop Osher Online courses for a full refund
Visit the Forms page to access the Osher Online Fall 2026 Drop Request form.
October
Friday, October 16, 4:30 p.m.
Member Social: “Fall Social”
Join your OLLI friends in the Reuter Center’s lower level to socialize! Enjoy a casual cookout style supper, drinks and music. Watch the OLLI Observer weekly e-newsletter for more information and how to RSVP.
Thursday, October 22, 2 p.m.
College for Seniors Information Session: “You Too Can Teach!” (in-person + online)
Are you interested in (or curious about) teaching a course at the College for Seniors? You may have never thought that you could be an OLLI instructor, but you too can teach! Our instructors run the gamut from retired teachers and professionals to those with deep knowledge of a certain topic. The common thread with all our instructors is passion for their subject matter and a desire to share it with peers. The process of becoming an instructor is not daunting. Current CFS instructors will introduce what teaching at OLLI is all about and demystify the process from having an idea for a course through creating a good proposal. All of your questions about teaching will be answered!
Register to attend in-person or online via Zoom.
November
Sunday, November 1
Last day to submit CFS spring 2027 course proposal
Visit the Forms page to access the CFS Spring 2027 Course Proposal form. Instructors may choose to proposal a course on the term’s theme, “USA at 250: Revolution, Evolution, Innovation, Inspiration“; read more about the theme term.
Friday, November 13
Last day of CFS fall 2026 term