Continuing the Connection: Emeriti/Retiree Centers on Campus

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe emeriti=retiree centers at two major research institutions that serve retired faculty, retired staff, and their spouse beneficiaries. These on-campus centers provide opportunities to cultivate retirees' connections to the campus community. Highlighted as possible models are 2 programs in different phases of development, 1 in a public and the other at a private university. Examples demonstrate how retired staff and faculty continue to bring value to the university, academe, and society. The article shows that a successful center is aided by many factors, primary among them: (a) senior-level administration fostering an appreciation of retirees as valued members of the campus community, (b) a dedicated departmental budget and mission focused solely on retirees, and (c) retiree involvement in governance and programming.

Structures and Strategies to Enhance Academic Retirement

“…They also thrive when there is a dedicated departmental budget and retiree involvement in the operations (Glazer, Redmon, & Robinson, 2005). Retiree centers thrive when senior administrators view retirees as current assets rather than past employees.…”

“…Retiree centers thrive when senior administrators view retirees as current assets rather than past employees. They also thrive when there is a dedicated departmental budget and retiree involvement in the operations (Glazer, Redmon, & Robinson, 2005).…”

Retirement, Collective Agreement, and Age Discrimination: Implications for the Higher Education Sector in the UK

“…This might involve the use of CRA to provide employment and career opportunities for younger generations of academics, which, for example, could be balanced by the creation of better facilities to enable retired academics to remain active in their discipline. For example, some universities in the USA where there is no mandatory retirement have successfully established so-called 'retiree's centres like the UC Berkley Retirement Centre that offers the opportunity to retired academics, as well as to other staff, to retain their connections with their institution by continuing to cany out research and to offer their expertise to teaching or to other activities that support their university's mission (Glazer et. al, 2005).…”