Do I need to be a member to take LLI courses?
Membership is required in order to take courses. Annual membership is $120. This does not include books, transportation, entrance fees, or special events fees, and allows a member to take an unlimited number of courses a semester.
Do I need to be retired to join LLI?
No. We are open to all adults who are interested in joining.
Can I join for half a year?
The LLI at SUNY New Paltz membership year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. A person may join at any time. A half year membership is available ($75).
What kinds of volunteer work can I do?
LLI members are encouraged to join any of our committees and to help plan courses, trips, set up luncheons, and other special events, make phone calls, do mailings, distribute catalogs, assist during classes, etc. Find a committee you like and sign up to help! As we are an all-volunteer organization, you can enhance your life and help us keep our costs down by volunteering.
What if I have an idea for a course?
Courses are developed in several ways. If you want to teach a course, please contact the curriculum committee and they can help you define and develop it. If there is a course you would like to see taught, please let us know, and we will try to find someone who is capable of teaching it.
Please bear in mind that there is no pay involved, but we do offer the opportunity to do something interesting and wonderful for an important community.
If none of the teachers are paid, why do we have to pay "so much" for membership?
Our annual membership fee of $120 is a great bargain! Most of the money goes to rental for off-campus facilities, photocopying, insurance, etc. Sometimes we contract out jobs that no one has volunteered to do or that no one has the capability of doing. By being a volunteer organization we have kept our costs down, but they cannot be totally eliminated.
Why are classes limited in size?
A size limit is necessary for several reasons. This may include the preference of the individual presenter, the size of available classrooms and fire codes.
Why are some courses by LOTTERY?
Registration of classes with a limit of 10 or fewer registrants is done by lottery. Because of the low number of people accepted and the high number of applicants, these classes would fill up on the first day of registration. The lottery method has proves to be more equitable.
When do I need to register for a course?
Registration begins as soon as the catalogs are distributed and is open ended. It is done on a first-come, first registered bases. Since classes fill up early, we recommend that you register as soon as possible.
Can I take as many courses as I want?
There is no limit to the number of courses you take a semester.
How long are the classes?
In person classes are 75 minutes long and online classes are 90 minutes long.
Classes are once a week for 4 or 8 weeks.
Why is membership limited to 55 and older?
The Lifetime Learning Institute of New Paltz is part of a national organization dedicated to the enrichment and broadening of the lives of the older population.
Why do we have classes at SUNY New Paltz where it is hard to find parking?
All LLIs must be affiliated with a college. In addition all of SUNYs services are free to LLI, including use of classrooms, audio-visual equipment, smart rooms and technical assistance.
Do I have to pay for parking at SUNY? (as of Jan 2019)
There is an annual $25 fee for a parking permit for SUNY NP campus (normally $60) the entire sum of which goes to SUNY NP.
All students, faculty, staff, and visitors who wish to park on the SUNY New Paltz campus must have a valid parking hangtag or visitor permit. Visitor permits are available in Wooster Hall in the Office of Student Accounts, WH Room 114. Visitor permits are also available at the park-and-pay machines located on Hawk Drive at the West entrance, the Route 32 parking lot, and the Main Elting Lot. These machines accept exact change or Credit Cards.
Is there an LLI office I can contact?
LLI/NP does not have a physical office. You can contact us via email at lifetime@newpaltz.edu or by leaving a message on our voice mail at (845) 257-2892.
Are the facilities used by LLI accessible?
Yes
