Become an Instructor

People become instructors for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Western Michigan University for a number of reasons. Perhaps they were once teachers or professors and miss being in front of the classroom. Or maybe they have had an interesting career or family life and want to share some of what they know with the community. Whatever the reason, the Institute is always interested in new instructors bringing new learning opportunities.

To become an instructor, simply fill out the online Course Proposal Form below. The form requires information about you, about the content of the course you'd like to teach, and operational details about the course (recommended class size, location, room requirements, etc.). If you have any questions, contact the Institute.

Proposal Submission Deadlines:

Course Proposal Form questions include:

• Your semester preference (please note the deadlines for submission)
• Contact Information (Name, address, phone, email)
• Whether you will be having an additional instructor or guest speaker
• A proposed course title
  • An eye-catching course title is descriptive but concise.
  • Please refrain from using "all caps" or ellipses.
• A detailed course description (limit 100 words)
  • Your course description will be used in the course catalog. Please write a short paragraph – a minimum of three lines and a maximum of seven lines – detailing what a participant can expect from your course experience.
  • If participants are expected to purchase course materials, include information on how much they will cost and where they can be obtained.
  • Do not use "all caps," bullet points, or ellipses.
  • We reserve the right to edit descriptions at our discretion and will make every effort to communicate substantive changes to you.
• An instructor bio
  • Your biography will be used in the course catalog to introduce you to our learners. Please write a short paragraph – a minimum of three lines and a maximum of seven lines – about yourself in the third person.
  • Include educational background, teaching experience, special training or qualifications in the subject area to be taught and any other relevant information.
  • Do not use "all caps," bullet points, or ellipses.
  • We reserve the right to edit descriptions at our discretion and will make every effort to communicate substantive changes to you.
• Modality (online, in-person, or hybrid)
• Your maximum class size
• All instructional and classroom technology needs
• Required instructional materials
• Your schedule preference (days, times, number of sessions and any dates you would prefer)
• Whether you will need a parking permit

Note: The form must be completely filled out before you submit, and you cannot save a partially completed form for later use. Please review the form before you begin to fill it out to ensure that you have all appropriate information at hand.

Click the button below to download the Instructor Handbook.

Instructor handbook