The
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.
Purpose of Lifelong
The most important function of Lifelong has been information
sharing. Those starting new programs find a wealth of experience
and advice from other members. Other goals are to:
- Develop strategies to involve retirees on campus as learners,
mentors, advocates, sharers of their life experiences.
- Advocate for policy and programs that address the educational
needs and interests of retirees.
- Conduct research on the educational needs and interests of
retirees and their attitudes about and habits of volunteering.
- Inform the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois
Community College Board about the trends and challenges of retirees.
Useful Links
What are the Educational
Interests of Older Adults?
Educational Needs of
Older Adults
Older Adults Offer Their
Views of Lifelong Learning
Report to Governor's Summit
on Aging
Officers and the Executive
Committee 2004-2006
Chair: Anita Revelle
Illinois State University
Institute for Learning in Retirement
309-438-2818
arrevel@ilstu.edu
Past Chair: Sherry Sparks
John Wood College
Continuing Education
Members-at-Large
Cheryl Barber
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Personal and Professional Enrichment Programs
Mike Shore, Director
Highland Community College
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
Mayuko Sterziner
Heartland Community College
Continuing Education
Background and History
The adage, "it isn't over 'til it's over" is
the basis for the widespread interest of retirees in growth--mental,
social, and physical. Retirees speak dynamically about learning
and new courses that contribute to their health, independence,
and joy of life. Research shows a correlation between educational
attainment, social involvement, and the overall quality of retirement.
At the turn of the 20th century, approximately
4 percent of the United States population was over age sixty-five.
Today, that percentage has climbed to 13 percent, and by 2030
is projected to be 20 percent. A closer look at the changing population
in Illinois points to the most significant growth, 40 percent,
in the population ages 50-64. Clearly, the number of older students
will increase dramatically, so the question is, how should we
prepare?
In 1989 the Illinois Community College Board
conducted a survey to determine interest in programs and services
for older adults. The recommendations of the survey pointed to
two common themes: the retired population is growing: retirees
are significant assets to campuses. A planning group was convened,
and in February 1992, Lifelong was established to give coordinators
of older learner programs an opportunity to share information
and programmatic trends. In 1995, universities joined the coalition.
In 2007, Lifelong will celebrate its 15th year.
Assembly and Meeting Topics
Lifelong meets twice a year to discuss current trends, share
programming ideas, and compare concerns and solutions. Some of
the meeting topics include, marketing, foundation funding, educational
travel, disability requirements, long term care, demographic changes,
technology, research, intergenerational programs, service learning,
popular courses, and more.
Membership Members of Lifelong are coordinators of older learner
and service programs on community college and university campuses
in Illinois. Community colleges, colleges, universities, educational
agencies, and retiree organizations are welcome.
Membership currently includes representatives from 25 community
colleges and 7 universities. For information on becoming a member,
call the Illinois Community College Board, 217-785-0123 or the
Intergenerational Initiative, 618-453-1186.
Purpose of Campus Programs on Learning and Service:
- Create a welcoming environment for retirees on campuses
- Provide educational programming for retirees that addresses
their interests and needs.
- Involve retirees in campus life as mentors, guest lecturers,
and in other learning and service opportunities.
- Establish a positive relationship between retirees and higher
education.
What's New?
Presidents Council Features
Panel on the Importance of Retirees to Community Colleges |
Community College presidents may disagree
on who has the best college and most brilliant students,
but they all agree on one thing-that older adults bring
extraordinary gifts to campus. A panel during the Illinois
Public Community College Council of Presidents featured
a verbal ovation of involving retirees in education. William
Simpson, President, John Wood Community College discussed
the ways that older Illinoisans contribute to education,
particularly through their RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteers).
Thomas Schmidt, President, Carl Sandburg College, said that
he is proud of their older learner programs and welcomes
older people on their campuses. Anita Revelle, Illinois
State University and chair of Lifelong, a statewide coalition
of older learner programs in higher education, gave an overview
of the goals for Lifelong, and Jane Angelis, Director, Intergenerational
Initiative provided a preview of the Retiree Volunteer Program,
a new project that will have a statewide launch in December.
Members of the Presidents Council offered
their ideas. Christine J. Sobek, President, Waubonsee Community
College praised the elders who come on their campus to learn
and contribute their time. Geoffrey Obrzut, Illinois Community
College Board recalled the impressive contributions of older
adults at Triton College.
When Council President Jon Astroth was
asked, "What is your advice to presidents on involving retirees
on campus?" he said, "Do so at every opportunity. In fact,
seek out ways to involve this population in campus life
and to provide programs for them. They are taxpayers who
often no longer have family members enrolled in public schools.
Thus, they may not value the community college unless they
become personally involved with one. Once involved, they
are often some of the strongest advocates of the college.
An "intergenerational college" is a wonderfully rich learning
environment. |
Institutional Members and Sponsors
The Lifelong Coalition meets twice each year
to share information about involving older persons in educational
programs and in service opportunities. The organizational representatives
are Preston Morgan (ICCB), and Jane Angelis (Intergenerational
Initiative/SIU Carbondale).
Membership, as listed by the Lifelong Directory,
includes information about older-adult learning programs in the
following community colleges and universities.
Bradley
University
Carl Sandburg College
City Colleges of Chicago
College of Lake County
College of DuPage
Danville Area College
Harper College
Heartland Community Colleges
Highland Community College
Illinois Central College
Illinois State University
John A. Logan College
Joliet Junior College
Kaskaskia College
Kankakee Community College
Kishwaukee College
Lewis and Clark College
Lincoln Land Community College
McHenry Community College |
Moraine Valley
Community College
Northwestern University
Oakton Community College
Parkland College
Prairie State College
Rend Lake College
Richland Community College
Rock Valley College
Sauk Valley Community College
Shawnee Community College
Southeastern Illinois College
Southwestern Illinois College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Triton College
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Waubonsee Community College
John Wood Community College
Western Illinois University |
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