News

2022 Professional Development Grants for Retirees

The 2022 PDGR awards competition opens October 15, and the application deadline is December 31. The program is open to all retirees from all five campuses in the University of Minnesota System.

HELLO, my name is Julie Medbery

UMRA member Julie Medbery grew up on a farm in South Dakota, and at one time during her career at the U of M knew the names of nearly 200 (agricultural) Extension educators across the state.

New QR code for campus parking discount

When you park your vehicle on campus, use the square QR code on the back of your new 2021–22 UMRA membership card to obtain the UMRA parking discount.

Help wanted: UMRA historian

Are you curious about UMRA’s past or are you someone who simply enjoys working with others to put together innovative projects? If so, UMRA needs you.

JOIE of Writing

The Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays (JOIE), has seen a recent influx of new articles on a wide variety of topics.  With the addition of six articles, the number of papers downloaded for reading during the first seven months of 2021 was nearly 20% higher than during the same period one year previously.  Everyone associated with the University of Minnesota, both active and retired, qualifies as an author -- faculty, P & A employees, civil service/bargaining unit staff, and alumni.

2022 PDGR Announcement

The competition for next year’s awards opens on October 15, 2021. The deadline for applications is December 31. Approved proposals will be announced in February 2022. Grants will start on April 1 and extend to June 30, 2023.

Will Craig

Starting with a short family story from my Grandmother, I traced and documented the Civil War experiences of my great grandfather, George Swift.

Happy Summer!

The UMRA Forum will return in September. Please check back later for program dates, times, and details.

Photo of an early summer beauty in the Lyndale Park Rose Garden in Minneapolis by Frank Busta, UMRA Photo Club member.

Lynn Anderson

My paternal grandfather Hildum Anselm Anderson was in France during the WWI and in France, Luxembourg, and Germany after WWI...

UMRA elects leadership for 2021–22

UMRA members elected a stellar list of board members and officers and approved changes in the UMRA Bylaws when the Retirees Association held its 2021 Annual Meeting via Zoom on May 25.

A new opportunity for Legal Eagle volunteers

This will be the first trial in more than a year held in-person, on site at Mitchell College, where volunteer jurors will view the trial, deliberate on a verdict and, finally, offer constructive criticism to the student "lawyers." Volunteer involvement and feedback is a very important part of the legal education system as it assists in training lawyers to better serve the needs of their clients.

John Anderson

Using information gathered from family members I have put together a document about my paternal grandfather's family consisting of names, spouse names, progeny and birth dates that includes more than a hundred persons.

Retired Faculty Mentorship Project

One of the University of Minnesota’s current strategic goals is to enhance the research experience for undergraduate students. The Retired Faculty Mentorship of Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) project is a collaborative effort between the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) and the University of Minnesota Retiree Volunteer Center (URVC). Through faculty mentorship, undergraduate research scholars gain valuable research experience, skills and connections. Faculty have the opportunity to conduct research with talented undergraduates while making a difference in the academic careers of these students.

JOIE is up and running

UMRA's Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays, newly relaunched, has published four articles so far in 2021.

HELLO, my name is Lynn C. Anderson

Lynn Anderson has traveled the world and can count dancing with a future king among her many overseas adventures.