TO:                  Fort Wayne Senate

FROM:            Educational Policy Committee

                        Jonathan Tankel, Chair

DATE:             March 29, 2005

SUBJ:              Senior Scholars Program

DISPOSITION:           To the presiding officer for implementation

WHEREAS, one goal of the IPFW Strategic Plan is to become a more integral part of the community,

WHEREAS, making course offerings more accessible to the community is consistent with this goal in IPFW’s Strategic Plan,

WHEREAS, The Vice Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Aging and the Aged has developed the Senior Scholars Program [Senate Document SD 04-14] that would allow Indiana residents, aged 60 or over, to audit open classes on the IPFW campus at no cost,

WHEREAS, the Educational Policy Committee has approved this Program,

BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate approve the Senior Scholars Program.

Approved Disapproved Absent Nonvoting

M. Codispoti                                                                            P. McLaughlin

P. Dragnev

S. Hannah

A. Karim

N. McFarland

D. Oberstar

J. Tankel, Chair

Senate Reference No. 04-14

Senior Scholars Program

1.         All legal residents of Indiana, aged 60 or over, shall be allowed to audit open classes on the IPFW campus at no cost (with the exceptions noted below in point 4).

2.         A class will be declared open if spaces do not appear to be limited by seating capacity or if there is space after the first week add/drop period is over.  With permission of the instructor the Senior Auditor may attend the first week of class prior to official registration once it is determined that space is available.

3.         Departmental/Instructor permission will be obtained by the Registrar’s office for senior citizens to audit classes, although a mechanism may be put in place for instructors to give general permission or general denial of permission for any classes they teach.

4.         Certain types of classes may be exempt from this policy as designated by the relevant school or department.

5.         Senior scholars will be required to pay any lab fees, if appropriate.

6.         Senior scholars will be listed on class rosters or grade reports after the first week of classes.

7.         Senior citizens wishing to audit classes will need to gain admission by going to the Admissions Office (being admitted as a Non-Degree student) and then meeting with a Coordinator in the Registrar’s Office. The Coordinator will give assistance in determining which classes are open, and will help the Senior Auditor to register for the class.  The Coordinator will gain the needed departmental/instructor permission in order to register the Senior Auditor, and Departments will be asked to maintain a list of approved courses.

cc: Walt Branson, VCFA

cc: Susan Hannah, VCAA