Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE)

What Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE) does

Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE) is a member-directed, non-profit lifelong learning program for older adults, founded in 1993 and operated as part of Assumption University's School of Graduate and Professional Studies in Worcester, Massachusetts. The organization delivers over 50 courses annually across subjects including literature, science, music, art, and history, with each course typically structured as five 90-minute sessions offered both in-person on the Assumption campus (including at Kennedy Hall 119 and La Maison) and synchronously online via Zoom, with class recordings retained for 30 days. Beyond academic courses, WISE operates an extracurricular ecosystem comprising Movie Club, Fiction and Non-Fiction Book Clubs, a Memoir Writers Workshop, the WISE Forum discussion group, and Special Interest Groups including an AI SIG and a Supreme Court SIG, some of which are held at off-campus venues such as the Worcester Art Museum.

The business model is subscription-led with diversified ancillary revenue streams. Core monetization is through tiered memberships: a $365 full-year membership (June 1 to May 31, covering both Fall and Spring semesters) and a $185 half-year membership (Fall or Spring only), each enabling unlimited course registration, committee participation, voting rights, and access to all clubs and SIGs. Secondary streams include a $50 single 5-week course purchase (also available as a gift option), a $10 gift voucher redeemable against any class or event, scholarships for affordability, $15 campus parking stickers, and donations raised through an annual fund, wine tastings, restaurant give-backs, gift card raffles, ice cream socials, and a Development Committee that pursues grants. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: prospective members are recruited through senior centers and +55 community presentations, local cable TV appearances (Wellness Wave on Leicester TV, Seniors on the Move on Westborough TV), a weekly email newsletter, a monthly WISE Bulletin, and a member referral program that credits referrers $20 toward future membership.

Technology footprint is intentionally lightweight. WISE runs on the Neon One CRM/website platform (assumptionwise.app.neoncrm.com) for membership, donation, and gift shop transactions, with Google OAuth for sign-in and Zoom as the synchronous video-conferencing layer for online courses. No proprietary software, mobile app, or API is disclosed. The organization is governed by a Director (Rebecca "Becki" Perry), a Program Support Specialist (Jill Nason), and a member-elected WISE Council of three at-large members plus standing committee representatives, operating on roughly five staff and a volunteer committee structure.

Name

Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE)

Legal name

Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE)

Website

https://assumptionwise.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WISE is a member-directed, non-profit lifelong learning program for older adults, operating within Assumption University in Worcester, MA since 1993. It delivers 50+ annual courses across literature, science, art, and history via Zoom and in-person formats, funded primarily by $365 annual memberships and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult and Continuing Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAMAA

Lifelong Learning Institutes (Osher/OLLI-style) & Senior Academies

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Learning for Seniors (Third Age / Lifelong Learning Institutes)

SECONDARYEDAAAMAD

Online & Hybrid Senior Learning Platforms

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Learning for Seniors (Third Age / Lifelong Learning Institutes)

SECONDARYEDAAAEAJ

Senior/Third-Age Lifelong Learning Institutes

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

SECONDARYEDAAAMAC

University- or College-Affiliated Senior Learning Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Learning for Seniors (Third Age / Lifelong Learning Institutes)

Keywords

• Senior education programs
• Lifelong learning courses
• Adult continuing education
• Peer learning community
• Member-directed learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: WISE generates primary revenue through membership fees. Full-year membership costs $365 covering Fall and Spring semesters; Half-year membership is $185 for one semester. Members can attend unlimited courses per session.
2. Individual Course Fees: Non-members or gift recipients can purchase single 5-week courses for $50 each. This provides access to specific courses without full membership.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fund campaigns, wine tasting fundraisers, restaurant give-back events, gift card raffles, and ice cream socials. Grants are also pursued through the Development Committee.
4. Gift Shop: Sale of gift vouchers ($10) and membership gift packages through an online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WISE is a member-directed lifelong learning program for older adults that provides over 50 peer-led academic courses per year, delivered both online via Zoom and in-person on the Assumption University campus. Members also gain access to extracurricular clubs, special interest groups, committee participation, and unlimited course registration per semester. The program operates under a peer-learning model with no tests or grades, priced at $365 for full-year or $185 for half-year membership.

Product overview

WISE (Worcester Institute for Senior Education) is a lifelong learning program for older adults at Assumption University, offering a membership-based model with tiered options (Full-Year at $365 and Half-Year at $185). The core offering includes over 50 academic courses per year in subjects like literature, science, music, art, and history, delivered via Zoom (online) or in-person on campus. Membership also includes access to extracurricular clubs (Movie Club, Fiction Book Club, Non-Fiction Book Club, Memoir Writing Workshop, WISE Forum) and Special Interest Groups (Supreme Court SIG, AI SIG). Add-on products include gift vouchers and single course purchases. The program operates on a peer-learning model where members create, coordinate, and participate in courses without tests or grades.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WISE Full-Year Membership Annual membership covering Fall and Spring semesters (June 1 to May 31) priced at $365, allowing unlimited course registration, committee participation, voting rights, and access to all WISE clubs and events. Targeted at older adults seeking lifelong learning and community engagement.
• WISE Half-Year Membership Six-month membership covering either Fall or Spring semester priced at $185, providing access to courses, clubs, and member benefits for one academic session. Targeted at older adults who want a shorter commitment than the full-year membership.
• WISE Academic Courses Over 50 courses offered annually in literature, science, music, art, history and other topics. Courses are typically five 90-minute sessions, available online via Zoom or in-person on the Assumption University campus, with no tests or grades. Targeted at WISE members and older adult learners.
• WISE Single 5-Week Course Individual course purchase option priced at $50, valid for one online (Zoom) or in-person course during Fall or Spring sessions. Targeted at non-members or gift recipients who want to access a specific WISE course without full membership.
• WISE Gift Voucher $10 gift vouchers that can be applied toward any WISE class or event of the recipient's choosing. Targeted at individuals purchasing gifts for friends or family members interested in WISE programs.
• WISE Movie Club Monthly social club presenting free movies on the Assumption University campus with post-screening discussions and free popcorn and candy. Targeted at WISE members interested in film and social engagement.
• WISE Fiction Book Club Book club meeting five to six times yearly to discuss fiction books selected by members, held on the Assumption University campus. Targeted at WISE members who enjoy reading fiction and group discussion.
• WISE Non-Fiction Book Club Book club meeting five to six times yearly to discuss nonfiction books ranging from sciences to history to biography and humanities. Targeted at WISE members who enjoy reading nonfiction and group discussion.
• WISE Online Memoir Writing Workshop Ongoing online workshop using Zoom breakout rooms for peer feedback on memoir writing, open to members year-round. Targeted at WISE members interested in writing and receiving peer feedback on personal narrative work.
• WISE Supreme Court Special Interest Group Special interest group that follows Supreme Court oral arguments, decisions, and related topics through discussion meetings held over Zoom. Targeted at WISE members interested in U.S. jurisprudence and constitutional issues.
• WISE AI Special Interest Group Special interest group exploring artificial intelligence topics, tools, and implications across education, healthcare, technology and other areas. Targeted at WISE members interested in AI and its broader societal impact.
• WISE Forum Weekly discussion group meeting Wednesdays at Hagan's Cafe for members to discuss important life issues and build friendships. Targeted at WISE members seeking regular social interaction and structured discussion.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Assumption UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993WISE is an integral part of Assumption University's School of Graduate and Professional Studies. The university provides physical facilities (classrooms, library, dining hall, recreation center), administrative support, campus police services, and institutional credibility. WISE benefits from university infrastructure while contributing to the campus community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement (HILR): HILR is a Harvard-affiliated member-led lifelong learning program for older adults offering non-credit courses, study groups, and special events. It mirrors WISE in member-directed governance, peer-led pedagogy, university campus delivery, and senior-skewing demographic.
• OASIS National (Older Adult Service and Information System): OASIS is a national nonprofit network offering educational programs, classes, and social engagement opportunities for older adults through local affiliate sites. Same target demographic and educational mission; structurally a broader network peer to WISE's member-led community model.
• Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) National Network: OLLI is the largest network of university-affiliated lifelong learning programs for adults 50+, operating at more than 125 universities. WISE is structurally an OLLI-equivalent program at Assumption University — same peer-learning model, same senior demographic, same membership/fee structure — making it a near-twin peer.
• Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning at University of San Francisco: The Fromm Institute is a University of San Francisco-based, member-directed lifelong learning program for adults 50+ offering peer-taught liberal arts courses without tests or grades. It is a direct functional twin of WISE in mission, structure, and host-institution model.
• Beacon Hill Seminars: Beacon Hill Seminars is a Boston-area, member-driven adult learning community offering peer-taught non-credit courses to retirees and older adults. It is a regional direct peer — same New England geography, same peer-led pedagogy, same membership model — and is the closest comparable in size and structure to WISE.
• Encore Learning (Reston, VA): Encore Learning is a Virginia-based nonprofit offering peer-led lifelong learning classes, study groups, and special interest groups for adults 50+. Same member-driven model, same course catalog format, same senior demographic; directly comparable to WISE's member council and SIG structure.

Broad incumbents

• Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel): Road Scholar is the largest and best-established US provider of educational travel and learning programs for older adults. It serves the same demographic but operates at national scale with a travel-centric delivery model rather than a local university-anchored membership model — a broader incumbent in the same overall space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wise-assumption

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE)