Northwestern's special program was honored for its superiority in terms of creativity, talent and dedication to the field of older adult programming. Current participants range in age from their mid-50s to early 90s. There are 371 members in Evanston and 168 in Chicago. They study, discuss, learn, argue, challenge and support each other during seminar-style study groups. They also shape their own curriculum and determine their own direction.
Members have neither expert instructors nor lectures.
Study groups are built on the premise that each member of the group is an active participant in his or her learning and each is responsible for taking a turn to facilitate discussion. Members conduct additional research into subjects using the University Library and computers in order to enrich discussion within their groups. Passivity is discouraged. Northwestern is among a handful of similar programs that are based on peer learning and which include Harvard, The New School for Social Policy, McGill, and American University.