Campus Sneak Preview Days
Would-be freshmen and their parents often fear getting lost on the large University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. So, the Office of Admissions sets out to make sure sons and daughters, moms and dads, even grandparents, can experience friendliness and helpfulness on the campus. Thus, when one family participating in this summer’s Campus Sneak Preview Days couldn’t find their way from the Molecular and Cellular Biology building to Nicholson Hall, UMRA volunteer and President-elect Julie Sweitzer personally walked the family across campus.
That story is one indication of the Sneak Preview program’s success. Numbers are another. This year, more than 2,200 visitors, including 850 prospective students, attended one of the six sessions.
Sneak Preview Days have been happening at the University for many years. Admissions staff provide in-person tours, which include a general information session highlighting academics, campus life, student resources, and the admissions process.
This year, adding 18 UMRA Silver Gopher Service Corps volunteers put a new twist on the welcome. Who better to provide a friendly greeting and lend a helping hand than those of us who have spent our careers at the University?
“I think they really enjoyed meeting someone who was enthusiastic and positive about the U,” Silver Gopher volunteer Nanette Hanks said.
The Silver Gopher volunteers greeted participants and gave directions. Shannon Anderson, Minnesota Freshman Admission Counselor, worked closely with University Retirees Volunteer Center leaders Jerry Rinehart and Deanne Magnusson to recruit and organize the volunteers’ participation. “The Silver Gopher Service Corps volunteers did more than fill in the gaps. They added value,” Anderson said.
Silver Gopher volunteer opportunities this fall will include U of M Welcome Week, food packaging for underserved youth, and landscape and pollinator restoration projects in the area. Go to urvc.umn.edu to learn more and register to receive information related to your areas of interest.
—Peggy Mann Rinehart
News
The election of UMRA officers and new board members for 2024–25 will be conducted via an online poll from May 13 to 19, with the results to be announced at our annual meeting on May 21. Look for the ballot in your email inbox on May 13. Diane Young has been nominated to be president-elect.
“I convinced myself I could handle this problem without support groups or doing additional research, but that’s only because I didn’t want to make it any more real than it already was. Denial comes in many forms, and one is to avoid thinking about the problem any more than need be.” —Alice A. Larson
Meet UMRA member Peter Moe. He retired in 2023 after a career that spanned nearly half a century at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and is credited with developing the “Arb” into one of the few in the U.S. with world-class fruit and landscape breeding programs.
The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) has welcomed two new members with valuable skills and experience to the URVC Leadership Council: Lynn Slifer and Jeanne Jacobson.
The University plans to remove retirees from the @umn.edu internet identity domain on December 7. UMRA has advocated for ensuring continued access to this identity (including email, Google Workspace, and associated services), citing University retirees’ enduring contributions to and engagement with the University. Thus far, our efforts have not prompted any change of plans.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to explore your photographic interests, hone your photographic skills, and hear what other retirees are up to, the UMRA Photo Club is a great place to be. We have fun! And whatever your skill level, there is room for everybody.
Leading the online Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays has been a labor of love for Kris Bettin. Alas, a change in family needs has necessitated her retirement. So, JOIE is seeking a new leader to join a savvy editorial committee of five and bring fresh ideas for continued development of the UMRA-sponsored journal.
Soon you will receive an email or letter inviting you to renew your UMRA membership for the 2024–25 year. Please renew before you get busy with your summer activities. Your support helps to make our programs and many other member benefits possible!
This will be a new regular column where you can find organizational tasks that need your help! We are currently looking for help researching a new UMRA Membership Database and URVC volunteer database, and a co-producer for UMRA's Zoom webinars. See more details:
Meet UMRA member Millie Woodbury, a lifelong world traveler whose favorite place on campus is Aisle C, Seat 24, at Northrop Auditorium.
Eight retirees from the Twin Cities and Morris campuses have been chosen to receive 2024 awards from UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees Program. As in previous years, their projects cover a diverse set of topics, reflecting the breadth of studies and continuing professional activities undertaken by University retirees.