URVC helps the University to 'Elevate Extraordinary'
Since its inception 40 years ago, the University Retirees Volunteer Center has focused on identifying where help is needed within the University community and recruiting retiree volunteers to help address those needs.
With the University’s announcement of its Elevate Extraordinary 2030 strategic roadmap, the URVC Leadership Council reviewed its portfolio of service projects to highlight their alignment with the “Strategic Imperatives” embedded in this campaign.
“While this is the Volunteer Center’s ‘ordinary’ work, it is clear there is, in fact, something extraordinary about it that deserves to be recognized and elevated,” said URVC Leadership Council chair Jerry Rinehart.
UNIVERSITY IMPERATIVE #1. Prepare students to be fully engaged and active in our state, nation, and world
Supporting education at all levels is a priority for the Volunteer Center. The Reader/Writer program pairs writing-proficient volunteers with public school adolescents seeking to improve their competency and confidence in writing.
At the undergraduate level, UMRA’s Silver Gopher Service Corps provides teams of volunteers to assist University Admissions and retention staff with on-campus recruitment and new student welcome activities. The Volunteer Center also recruits volunteers who are trained to serve as panelists in Academic Integrity Matters, an initiative using restorative justice principles to educate students on the impacts of academic dishonesty and approaches to repairing community harm.
In partnership with the University’s International Student and Scholar Services program, the Volunteer Center helped create the Global Gopher Experiences mentorship program to welcome new international students to the University and the international community.
The Volunteer Center has also developed a postdoctoral mentorship program to support postdocs requesting assistance in academic writing, research presentations, and career development.
UNIVERSITY IMPERATIVE #3. Serve communities through knowledge creation and exchange in the arts, health, healthcare, and the economy
Among the Volunteer Center’s most popular projects are opportunities for retirees to volunteer for University health and medical research in areas as varied as sleep disorder and Parkinson’s disease to low vision and hearing impairment. Other projects include supporting Rarig Center, Ted Mann Theater, and Northrop Auditorium events, and volunteering as musicians at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
UNIVERSITY IMPERATIVE #4. Advance [University] excellence to lead in the discovery and application of sustainable solutions, improving environmental, human, plant, and animal health
Volunteer Center priorities include food security and environmental sustainability. Partnerships with Neighborhood House, Every Meal, and Second Harvest Heartland support the most needy and diverse members of our broader community. Great River Greening uses science-based best practices to restore and sustainably manage more than 10,000 acres of land each year, including natural lands, farm and agricultural lands, community and urban lands.
Over the past four decades, the Volunteer Center has provided opportunities for thousands of retirees to use their skills, experience, and interests to address community needs and enhance their own post-work experience.
Go to urvc.umn.edu or call 612-625-8016 to learn more, including how to volunteer for these or any of the programs currently offered.
—Peggy Mann Rinehart
News
Declining government funding, inflation, loss of purchasing power, low birthrates, and lack of trust in the nation’s institutions have combined to create a confidence crisis in higher education not seen for decades. Minnesota is no exception.
Since its inception 40 years ago, the University Retirees Volunteer Center has focused on identifying where help is needed within the University community and has provided opportunities for thousands of retirees to use their skills, experience, and interests to help address those needs.
Meet UMRA member Nancy Carpenter. She grew up in the American heartland; nevertheless, she was surprised by the frigid, snow-covered landscape when she visited Minnesota for the first tine to interview for a job teaching chemistry at UMN Morris.
UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees are intended to support projects related to University of Minnesota retirees' research, instructional or work history, or new scholarly interests that contribute to the academic reputation of the University.
After working decades in communications for the U’s Center for Transportation Studies, Pam Snople perks up whenever she sees transportation news. It’s usually the salacious stuff that makes the headlines. But, behind the scenes, vehicle automation research keeps rolling along — including key work by UMN researchers.
Renée Good was killed in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, during Operation Metro Surge. One month later, a community memorial to mourn her death and celebrate her life was held. Susan Ranney attended the ceremony and wrote an evocative essay on the service, which was published recently in UMRA’s Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays.
Professor Emeritus Alan Kagan has played many roles in his nearly 30 years of service with the University Retirees Volunteer Center. From assisting with phone calls to becoming office manager and eventually serving on and chairing the Volunteer Center’s board, Kagan helped build the organization into the robust operation it is today.
We’re already getting organized to identify and recruit members to step into leadership roles in 2027. As a well-informed and engaged UMRA member, you are invited to play a role in the process.
I’ve been an UMRA member for more than a decade and each year I’m impressed anew by the energy and dedication of the volunteers who do the work of the organization. I invite you to join in their efforts. But if that’s not possible, there’s something else you can do to help support UMRA: Renew your membership.
You don’t have to go far, and you don’t have to drink coffee. It’s the conversation that matters. It’s a new, experimental effort being organized by the wizards of UMRA; a meet-up of members who live in the same zip code.
UMRA will be collecting hats, mittens, and scarves at our November 17 Luncheon Forum to help keep Minnesota kids warm this winter.