When a majority of Americans imagine what retirement looks like, it often includes warm weather, beaches and relaxation. However, that is not the case for the growing number of senior auditors at Hunter College located in Manhattan’s Upper East Side These seniors have traded in shuffleboard games for lectures in art, history and science. In many cases, their newfound freedom and time off has pushed them to join a modern academic environment. Each semester, Hunter College has over 800 senior auditors, ages 60 and up, auditing many different undergraduate courses. The integration of senior auditors in a classroom can be a positive experience for undergraduates and seniors alike.
There are many programs that are offered to seniors, from city universities like Hunter College, State colleges to Ivy League institutions. Hunter College, a City University, offers a non-accredited auditing program which allows seniors (ages 60 and up) to take classes through the school's many departments. The cost of this starts at a low enrollment fee of $65. This is on a ‘space available' basis, so registered students do get the first right of refusal to a majority of these classes. Outside of the non-refundable $65 fee, auditors are responsible for all course materials and labs.
“I loved having seniors in my class.
I had this lady in my Art History class with a
walker and a nurse. She was living her
best life she just wanted to learn.”
Not only are lifelong learners welcomed into a variety of classes, but Hunter also has a Senior Lounge. Located on a lower floor in the North building, these auditors can sit and have a coffee break, eat lunch, and share what they are learning in classes. Carefully managed and always available for help, the Senior Citizen Student Association (SCSA) manages this lounge area, offering access to magazines, newspapers and helping seniors navigate through their CUNYFirst accounts to register for classes. Along with ensuring a quiet oasis, the SCSA also coordinates private luncheons with speakers. The President of the SCSA, Peter Remch, is a senior auditor himself. “Being a senior auditor gives me an extraordinary opportunity to fulfill a long-sought dream to study mathematics. It has been a terrific experience to sit in a class of bright, motivated students and to be taught by professors who consistently demonstrate their commitment to undergraduate education.” Says Remch.
Hunter College students not only agree that classes should be available to senior auditors, some actually prefer it. “I loved having seniors in my class. I had this lady in my Art History class with a walker and a nurse. She was living her best life she just wanted to learn.” said Elliot Cronin, a recent graduate of Hunter College. “It goes to show that you shouldn’t take education, at any level, for granted.”
While lifelong learning offers new opportunities for those getting a second chance at education, some want to ensure the undergrad students are still the priority. Brittany Shearer, an academic advisor in the south east gave her opinion on affordability for seniors attending school.
“I support anyone who wants to return to school to further their education, but I don't believe in incentivizing them (through much lower tuition) at the cost of traditional students who are more likely to need that education.” Said Shearer.“....we have a program here that allows senior citizens to attend at a much lower rate, but the trade off is a later registration date to allow students paying full tuition priority for registration. I still don't think they should be offsetting costs for seniors, but it's a compromise that encourages older students to return to the classroom.”
It isn’t just City Universities offering these discounted tuition rates for seniors. Ivy league schools, such as Princeton, also encourage lifelong learners to join the undergrad class. That is, if they follow the rules set in place for such auditors. These rules include sitting in the back rows of the classroom or lecture hall as University students have first priority for seating, and refraining from speaking or emailing the professor unless the professor initiates the communication. While strict, these rules are in place to make sure fully-enrolled undergrad students remain a priority.
“Every Tuesday my friends and I
get coffee after class, socializing is
important for people my age.”
Along with keeping their mind sharp by exploring the world of education, some seniors utilize this time in class as their weekly socializing. “I make friends in these classes,” says Shirley, a senior auditor at Hunter College. “Every Tuesday my friends and I get coffee after class, socializing is important for people my age.” Oftentimes seniors can begin isolating themselves from society, increasing their chances of developing mental illnesses, such as dementia. This has sparked a new concept for retirement: University-based retirement facilities. These retirement facilities are located within walking distance of a college campus, encouraging the seniors to not only read in the library and attend lectures, but also to cheer on their school at football games and wrestling matches.
Colleges and Universities everywhere are now transitioning to online learning due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19. This includes Hunter College. Students have vocalized different challenges online learning as posed. “I’m finding it hard to stay focused,” says Srinidhi Rao, a media student at Hunter. “Some classes just don't transfer online as well. It has really made some of the classes I was looking forward to depressing.”
Senior citizens are perhaps more frustrated and nervous than most, as statistics show they are the most vulnerable in this crisis with 50% of deaths being those over the age of 75. The transition to classes being exclusively online can be scary for a lot of seniors, as the SCSA helped guide them when having to navigate a digital world. I have not seen any lifelong learners in classes I was used to seeing and hearing them actively participate in. Curious about how Hunter College is helping guide these seniors, I reached out to the Communications office where I got in touch with a Hunter College Spokesperson who said “While the SCSA has generally used frequent emails and periodic newsletters to connect with its members, we do not have information regarding how or when the SCSA is communicating with its members during this time.” They were not able to connect me with anyone from the SCSA, stating “We have been told that no auditor has reached out expressing concerns about accessing our online remote-learning classes.”
Holding onto the hope of school resuming normalcy in the future, I remember the positive coming from an older generation looking for new experiences in life. “Learning is a beautiful thing to get to do” Shirley said as she packed up her books from her Oceanography course before the COVID-19 outbreak. “I didn’t have the option of college when I was younger, so I feel grateful for every day I get to learn.”