Grant application deadline reminder
December 11 is the application deadline for next year’s awards from the Professional Development Grants for Retirees (PDGR) program. Approved proposals will be announced in March 2021; grants will start on April 1 and extend to June 30 of the following year.
All University of Minnesota retirees from the Twin Cities and Coordinate Campuses who are eligible for University retirement benefits and who will be fully retired by the time of their award may apply for grants of any amount up to $4,000. The Application Instructions (attached below) provide information about project requirements and how to apply. The total to be awarded in 2021 will be $20,000 which, because of pandemic-related University budget reductions, is less than in most previous years.
UMRA recently initiated an ambitious campaign with the goal of building a substantial reserve fund for our PDGR program. Two generous long-time supporters of the program have each offered to match $10,000 in contributions 1:1, so $20,000 in matching funds are available this year.
One can make a contribution online or support this fund with a future estate gift. For more information about an estate gift, please contact Lynn Praska at the University of Minnesota Foundation, [email protected] or 612-624-4158.
A summary of some of the things accomplished with previous awards can be found at PDGR Impact Study. Anyone with other questions or suggestions should contact John Bantle, MD.
—John Bantle, MD, UMRA Grants Committee chair
News
On December 7, many of us will lose our UMN email addresses and any files associated with these accounts. There are three basic things we need to do to prepare.
UMRA member Susan Kubitschek attended the University of Minnesota on the G.I. Bill and, after working at the U for 40 years, retired as assistant dean and director of Collegiate Life in the College of Science and Engineering.
Delegates to the Big Ten Retirees Association 2024 annual conference met at The Ohio State University in July to learn about Ohio State, share ideas, and develop closer ties among the 28 attendees from 12 of the 14 Big Ten schools. Minnesota will host the conference in 2026.
“UMRA members are engaged ‘University citizens’ with decades of experience at every level of this great institution, and we want to have a mutually useful and effective relationship with the Board of Regents,” says John Finnegan, UMRA’s new liaison to the regents.
UMRA member Mike Austin is taking full advantage of his retirement to volunteer in a variety of activities, travel, and learn a new language. He says, “I have the time, I have the ability, and I get bored sitting around.”
Funding of up to $5,000 per grant is available to support U of M retirees’ research, instructional history, new scholarship, or creative interests.
Members of UMRA’s 2024–25 Board of Directors were elected in May. Directors are elected to three-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms.
Fall is approaching and UMRA needs everyone to renew their membership. New membership cards for 2024–25 include the QR code you need to access one of the great benefits of membership: a discounted rate in University parking facilities.