Exploring retired and emeriti professors’ areas of interest in intergenerational initiatives: Enhancing Age-Friendly University (AFU) principles

The 2019 Age-Friendly University (AFU) Inventory and Climate Survey found respondents of a US northeast university identified involving retired faculty in university activities as an area for improvement. Guided by the AFU Principles 9 (engage actively with the university's own retired community) and 4 (promote intergenerational learning), and age-inclusivity domains of higher education (AIDHE), the objectives of this study were to identify retired and emeriti professors' areas of interest in providing intergenerational educational, research, service activities and in establishing a retired and emeriti professor association. The complete study was a sequential explanatory mixed methods study design. This study report is focused on the quantitative results component. After IRB approval, an online Qualtrics survey was sent to 315 retired and emeriti professors. Eighty-six (27.3%) participants responded to the survey. About 60% reported interest in guest lecturing either online or face-to-face, and 48% reported interest in sharing retirement experiences with students, and 79% were supportive or very supportive in establishing a retired and emeriti professors (REP) association. The descriptive analysis identified several opportunities to engage REP in intergenerational initiatives. The AFU principles and AIDHE domains are discussed in the context of REP in intergenerational relationships benefiting both students, REP, and the university.