Engagement Opportunities
Committees
Standing committees, task forces, and special assignments distribute the College's work among many emeritus faculty members. Spreading governance responsibility among many volunteers enables the College to keep individual duties small and assure broad participation in college governance. Names and responsibilities of standing committees and special standing assignments are listed in this section and the next. Task forces and occasional special projects are formed and discharged as needs dictate.
Standing Committees
Executive Committee - Responsible for conducting the business of the Advisory Board between meetings
Awards - Responsible for developing screening tools for choosing scholarship and award recipients, administering the screening process, and proposing new awards as appropriate
Programming - Responsible for continuing education programs for EC members that address content and issues of substance that are of general interest
Emeritus Faculty Creative Works Display - Responsible for managing faculty art display in the Emeritus College
Language Skills - Responsible for EC and cooperative initiatives designed to improve the speaking and writing skills of students and faculty, with emphasis on programs for those individuals for whom English is a second language
Member Benefits - Responsible for requesting EC member benefits from the University administration as appropriate to maintain parity with benefits accorded to active faculty and for publicizing benefits to EC members
Outreach - Responsible for developing and administering EC initiatives to share member expertise and experience beyond the university community
Policy and Strategic Planning - Responsible for proposing changes in operating policies or procedures as needed and for drafting/editing any proposed amendments to the bylaws; Responsible for development and periodic updating of the Emeritus College strategic plan; Undergraduate Support Responsible for EC and cooperative initiatives that are designed or developed for regular track and honors track undergraduate students
Standing Special Assignments
AROHE
The Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education, of which Clemson's Emeritus College is a very active member, includes United States and Canadian higher education retirement organizations. Its purpose is to develop and enhance retirement organizations to serve their schools, individual retirees, and the wider community. An executive board governs AROHE, and a Clemson AROHE representative almost always serves as a board member. AROHE organizes a biennial conference in even-numbered years, held at a member institution. Members of Clemson's Emeritus College are always active participants in these conferences.
- AROHE Liaison - Responsible for representing and publicizing the CU EC nationally through AROHE publications and participation in AROHE events
Faculty Senate
The position of Liaison to the Faculty Senate is a key member of the Emeritus College Executive Committee. The emeritus faculty member serving in this role provides a direct communication link between the University and the Emeritus College. The Faculty Senate Manual and the University's Constitution provide the underpinnings of the Emeritus College and legitimizes the services and benefits provided by the university for emeritus faculty.
- Faculty Senate Liaison - Responsible for coordinating Emeritus College initiatives with those of the Faculty Senate.
Events and Programs
Events
The Emeritus College sponsors three major social-networking events each year, as well as other smaller gatherings.
Fall Picnic — Scheduled near the beginning of the academic year to welcome emeritus faculty back from their summer travels, conduct the annual Emeritus College business meeting, and preview College programming for the upcoming academic year.
Holiday Social — Purely social event held in a festive setting in early December.
Emeritus Day — Scheduled in April to welcome newly retiring faculty to the Emeritus College, present awards and scholarships, and enjoy a luncheon followed by a distinguished speaker.
Programs
The Emeritus College has a responsibility to its members to provide practical, engaging, and sometimes challenging programs. This programming helps members maintain their intellectual edge, life skills, and understanding of societal trends. The details of those programs vary with time, but the following major categories represent permanent Emeritus College initiatives.
Seminars - Expert presentations designed to explore important topics either in breadth or depth
Workshops - Hands-on skill development or exploration, with emphasis on participation and feedback
Tours - Educational exploration of campus facilities, historical sites, research and diagnostic laboratories, programs, and other places of interest.
Shared-Interest Clusters - Groups of faculty members who coalesce around a topic or technique of mutual interest and meet at the Emeritus College on their own schedule
Service to the University and Community
The ranks of emeritus faculty contain an enormous reservoir of collective wisdom, experience, and knowledge of potential value to students, active faculty, university administrators, and members of the larger community. Programs are initiated as needs and opportunities are identified. The focus is on programs where emeritus faculty have opportunities to contribute that capitalize on their particular expertise or experience. Areas of current emphasis are listed here, but these are not exclusive. The Emeritus College encourages proposals for worthwhile, emeritus-faculty-based service projects.
Service Opportunities at the University
Language Skills - Emeritus faculty have an opportunity to Volunteer as a Conversation Partner in the Conversation Pairs Program for International Students. Just like the former Conversations with International Students (CIS), emeritus faculty meet weekly with an international student who need to sharpen their language skills. Contact Adolph Beyerlein or Jen Brondell.
Emeritus Scholars - Management of disciplinary, or cross-disciplinary, collaborative scholarship endeavors between active and emeritus faculty members
Emeritus Recognition - Develop and administer the university’s program to recognize and honor retiring faculty members
Mentoring - Management of programs to enhance writing, speaking, and administrative skills of new faculty members and of graduate students contemplating academic careers
Student Retention - Development and administration of programs to assist underprepared students who wish to obtain the knowledge and skills required for success in college
University Service - Provide emeritus faculty representation and input to university and college committees and initiatives as requested
Opportunities to Serve the Community
Community Service - Provide expert advice, information, lectures, and workshops to service clubs and other organizations as requested
Speaker's Bureau - The speakers' bureau includes 1) the facilitation of opportunities for emeriti to connect with a wide clientele, including community organizations, non-profit organizations, educators and agencies to share the wide knowledge base and expertise of our over 800 emeriti; and 2) the enhancement and awareness by clientele groups around the State of the opportunity to enhance their programs with a variety of presentation topics that they can access from the Emeritus College. If you would like to be included, please contact the Emeritus College (864-656-3990).
