THE OFFICE OF TEACHING INNOVATION AND DIGITAL EDUCATION
The Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education is expanding the possibilities of lifelong learning. Through The Rising Tide 2.0 Capital Campaign, the generosity of our donors has strengthened OTIDE’s ability to open doors, remove barriers and create meaningful educational opportunities for learners at every stage of life.
Campaign support has expanded scholarships and educational grant programs, strengthened innovative programming and provided resources that help learners pursue their goals and discover new possibilities. These investments have made an immediate difference for students while strengthening OTIDE’s ability to serve learners across Alabama and the nation.
The impact of The Rising Tide 2.0 extends far beyond the classroom. It is reflected in students who are empowered to pursue an education, in programs that reach more learners and in lives changed through the power of learning. We are grateful to our donors for helping OTIDE build a future where lifelong learning is more accessible, innovative and transformative for all.
ASSOCIATE PROVOST MESSAGE
As we reflect on the conclusion of The University of Alabama’s Rising Tide 2.0 Capital Campaign, I am reminded that the true measure of philanthropy is not simply what we build or fund. It is what we make possible for people.
Within the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education, that impact can be seen across a lifetime of learning.
For students like Brenna McReath, UA Early College opened the door to begin a college journey while still in high school. It was an opportunity to build confidence, earn college credit and prepare for what comes next. Scholarship support helps make that experience more accessible, giving ambitious students the resources to take that first step and the confidence to look further ahead.
For Gary and Mary Ann Hankins, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at The University of Alabama offered a different kind of beginning. Through OLLI, they have continued to pursue their curiosity later in life, build meaningful friendships and share their own knowledge and experiences with a community of people who agree that learning never ends.
Their stories mark different points along the educational journey. Yet both reflect the same powerful idea: when we create access to learning, we create possibilities for people to grow.
That is the impact of private support. It opens doors that might otherwise remain closed. It expands access, removes barriers and creates experiences that can shape lives in ways both immediate and lasting. And as those individuals grow, so does the impact they carry forward into their families, communities and professions.
As we celebrate all that the Rising Tide 2.0 has made possible, I am deeply grateful to the donors and friends who have invested in OTIDE and in the people we serve. Your generosity strengthens programs, supports learners and extends the reach of The University of Alabama far beyond the boundaries of a traditional classroom.
The campaign may be ending, but the opportunities created through your generosity will continue for years to come. They will live on in the students who move forward with greater confidence, in the adult learners who continue to discover and connect, and in the countless lives touched by their experiences. Thank you for believing in and being a part of the OTIDE mission of lifelong learning.
Dr. Robert Hayes
Associate Provost
Associate Provost, Robert Hayes
Associate Provost, Robert Hayes
THE IMPACT OF RISING TOGETHER
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDES
STEPPING STONE TO THE FUTURE
It’s hard not to smile when given the opportunity to speak about one’s accomplishments. Brenna McReath’s presence radiates with the confidence that UA Early College helped her gain.
As a rising senior at Hartselle High School in Morgan County, Brenna knew from an early age that if there’s an opportunity to get ahead, don’t hesitate to take the leap. A four-year varsity athlete, a school ambassador and a member of the Medical Academy Program and HOSA, getting a jump on success has been part of the plan all along.
UA Early College helped her continue her forward momentum by letting her take college courses while she was still in high school. Balancing her educational achievements and competitive athletics gave Brenna an early glimpse into the college experience. Now with 26 credit hours under her belt and a 4.0 GPA, it’s hard to argue Brenna isn’t prepared.
“This is one of the stepping stones. Being able to save whenever I can – that’s a huge deal for me and my family.”
“I feel like I know what to expect – it helps me be more confident because I know I can balance it,” Brenna said, when asked about her decision to start college courses two years before most students begin to consider the option.
UA Early College has helped Brenna take the first step in her dreams of becoming a physician assistant, and with many undergraduate classes already completed, PA school is right around the corner.
Brenna appreciates the help the Richard H. and Barbara J. Smith Early College Endowed Scholarship has provided for her future.
“It does release that financial burden,” she said.
Brenna McReath
Brenna McReath
Many families worry about paying for higher education, whether now or later. Richard and Barbara Smith, active members of OTIDE’s Board of Visitors, want to help ensure college is financially accessible, and their endowed scholarship provides support for students like Brenna in UA Early College.
The Smiths believe in the mission of UA Early College, as do Brenna and her family.
“It’s one of the stepping stones,” Brenna said.
With years of study behind her and more ahead, she looks to the future knowing more than she did before, with the ambition she’s had all along.
When enough people invest in the future of others, those stepping stones become a pathway for all those willing to take the journey.
MARTIN ESTABLISHES ENDOWED SUPPORT FUND FOR OLLI
For almost 20 years, the member-led Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at The University of Alabama has provided mature adults with social, educational, travel and leadership opportunities. The organization has over 1,000 members annually and has offered lifelong learning and socialization opportunities to hundreds of students in Alabama.
OLLI’s volunteer-driven model lets retired UA faculty, professionals and community experts share their knowledge and experience. Current University of Alabama faculty also teach OLLI courses, engaging with eager, interested learners. The organization is designed for people over 50, but open to all. OLLI’s reach is multi-generational, with membership including some members’ children and grandchildren.
The OLLI at UA community is vibrant, enthusiastic and effusive about the program. Members Gary and Mary Ann Hankins have embraced OLLI as an opportunity to learn from and teach others while pursuing their own interests. Mary Ann, who enjoys classes in travel, arts and crafts, cooking and photography, joined OLLI classes 17 years ago while their children were in school. Gary, a former nurse anesthetist who favors history, finance and science classes, joined in 2023 after retiring.
For the couple, OLLI offers more than classes – it provides a place for people to stay engaged.
“There are health benefits of not only learning new things, but socially being active with other people,” Mary Ann said. “Plus, it is just fun.”
Private support is needed for so many seniors to have access to OLLI at UA. Gift funds provide scholarships and travel assistance. Other named endowments, like the Dot Martin Endowed Support Fund for OLLI, help with expenses such as speaker fees, enhancing OLLI’s technology and more.
“OLLI gives people the opportunities to do the things they normally wouldn’t have the
opportunity to do, learn things they normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn, and
see people they normally don’t have the opportunity to see.”
“The feeling of giving back is like no other. The smiles and laughter from members bring [so] much joy to be a part of that,” Dot said.
Gifts like these strengthen the bond between OLLI and the community it serves, supporting the missions of both.
The Hankinses have expanded their roles within OLLI by working from both sides of the podium. Gary teaches classes on anesthesia and nursing history, and Mary Ann helps create his presentations. The exchange benefits everyone.
“It is an outlet in so many ways for people,” Mary Ann said. “It provides a lot for a wide variety of people.”
OLLI is an important part of its members’ lives. And through the generosity of donors, OLLI can continue creating that space of opportunity for others.