Contemporary Issues   

For decades, nuclear power has gotten a bad rap in popular culture, but actual data show that despite some high-profile accidents, few deaths have resulted. With climate change looming, new modular designs with advanced safety features and new applications make it worth a fresh look. Learn how modular nuclear power could help generate ammonia for fertilizer in rural Nebraska.

For decades, nuclear power has gotten a bad rap in popular culture, but actual data show that despite some high-profile accidents, few deaths have resulted. With climate change looming, new modular designs with advanced safety features and new applications make it worth a fresh look. Learn how modular nuclear power could help generate ammonia for fertilizer in rural Nebraska.

Understand the stages of dementia, potential treatment options, how to care for a loved one, and prepare for what comes next in your journey.

Severe weather comes to us through our senses, whether it’s the sound of thunder, the feel of high winds and driving rain, the view of storm clouds or the soreness in our joints when bad weather is predicted. Learn the details behind severe weather statistics, safety and terminology. Stories of historic storms and tornadoes will be shared, enhanced by many pictures and videos.

Severe weather comes to us through our senses, whether it’s the sound of thunder, the feel of high winds and driving rain, the view of storm clouds or the soreness in our joints when bad weather is predicted. Learn the details behind severe weather statistics, safety and terminology. Stories of historic storms and tornadoes will be shared, enhanced by many pictures and videos.

Discuss major foreign policy issues based on readings and video provided by the Foreign Policy Association. Class members may purchase the “Great Decisions Briefing Book” on-line at www.fpa. org and are encouraged to read materials prior to each class. We covered the first four topics during Term 3 and will cover the final four topics in Term 4. Each class consists of watching a half-hour video and then discussing the text provided by the FPA.

Discuss major foreign policy issues based on readings and video provided by the Foreign Policy Association. Class members may purchase the “Great Decisions Briefing Book” on-line at www.fpa. org and are encouraged to read materials prior to each class. We covered the first four topics during Term 3 and will cover the final four topics in Term 4. Each class consists of watching a half-hour video and then discussing the text provided by the FPA.

Research consistently finds that most people aged 50 and older want to stay in their homes and communities as long as possible. The AARP Home Fit session was created to help people stay in the homes they love by turning where they live into a “lifelong home,” suitable and safe for themselves and anyone in their household.

Gain an inside look at how Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) keeps the city moving. Explore how LTU manages over 410 traffic signals, intersection detection systems, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), detection cameras, and traffic monitoring for incident management. Learn about the Green Light Lincoln Initiative and its impact on economic and environmental improvements. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Signals and Sign Shop and the Brine Making Facility, offering a firsthand look at the operations that keep Lincoln’s streets safe and efficient.

Although Kansas lies outside the South, it holds a rich civil rights history. Explore two pivotal stories: the landmark Supreme Court case “Brown v. Board of Education,” centered on a young Black girl seeking to attend her neighborhood school in Topeka—now a national historic site—and the founding of Nicodemus by Black homesteaders. A descendant shares this history. Join OLLI members on a three-day trip to these significant sites.

Whether you intend to register for the trip or not, all OLLI members are welcome to attend this course.

Although Kansas lies outside the South, it holds a rich civil rights history. Explore two pivotal stories: the landmark Supreme Court case “Brown v. Board of Education,” centered on a young Black girl seeking to attend her neighborhood school in Topeka—now a national historic site—and the founding of Nicodemus by Black homesteaders. A descendant shares this history. Join OLLI members on a three-day trip to these significant sites.

Whether you intend to register for the trip or not, all OLLI members are welcome to attend this course.

Lincoln’s long-awaited new central library in the heart of downtown will open for service in 2028. Designed as a modern library with flexibility and space for community partners to complement library activities, the new library will provide traditional services and collections yet incorporate what is now expected in modern library design, function and sustainability. Walk through the virtual plans for the new facility and discover what will make this a world-class library and help transform O Street.

Lincoln’s long-awaited new central library in the heart of downtown will open for service in 2028. Designed as a modern library with flexibility and space for community partners to complement library activities, the new library will provide traditional services and collections yet incorporate what is now expected in modern library design, function and sustainability. Walk through the virtual plans for the new facility and discover what will make this a world-class library and help transform O Street.

Learn about the disease, changes to expect and how to care for someone on this journey.

When it comes to caring for loved ones, most families don’t have a plan until a crisis happens. Discover how to provide the best care for your loved ones and/or to provide vital information for your children to assist you should that need arise. Receive the tools to plan for future housing needs, caregiving considerations and financial planning for the cost of healthcare. Create a comprehensive plan that includes your home, health, finances, and wishes.

The following package of courses were previously recorded OLLI courses. Learn at your own pace, on your own time and at your convenience. Over 40 hours of programming is available for a single cost of $30. Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to the package of courses.

All programming originates from OLLI at UNL.

Braver Angels: Healing Our Democracy – Barbara Dewey (1 session)

The mission of Braver Angels, a national organization, is to heal the dramatic political divide afflicting our nation – not by trying to convince either side that it is wrong but by helping people learn to converse and even disagree in a respectful and civil manner. Learn how a group of concerned volunteers is working to form a Nebraska alliance of Braver Angels and how you can get involved.

Identity Theft: A Consumer Guide – Ryan Sothan (1 session)

Identity theft can affect anyone; learn how to fight back with knowledge and tools. Explore how to monitor credit, report suspicious activity, and use fraud alerts or credit freezes. Learn over a dozen real-world strategies to protect personal information, reduce risk, and respond effectively if compromised. Whether you're securing your finances, your family, or your peace of mind, get equipped with the confidence to stay one step ahead.

Landmark Supreme Court Cases: Free Speech and Press – John Bender (4 sessions)

The First Amendment may seem clear and absolute, but in fact, it is neither. What freedom of speech and the press mean has been the subject of several Supreme Court opinions. This class will examine eight major precedents in four areas: prior restraints, libel, dissent and symbolic expression These cases have shaped our contemporary understanding of freedom of expression.

Tech Basics for Everyday Life – Ryan Sothan (3 sessions)

Build your confidence with smartphones, tablets, and the internet. Learn essential skills to stay safe online, including how to block unwanted calls, shop and bank securely, and protect your credit. Explore common scams affecting Nebraskans and gain hands-on experience with practical tools. Whether reconnecting with loved ones or managing finances, gain the knowledge needed to thrive in today’s connected world.

Global & Regional Water Issues: Challenges and Solutions – Multiple Instructors (2 sessions)

OLLI Symposium – Sept 27, 2025 - Water is one of the most critical resources for sustaining life, agriculture, and economic development. Challenges such as scarcity, pollution, climate change, and equitable distribution continue to threaten water security worldwide and right here in Nebraska. National and local experts examine policies, conservation strategies, and scientific advancements aimed at securing water resources for future generations.

Contact and Conflict – Jeff Barnes (1 session)

More than three centuries of Nebraska’s history during the Plains Indian Wars are marked throughout the state by historical monuments. Explore these instances of “contact and conflict” between Native peoples and European Americans in Nebraska and how they are commemorated, from trading, treaties, war and reconciliation.

A Life Well-Lived: Your Legacy Plan – Kevin Orth and John Love (4 sessions)

This course offers a guided, introspective journey through your past, present, and future. Explore your life story, clarify personal wishes, and create a legacy of love and guidance. Your decisions will bring peace of mind to you and your loved ones, relieving them of difficult choices during emotional times and allowing them to focus on honoring your life and the memories you’ve shared.

Community in a Time of Crisis – Day Hefner (1 session)

While the phrase “unprecedented times” is the refrain we often hear to describe these days, the deep polarization and the challenge of forming a collective identity are by no means new to the church. Explore the struggles of the early church reflected in the Book of Acts and the letters of Paul as they wrestled with how to pull together Gentile and Judean, slave and free, women, men, and so on into a new community, forging a new communal identity in response to the ground-shaking new things God was doing.

Esports at UNL: Engaging Students in 2025 – Instructor: Ryan Tan (1 session)

Esports (short for “electronic sports”) is a rapidly growing sports industry with a multi-billion-dollar market value. Over 500 million people across the world watch or compete in e-sports. This number is projected to grow to 640 million. The varsity e-sports team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln competes with other Division 1 universities across the United States. Learn about this exciting new, popular sport at UNL.

Entrepreneurial Lawyering at Nebraska Law - Instructor: Brett Stohs (1 session)

At the Nebraska College of Law, nine clinical programs offer third-year law students the opportunity to represent clients before they graduate and become lawyers. Supervised by licensed attorney professors, students provide valuable legal services to clients without means to hire a private attorney. Brett Stohs started the Weibling Entrepreneurship Clinic in 2013 and has served over 500 startups, small businesses, and nonprofits. He shares his pedagogy and passion, providing a sampling of valuable experiential programs.

Child and Youth Advocacy in Out-of-Home Care - Dawn Rockey & Monika Gross (1 session)

Learn about CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused or neglected, truant and ungovernable children and youth in the juvenile court system and about the Foster Care Review Office (FCRO) for Nebraska. FCRO volunteers oversee the safety, permanence, and well-being of children in out-of-home care. CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of children in the court room and become a stable adult giving the child a fighting chance to gain a voice, achieve safety and stability and develop a sense of self-worth.

Contemporary Otoe-Missouria Lives Resilience – Christina Goodson (4 sessions)

This course focuses on contemporary Otoe-Missouria history post-removal to Indian Territory (1881-present), the survivance of Otoe-Missouria people and ways of life, and language revitalization and reclamation among the Otoe-Missouria and other Nebraska tribes. The course covers major U.S. Indian Policy such as the Dawes Act, Allotments, Termination, Indian Claims Commission, and Relocation.

Know Your Rights in Long-Term Care – Tami Barrett (1 session)

At some point, we or our loved ones may need long-term care. This course offers guidance from the Nebraska Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which advocates for the rights of residents in assisted living and skilled care facilities. Learn about state and federal laws that protect those rights, explore real-life scenarios, and gain tools to ensure quality care. Also learn how to connect with local resources and explore volunteer opportunities through the ombudsman program.

The University of Nebraska conducts an annual Rural Poll that provides interesting insights on rural Nebraskans and their opinions and attitudes about personal and community well-being, public services, economics, policy, and various other public issues. The results of the most recent 2025 survey efforts highlight the concerns among rural Nebraskans about personal and community well-being as well as a focus on confidence in institutions, trade, energy and agriculture, biosecurity and the bioeconomy, and algorithms and artificial intelligence.

The University of Nebraska conducts an annual Rural Poll that provides interesting insights on rural Nebraskans and their opinions and attitudes about personal and community well-being, public services, economics, policy, and various other public issues. The results of the most recent 2025 survey efforts highlight the concerns among rural Nebraskans about personal and community well-being as well as a focus on confidence in institutions, trade, energy and agriculture, biosecurity and the bioeconomy, and algorithms and artificial intelligence.

Explore Humanism as a non-theistic worldview and life-stance based on reason, science, ethics and human flourishing. Trace its history from the Renaissance through the Humanist Manifestos. Distinguish Secular Humanism from mere atheism and contemporary religious humanism. Through a Humanist lens, critically examine theistic arguments such as intelligent design and Pascal’s Wager. Learn about the instructor’s personal journey from a religion-curious atheist to an active humanist and engage in critical discussion.

Explore Humanism as a non-theistic worldview and life-stance based on reason, science, ethics and human flourishing. Trace its history from the Renaissance through the Humanist Manifestos. Distinguish Secular Humanism from mere atheism and contemporary religious humanism. Through a Humanist lens, critically examine theistic arguments such as intelligent design and Pascal’s Wager. Learn about the instructor’s personal journey from a religion-curious atheist to an active humanist and engage in critical discussion.

‘Votes for Women' was a three-generation battle nationally and in Nebraska where our foremothers' efforts included three statewide suffrage votes and Susan B. Anthony touring the state. Explore the women who led and created strategies nationally. Meet the Nebraska Suffs who spent 65 years fighting the antis with ever-changing tactics creating, in the end, a unanimous vote of our state Legislature to ratify the 19th amendment.

‘Votes for Women' was a three-generation battle nationally and in Nebraska where our foremothers' efforts included three statewide suffrage votes and Susan B. Anthony touring the state. Explore the women who led and created strategies nationally. Meet the Nebraska Suffs who spent 65 years fighting the antis with ever-changing tactics creating, in the end, a unanimous vote of our state Legislature to ratify the 19th amendment.

This course, part memoir, part travelogue, part history, gives an overview of Vietnam from its first settlers more than 4,000 years ago through conquests, colonialization, the Vietnam War, and the current period. Examine the War’s deep impact on both Vietnam and the U.S. The instructor lived in Saigon as a teenager from 1963-65 and returned recently, providing him with a unique perspective.

This course, part memoir, part travelogue, part history, gives an overview of Vietnam from its first settlers more than 4,000 years ago through conquests, colonialization, the Vietnam War, and the current period. Examine the War’s deep impact on both Vietnam and the U.S. The instructor lived in Saigon as a teenager from 1963-65 and returned recently, providing him with a unique perspective.

America can be described as a capitalistic social democracy. Income and wealth are foundational drivers in our economy, democracy, and society. Examine the concept of “American Wealth” and its implications for every resident. Several themes will be explored, including increasing American oligarchy empowered by wealth concentration, wealth concentration trends including the informative history of the Gilded Age, the dynamics of wealth concentration, the impacts on our economy, democracy and society, and likely antidotes.

America can be described as a capitalistic social democracy. Income and wealth are foundational drivers in our economy, democracy, and society. Examine the concept of “American Wealth” and its implications for every resident. Several themes will be explored, including increasing American oligarchy empowered by wealth concentration, wealth concentration trends including the informative history of the Gilded Age, the dynamics of wealth concentration, the impacts on our economy, democracy and society, and likely antidotes.

Trace the roots of antisemitism from antiquity to the present day. Learn about the long and dark history of antisemitism, including the Holocaust, and its modern implications.

Trace the roots of antisemitism from antiquity to the present day. Learn about the long and dark history of antisemitism, including the Holocaust, and its modern implications.