Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) are an important part of the OLLI at UNH experience, bringing members together around shared interests, activities and opportunities for connection. Because SIGs are member-led, everyone plays a role in creating a welcoming, respectful and safe environment.
The information below explains how SIGs operate, who may participate and what members and SIG leaders need to know. Select any section to review participation guidelines, costs, leadership responsibilities, safety procedures and information about starting or managing a SIG. For complete guidelines, there is a PDF printable version at the end.
Questions? Contact the OLLI office at 603-862-6554 or olli.office@unh.edu.
An OLLI at UNH Shared Interest Group (SIG) is a collection of members who share a common interest and wish to interact with their peers as active learners. Meeting on a recurring basis, SIGs provide new and enriching opportunities to form friendships with other members. SIGs complement the OLLI at UNH curriculum without competing with regular courses.
The origin of these interest groups is not critical, and their focus can be as diverse as one’s imagination. SIGs can be created for a wide array of purposes: as follow-up to courses, attached to a course as a kind of discussion session, as a sunset group that comes together for a relatively short term on a focused topic, and, most commonly, as a continuing group focused on a general topic or interest. SIGs are a member benefit that adds an interesting and dynamic addition to the OLLI program.
SIGs are intended for active OLLI at UNH members.
Guests and nonmembers may attend one SIG up to three times during the academic year, July through June. After three visits, they must become an OLLI member to continue participating.
Participants must:
- Follow OLLI policies and the OLLI at UNH Code of Conduct
- Complete required annual emergency contact and liability forms
- Participate respectfully and contribute to the group’s shared experience
- Determine whether an activity is appropriate for their abilities and circumstances
Most SIGs are free, but participants may be responsible for costs related to:
- Meeting space
- Admission or activity fees
- Materials or supplies
- Transportation
- Food or other personal expenses
Any costs should be communicated to participants in advance. OLLI may provide limited support for meeting-space expenses on a case-by-case basis, subject to available funding and approval by the OLLI director.
Any OLLI member may propose a new SIG. Members interested in starting a group should contact OLLI staff or their designated SIG coordinator for assistance.
The process includes:
- Developing the SIG’s purpose, format and proposed schedule
- Determining whether the group will meet in person or on Zoom
- Identifying a volunteer SIG leader
- Completing the online SIG proposal form
- Participating in an organizational meeting
- Receiving approval before formally launching the SIG
A proposed SIG may meet up to three times on a trial basis to determine member interest and commitment.
All meeting locations, rental expenses and agreements must be reviewed and approved in advance. University staff are responsible for negotiating and signing rental agreements.
What are the responsibilities of a SIG leader?
SIG leaders organize and support the group by:
- Establishing the meeting schedule, location and format
- Planning or coordinating activities
- Maintaining an up-to-date participant roster
- Communicating meeting information and changes
- Copying olli.office@unh.edu on SIG-related communications
- Tracking guest participation
- Submitting activity and attendance reports
- Following OLLI cancellation and emergency procedures
- Reporting accidents, concerns or significant changes to OLLI
- Ensuring required forms are completed
- Notifying OLLI of leadership, schedule or location changes
- Informing OLLI if the SIG takes a hiatus or ends
For in-person meetings, leaders must work with OLLI staff before committing to a location. Leaders may not negotiate or sign rental agreements on behalf of OLLI or UNH.
Safety should be considered when planning every SIG activity. Leaders should provide participants with enough information to decide whether an activity is appropriate for them, including expected weather, terrain, distance, physical demands and location-specific conditions.
SIG leaders should:
- Review OLLI emergency and incident-reporting procedures
- Have participant emergency information available
- Bring a first-aid kit when appropriate
- Carry a fully charged cellphone and confirm reception for outdoor activities
- Communicate cancellations or schedule changes promptly
In a medical emergency:
- Call 911.
- Do not move someone who may be seriously injured unless remaining in place creates an immediate danger.
- Remain with the person requiring assistance.
- Contact the participant’s emergency contact.
- Notify the OLLI office at 603-862-6554.
- When possible, send someone to meet and direct first responders.
If a SIG uses rented space, at least two weeks’ notice may be required to reschedule without losing the rental payment.
Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from SIG activities.
Members may voluntarily arrange carpools with one another. These arrangements are made independently of OLLI at UNH, and participants assume the risks associated with driving or riding with another member.
Because the transportation language has liability implications, I recommend having UNH review this shortened version before it is published.
SIGs do not have a required length of operation. A SIG may take a seasonal break, pause temporarily or end because of changing interests, completion of a topic or changes in volunteer leadership.
The SIG leader must notify participants and OLLI staff when a group changes leadership, changes its regular schedule or location, takes a hiatus or ends.
Contact the OLLI at UNH office:
- Phone: 603-862-6554
- Email: olli.office@unh.edu
