Higher ed retirees’ inaugural conference in October

By Susan Williams

Torres-Gil

AROHE is a newly formed international organization to address new models of retirement in higher education. Housing often is marketed to university and college retirees in some models and in others, university resources may be utilized to enhance retirement living.

The conference will present a number of plenary sessions, forums and opportunities for networking on topics such as the advantages of strong emeriti/faculty and staff retirement organizations on campus, programs that enhance social and intellectual life in retirement years, organizational strategic planning for campus and community activities, identifying and accessing funding resources for establishing, and strengthening campus retirement organizations.

Three featured speakers headline the event. Fernando Torres-Gil, associate dean and professor in the School of Public Policy and Social Research at the University of California at Los Angeles, and formerly assistant secretary for aging in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, will discuss “Population Aging: Predictions and Future Trends.” Victor Regnier, a professor of architecture and gerontology at the University of Southern California and a consultant on retirement housing, will address “Choices in the Design and Conceptualization of University Retirement Housing,” and Eugene Bianchi, professor emeritus of religion at Emory University and first vice president of AROHE, will speak on “The Creativity Two-Step in Later Life.”

According to Susan Eklund, associate dean of the faculties at IU and an expert on issues of aging, the emergence of this organization is consistent with the trends of increased population aging and attention to enhancing vitality and productivity during the retirement years. Many institutions of higher education sponsor groups, clubs and organizations for retired faculty and staff, she said, and these exist for the purpose of creating opportunities for for service, social affiliation and education related to financial and health aspects of retirement.

Bloomington has frequently appeared on lists of cities that are desirable retirement locations, and apparently, in no small part, that is due to the presence of the university.

Eklund said it is common for retirement housing to be located near university campuses. One of the conference topics will explore university-oriented models of retirement living. Housing often is marketed to university and college retirees in some models, according to Eklund, and in others, university resources may be utilized to enhance retirement living.

Early registration discount fees for the conference, in effect until Sept. 15, are $125 for AROHE members and $150 for non-members. Information about the conference are available at the Web site below or by callin IU Conferences toll-free at 1-800-933-9330.
http://www.retireeU.org