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On October 11, a brainstorming session called Aging is an Asset, featured higher education leaders and retirees to discuss a future where one of every 4 people will be over 60. The Center for Intergenerational Leadership developed the session that met at Heartland Community College in Normal. A group of presidents, vice presidents, deans, lifelong-learning coordinators, and retirees put their heads together about how higher education and older Illinoisans can benefit.
Aging is an Asset
The graying of Illinois will bring
benefits to higher education
The meeting chair and member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Dr. Elmer Washington, called the meeting to order by emphasizing the importance of communication. At the end of the day, the 37 participants set in motion recommendations that rely on a sleek system of communication. The system clearly defines the possibilities and potential for a close relationship between retirees and higher education.
Charles Johnson, director of the Illinois Department on Aging, said that the media are beginning to ask questions about the impact of a growing retiree population. And according to Maturing in America, a National Association of Area Agencies on Aging report, communities are not prepared.
Senator Ed. Maloney (District 18 – Chicago) said that in the General Assembly, everyone has priorities but the aging of the population and the potential for retirees to foster education crosses all issues.
Marilyn Hennessy, president, Retirement Research Foundation spoke about the image of aging as changing from one of deficit to one of productivity. “The boomers are changing everything.”
The discussions ranged from how retirees can return to campus as tutors, mentors, guest lecturers and can be the foundation for an infrastructure of retiree involvement. Quality of life issues were also discussed. Jana Edge, Senior Scholars at Illinois State University and Jolene Wiegard, Richland Community College, spoke about the changes in retirement, particularly the self image, when one is no longer attached to a work situation.
The Aging is an Asset Leadership Team will produce a White Paper outlining goals for a three-year plan on community college and university campuses that will result in an infrastructure of retiree involvement throughout Illinois. Two additional brainstorming sessions will be held in 2007, one to highlight P-20 education and the second, Communities.
The event was sponsored by Center for Intergenerational Leadership, SIU Carbondale, Illinois Board of Higher Education, Council of University Presidents, Council of Community College Presidents, State Universities Annuitants Association, Illinois Department on Aging, Illinois Community College Board, and the Illinois State Board of Education.
Aging is an Asset Leadership Team
Karen Hunter Anderson, Illinois Community College Board, Jane Angelis, Center for Intergenerational Leadrship, SIUC, Jonathan Astroth, Heartland Community College, Cheryl Barber, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Mary Bates, Waubonsee Community College, Mary Beastall, University of Illinois, Nancy Burrows, Triton College, Keri Burton
Central Illinois Agency on Aging, Inc., Meredith Byers, Illinois Education Association, John Dunn, Southern Illinois University, Jana Edge, Illinois State University, Larry Frank, Illinois Education Association, Al Harderson, Joliet Jr. College, Mabel Hayes, John Logan Community College, Tom Heinrich, College of Lake County, Marilyn Hennessy, Retirement Research Foundation, Kathleen Holden-Pecknold, UIUC, Charles Johnson, Illinois Department on Aging, Judy Jozaitis, Triton College, Rowena R. Klein-Robarts, Joliet Jr. College, Brent Knight, Morton College,Thomas Laue, LifeTimes, Chicago,Terry Ludwig, Moraine Valley Community College, Senator Ed Maloney, Chicago 18th District, Don Naylor, State Universities Annuitants Association, Russ Marrineau, HURRAH, District 203, Naperville, Chad Murphy, Spoon River College, Bill Naegele, IL Community College Board, Alberta Newman, Illinois State University, Michael O’Donnell, East Central IL Area Agency on Aging, Anita Revelle, Illinois State University, Margaret Plaskas, Waubonsee Community College, Tom Schmidt, Carl Sandburg College, Susan Solberg, Prairie State College, Anthony Traxler, SIU Edwardsville, Elmer Washington, Illinois Board of Higher Education, and Jolene Wiegard, Richland Community College
Background
Aging is an Asset is a project that highlights the importance of retirees to education and presents the opportunities for education in an aging world. The project was initiated by the Center for Intergenerational Leadership, the Presidents and Chancellors of universities and community colleges, and the State Universities Annuitants Association (a group of retirees from higher education) in cooperation with the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College Board, the State Board of Education, and Lifelong (an organization of older learners programs).
One of the recommendations from the Senate Forum on Intergenerational Leadership, held on November 1, 2005, was to develop plans on each campus on how retirees continue to be involved as lifelong learners, volunteers, and in myriad ways that redefine retirement as a time to be involved. It is a win/win proposition. We have a potential pool of volunteers for education––retirees. We have resources that can benefit elders and at the same time provide learning experiences for students at universities and community colleges.
Progress
In December, CEOs from education, retirement, and aging
organizations met at the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The
goal was to discuss the potential issues that can provide mutual
benefits for all levels of education and the older generation. On February 27,
2006, the second meeting focused on retirees and
higher education.
Clearinghouse on Best Practices for Serving Retirees
The clearinghouse is based on the talents and expertise of retirees
and the resources to enhance their quality of life. Through the
clearinghouse, a database of best practices will establish models
related to serving older adults, such as housing, wellness programs,
retirement and financial planning, lifelong learning, and myriad
ways that reflect the value higher education has for retirees. Based
on an inventory of universities and community colleges regarding
retirees, the clearinghouse will also contain information on
intergenerational programs, research and best practices as well as
projects, curriculum, and service-learning projects connecting
students and retirees. Last, the clearinghouse will provide retiree
expertise, skills, and talents.
Click here to read more
Lifelong: A Coalition of Older Learner Programs
Lifelong is an organization comprised of community college and
university educators, who provide educational programs and service
opportunities for retirees. Lifelong was established by the Illinois
Community College Board in February 1992 to give coordinators of
older learner programs an opportunity to share information and
programmatic trends. In 1995, universities joined the coalition. The
group comes together twice each year to discuss programs for older
learners. Click here to read more
Illinois Retiree Volunteer Program
Reinventing retirement won’t happen as a top-down development
project. It will happen on campuses when retirees are invited to get
involved--like Mary Simon, a 90-year old who believes passionately
in the importance of education. Through her Find Five program she
has recruited nearly 60 retirees for the schools in only a year. If
we multiply Mary Simon times 100, the educational system would
experience an influx of mentors and tutors. Superintendents and
presidents say “Bring them on.”
Key to the development of an infrastructure for volunteering in
education is organization and leadership. Schools and colleges need
some type of organization to accommodate volunteers. Higher
education needs a sample of best practices to develop educational
programs that target learning for students and retirees.
Gerontology and Learning about Aging
Retirees have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can enrich
the educational experience of students.
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