2025-04 From the President: Intriguing questions about UMRA’s relationship with the University

The last year has raised intriguing questions about UMRA’s relationship with the University of Minnesota. Some of us questioned whether the University perceived any value in retirees when our access to email, Google workspace, Zoom, and library privileges were cut off. On the other hand, President Rebecca Cunningham asserted the value of UMRA, and expressed gratitude for the contributions of retirees when she spoke at our October 2024 luncheon forum.

So, let’s discuss our relationship with the University. UMRA is a separately incorporated non-profit organization and is legally independent from the University. UMRA has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University via the provost’s office. The MOU has existed for approximately eight years and was renewed in mid March. The provost meets annually with UMRA’s president and president-elect. 

The provost’s office supports UMRA in many ways. UMRA’s official email and website are UMN-based, and the UMRA-sponsored Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays is hosted online by the University Digital Conservancy. The provost provides significant financial support for our Professional Development Grants for Retirees program. There is even a small, shared office space in the McNamara Alumni Center, which is UMRA’s formal address. The provost’s office is providing administrative and, we expect, some financial support for our hosting of the 2026 Big Ten Retirees Association Conference.

Actively engaging retirees

UMRA contributes by actively engaging as many retirees as we can and representing their interests with the University. We work with the Office of Human Resources and colleges that want to provide retirement planning information for employees, and we help make the U of M an age-friendly university. In March, we partnered with the Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs for the second annual “Demystifying the Transition to Retirement” webinar for faculty. We have representatives on the U of M Benefits Advisory Committee and Faculty Senate. We were invited to meet with the P&A Senate and Civil Service Senate this spring. 

The University Retirees Volunteer Center recruits hundreds of volunteers for research and service projects on the Twin Cities campus and in the surrounding communities. In turn, those volunteers gain the value of service and interaction with others, often from younger generations. 

We have an agreement with the University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA), just renewed in February 2025. UMAA is also an independent non-profit separate from the University. UMAA and UMRA agree to provide reciprocal membership benefits and share some promotional opportunities. 

Of course, many of our members make individual financial contributions via the University of Minnesota Foundation, another independent arm supporting the University. 

As retirees, we’ve seen a few things at the U and have valuable perspectives to contribute, for example, to the new Maroon, Gold & Bold strategic planning process. There are also periodic calls to rally legislative support for University funding. UMRA may encourage participation in these opportunities, but you as an individual get to decide whether and how much time/money/effort you want to contribute. 

So, we weren’t able to stop the loss of UMN email and related services despite aggressive action by then-UMRA President Eric Hockert and a team of UMRA volunteers. Partners sometimes have their disagreements. However, the dispute probably helped solidify the University’s support for UMRA in many ways.

We will continue to advocate for our members’ interests and maintain our organizational and individual engagement. 

—Julie Sweitzer, UMRA president 2024–25