The UC Davis faculty and staff retiree associations, which worked together a few years ago on a campus history project, have teamed up again to do even more for the university.

Their latest project is a new Center for Retiree Resources and Relations, officially authorized and now in search of a director and office space. Target opening date is early in the 2006-07 academic year.

"Although we have excellent interaction now among retirees, emeriti and the campus, we think there can be even more," said Charles Hess, president of the Emeriti Association.

Provost Virginia Hinshaw, who approved the center and a $96,000 start-up budget, said: "Our retired faculty and staff are the folks who created the UC Davis of today and they are also committed to ensuring an even greater UC Davis of tomorrow. They continue to make UC Davis a better place, and I hope the center will make UC Davis a better place for them as well."

In authorizing the center, Hinshaw commented that it "will provide new resources and tools that promise to enrich the already strong relations between the UC Davis campus, including the UC Davis Health System, and its emeriti and retirees."

The Emeriti Association and the Retirees Association collaborated in the mid-1990s to raise money to publish a campus history, Abundant Harvest, released in 2001.

That successful fundraising effort highlighted the possibilities of other joint efforts, said Deanna Falge Pritchard, a retired affirmative action compliance officer.

"We are certainly interested in seeing the resources of the retirees and emeriti benefit the university in whatever way they can," she said.

Hess noted that the administration has a particular interest in seeing emeriti assist with the Freshmen Lecture Series.

Emeriti already are doing a lot more for the university, according to a survey of the association's 270 members. The survey drew 82 responses, or about 30 percent, and indicated that emeriti serve on Academic Senate committees, and doctoral, departmental and administrative committees.

Also, the Emeriti Association runs a Video Records Project, in which retirees are invited to contribute oral and photographic records.

Other retired faculty and staff can be found serving as volunteers at the UC Davis Arboretum or Mondavi Center for the Arts.

"People do like to give back and be involved," Pritchard said.

So the emeriti and staff retirees association set about drafting a proposal for a center "where this could be coordinated," Pritchard said.

Hess and Pritchard both noted an interest in reviving social events such as the Goose Stew, Steak Bake and Mother's Day brunch, all formerly held at the University Club.

Younger faculty may not be interested in such activities, Hess said, but emeriti certainly are. He cited as an example the chancellor's annual dinner for emeriti — an event that fills Freeborn Hall.

"Ensuring that our retirees are actively engaged in the future of UC Davis is in keeping with the goal of 'engagement' in our campus strategic plan," Hinshaw said, "and the center will enhance their activities and engagement with the campus."

More information

See the adjacent sidebar, "Engaged Emeriti," for additional information on committee members. For details on the Emeriti Association, see emeritiassociation.ucdavis.edu.