Remember when you were trying to decide whether and when to retire? There were the many financial and insurance questions, plus the emotional and practical side. Do I want to give up the important work I’m doing? How will I fill my days if I’m not going to an office? It isn’t always an easy decision, and often it is more of a process.

UMRA has been helping University faculty members to address these questions. In partnership with Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs Beth Lewis, UMRA has co-presented three workshops via Zoom for current faculty considering retirement. During these workshops, called “Demystifying the Transition to Emeriti Status,” several retirees have shared what tipped their ultimate decision to retire, what connections (if any) they maintain with their colleagues and profession, and what they do to fill their time in retirement (which inevitably includes UMRA, of course!) 

UMRA’s retired faculty have a variety of retirement stories. Some are still active in all aspects of their lifelong academic pursuits, while others have chosen a full-stop end to research and teaching. Most note that UMRA has been a great way to maintain connections with the University and other retirees while pursuing new or continuing interests. 

A retirement consultant from the U of M Office of Human Resources has joined these conversations to explain the resources the University provides. 

Myriad decisions

The questions and answers are lively in both the Zoom chat and in the verbal discussion. Often they get down into the nitty-gritty of the myriad decisions and the filling out of forms that we have blissfully forgotten but are part of the retirement process.

The “Demystifying” program arose out of conversations UMRA Past President Eric Hockert initiated with Vice Provost Lewis, when Eric asked how UMRA could better support the University. Julie Sweitzer has moderated the workshops and has invited the participants to join UMRA once they retire, noting in particular the Professional Development Grants for Retirees opportunity that UMRA offers. We realize that the retirement decision is an experience only actual retirees can truly share. 

We have offered to partner with OHR on something similar for future non-faculty retirees. No response yet. 

The March 2026 session was the third offering of the program. Over the three sessions our UMRA faculty participants have included John Bantle, Carol Chomsky, Michael Hancher, Al Levine, Sally Kohlstedt, and Becky Yust. We thank them for sharing their stories, and for their support of and participation in UMRA.

—Julie Sweitzer, UMRA past president (2024-25)