Presented By:
Nancy Grembi, Lifelong Learning Institute, James Madison University
Jack Sims, Lifelong Learning Society, christopher Newport University
Ann Myers, Lifelong Learning Institite, James Madison University
Joe Scorpion, Academy for Lifelong Learning, Carnegie Mellon University
Michael Styles, Learning in Retirement Institute, George Mason University
Jane Sulzberger, Lifelong Learning Society, Christopher Newport University
(Moderator)
The key to the health and well being of LLIs can be the relationship
with the sponsoring organization. This workshop talked about ways to enhance
and strengthen those relationships.
Please contact the presenters for more detailed information.
Joe Scorpion, Academy for Lifelong Learning, Carnegie Mellon
University
“And Now a Word from our Sponsor”
Good Morning! My name is Joe Scorpion and I am currently the Administrative
Director of the Academy for Lifelong Learning (A.L.L.) at Carnegie Mellon
University in Pittsburgh, our host institution.
We are eleven (11) years old, having been chartered in September of 1992.
Our active membership presently stands at 890 with a waiting list of 600.
We are essentially a voluntary, peer-led, peer-taught organization with
one paid executive.
Our association with our sponsor is quite sound. We are fully accepted
as members of the University family and as such enjoy recognition by the
president, faculty and administration. We do not pay any rent or utility
costs. We do, however, pay for telephone service and data-line charges
and for our e-mail account. We pay a monthly rental fee for our office
copier and have service agreements with the University for maintenance
of our computer data base. While much of our income is deposited with
the University, that is membership dues, class registration fees and income
from special events, we do maintain a separate and independent checking
account as well as having funds invested in several CD’s.
This morning we have looked at the various arrangements each Lifelong
Learning Institute has with its sponsor or host institution. While many
have similar arrangements or features you have also heard some unique
relationships described by the programs represented here today. Of primary
concern to each, I am certain, is exploring ways of achieving and maintaining
harmonious relationships between your own organization and the sponsoring
institution. This morning I join my colleagues in offering some ideas,
activities and examples for consideration and to let you know what we
have done and are doing to promote and strengthen our ties better.
First, our charter, which is most important, sets down in writing why
we came together and for what purpose and sets forth our mission. It outlines
what is expected of each party, what does each contribute, and what are
the commitments and the benefits for each.
There is the matter of identifying mutually beneficial programs or activities.
Some years ago we established a Faculty Liaison Committee comprised of
Deans, Department heads and Administration and representatives of our
group. Why? To determine how our sponsor can assist us and, in turn, how
we might help our sponsor. How can faculty and administration help us?
How can our members participate and assist in University activities and
programs? This concept and arrangement has proved most fruitful with Carnegie
Mellon providing us with several courses, guest lecturers for special
presentations as well as a drama and music series. This set up has allowed
the University to know us much better and for us to better know our way
around the campus and University system.
CMU considers us an integral part of their out-reach program and we have
responded to their requests for volunteers for projects and programs.
For example, for the pat 8 years about 15 of our members have served as
tutors in math, reading and English at the Colfax Elementary School –
a CMU out-reach program. We have subsequently taken over this program
and it is now coordinated by two of our members.
We have cooperated with the Career Center by conducting “mock interviews”
for senior students prior to their going out for job interviews. Each
of our members interviews 5-6 students using guidelines supplied by the
Career Center, critiques the students performance and offers constructive
recommendations. For several years we have served as “mentors”
to approximately 25-30 seniors in the Graduate School of Industrial Administrations
course on “Interpersonal Communications.” Each ember is assigned
a student/s and meets with each on an individual basis. The students ask
questions about how the “mentor” used interpersonal skills
in their past professions or daily encounters. The purpose being to show
the students, drawing upon our own life experience, how important and
useful such skills can be.
We have served as volunteer subjects with the Department of Psychology
and the Department of Computer Sciences in a variety of studies –
investigations which study how the brain mediates cognitive abilities
such as memory, language, object recognition and problem solving –
to studies which measure our responses under certain conditions to those
of stroke victims – to being participants in the “Let’s
Go” research project which seeks to build a spoken dialogue system
for Pittsburgh’s Port Authority buses that can be used over the
telephone; how to make this system work better for many population segments
that use Port Authority buses regularly, especially senior citizens.
For nine years we occupied modest and cramped quarters in the basement
of the Alumni House. However, after negotiations with the University they
agreed to build us brand new quarters in the Hunt Library at a cost of
$67,000 of which we are committed to $40,000, payable in increments of
$8,000 over a five-year period. This new location now provides a separate
reception area, a combination classroom/conference room, a large work-room
and an office for the Administrative Director. We likewise have two dedicated
classrooms, donated by the University, each of which holds 35 students
and are equipped with a battery of audio/visual aides. When our needs
go beyond our own classrooms, the University Registrar identifies and
supplies classrooms and lecture halls.
I have already mentioned some of the in-kind and up-front financial benefits
we enjoy through our sponsor. How in turn can an LLI express its appreciation
and gratitude to the host institution? This may be done in several ways
– by volunteering to take part in University activities such as
Homecoming Week or it can take the form of donations, gifts or special
awards.
Can you identify a program, department or an individual that has been
particularly helpful to you? What about a contribution to the institution’s
Capital Campaign? (We made a major gift to CMU’s Capital Campaign
which was earmarked for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and
was used for an 18-person conference room which bears our name.) We have
instituted annual “Thank You” awards, which are given to a
person or department that has assisted us. These awards have gone to the
Computer Science Department, Philosophy Department and the Drama and Music
Schools. Most recently we made a pledge to the University Library Campaign
and like wise supported the Music Schools International Flute Master Class.
At Carnegie Mellon our goal is to have the Academy for Lifelong Learning
recognized as a premier lifelong learning educational experience in Pittsburgh
and Western Pennsylvania and to explore how we can further enrich our
curriculum and extend our volunteer efforts to the campus and community.
I am pleased and honored to have been part of today’s presentation
and helpfully have offered some ideas and insight as to how relationships
with your sponsors may be enhanced. May our experience help others.
Our quest for knowledge is endless; the thirst unquenchable. Just look
at the growth each one of us has experienced since we began. I conclude
with a statement made by Carnegie Mellon’s President, Jared Cohon
in our 10th anniversary and history publication.
“The Academy for Lifelong Learning is truly a jewel in Carnegie
Mellon’s crown. It is a learning community of its own that provides
the safety and support for self-discovery and expression. This is a great
and precious thing.”
Whoever said “one size does not really fit all” certainly
had it right! I wish you and your program continued success. Thank you.
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