Current service opportunities
The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) provides numerous opportunities for UMRA to fulfill its service mission. Among the many impactful opportunities URVC coordinates we want to bring to your attention are several projects that currently have strong and immediate need for volunteers.
Academic Integrity Matters (AIM). Serve on a panel of University community volunteers to help students who have not complied with the student conduct code to understand the broader implications of their decisions. Based on the principles of restorative justice, AIM panels engage students in discovering positive approaches to remediating their behavior. Email Katelyn Sanders to become a community member panelist.
Experiential Learning Ensemble. This education program at the U of M Law School allows community members to participate in a simulated trial with first-year law students, instructors, faculty, and administrators to provide important educational experiences by bringing client perspective to the forefront of legal education. To learn more and apply, click on this link or contact the URVC office at [email protected] or 612-625-8016.
Music Perception Auditory Study. Assist researchers in the U of M Auditory Perception and Cognition Laboratory to discover more about how the ear and brain work together to interpret the complex array of acoustic information (speech, music, and environmental sounds) that people encounter in everyday life. Volunteers will participate in listening evaluations under headphones while following the researcher’s directions. To register, please email Heather Kreft or call 612-626-4693.
Neighborhood House. Play a hands-on role in ensuring families have timely access to fresh, nutritious food. Located in St. Paul’s West Side, Neighborhood House provides an array of services for thousands of refugees, immigrants, and others in transition or crisis. UMRA volunteers are needed to assist in harvesting and packing a wide variety of fresh vegetables and more during this harvest season. Volunteers are needed Saturday mornings, 9 a.m. to noon, throughout October. To register, email Nichole Shovin at Neighborhood House.
Reader/Writer. Help Minneapolis public school students in grades 7 through 12 to develop and improve their writing skills. Each year this program engages hundreds of students with a wide range of abilities. You will be paired with a student who will submit writing projects by mail twice a month for you to read, edit, and comment on. You will send your comments in the provided self-addressed, stamped envelopes. With school now underway, it is a great time to share your skills with students who want and need your assistance. To register, please complete this Reader/Writer registration form or contact the URVC office at [email protected] or 612-625-8016.
Meals on Wheels. Provide direct support for seniors and people with disabilities by delivering meals during the lunch hour. Opportunities are available throughout the metro area to provide nutrition and a friendly face for those in need. Scheduling is flexible to accommodate your availability. To register for this activity, email Kala or call Metro Meals on Wheels at 612-623-3363.
—Jerry Rinehart, URVC Leadership Council chair, and Deanne Magnusson, URVC vice-chair and projects director
News
Then there are the unexpected things that happen…
… like a box of family history from a cousin that was completely unexpected. Perhaps it is like an unexpected DNA match.
Belonging to a group, a pack, a tribe, or a community helps us to live longer and be happier. Virtually every study that examines factors contributing to longevity identifies social connections as a key factor. Social connections enhance happiness, too, according to “Everything is Better Together,” a large-scale study published recently.
The University of Minnesota Medicare insurance program will end December 31. To facilitate this change, the University has arranged for Via Benefits to assist with insurance selection and enrollment. Working with Via is free and optional; retirees can also go to an insurance broker or contact insurance companies directly.
December 31 is the application deadline for UMRA’s 2026 Professional Development Grants for Retirees competition. Retirees from all five campuses within the U of M System are eligible to apply. Previous grant recipient Mark Bohnhorst, JD, is “deeply grateful” for the support provided by the program for his ongoing research about the Electoral College.
The University Board of Regents launched its fall meetings with the addition of four new interim regents appointed in August by Governor Tim Walz. The new members fill positions vacated by regents whose six-year terms expired earlier this year.
Meet UMRA member and quizmaster Dave Dorman. He has years of professional experience as a group facilitator, hosting conversations conducted in a civil atmosphere—something we need more of today!
The retirees who serve on the Leadership Council of the University Retirees Volunteer Center clearly believe that volunteering contributes to both individual and community health and well-being. In the words of one long-time volunteer, it “counters the isolated, siloed forces in today's society and fosters a sense that we are all in this together.”
There are many benefits to membership in UMRA, including discounted ticket prices for University Opera Theatre performances at the Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis.