Mission and History
Mission
The mission of the Society of Senior Scholars is to enhance the relationship and support the unique contributions of senior scholars and retired staff members to the University. We encourage members who want to continue serving the University and community professionally through their teaching, research, advocacy, and mentoring. The support of the Society will give retirees the opportunity to continue to be professionally involved in social and intellectual endeavors.
History
Late in 1997, a group of Colorado State University senior faculty members gathered with the interest of discussing important subjects related to life after retirement and their continued relationship with the University. The assembly of senior scholars faced many uncertainties about the commitment of CSU to recognize an organization of retired members.
Professor R.L. Zimdahl was asked by CSU’s Faculty Council to chair a special task force on emeritus issues. In December of 1998, the task force returned to Faculty Council with the recommendation of establishing the Society of Senior Scholars as an organization of the University. The Society of Senior Scholars was endorsed by the Faculty Council Executive Committee, who agreed to launch the Society with the support of a part-time director and secretarial assistance.
However, in 1999 conflicts and over-commitments within CSU prevented the establishment of the Society of Senior Scholars. Fortunately, several senior scholars did not renounce their commitment to establish an organization supporting the retirees of Colorado State. In early 2005, James Boyd, professor in the Department of Philosophy, and Robert Zimdahl, professor in the Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management took the initiative to revitalize the Society by submitting a new request for approval to the Faculty Council and partnering with the Division of Continuing Education who endorsed this wonderful project.
The Society of Senior Scholars is currently seeking approval from the Faculty Council. In the meantime, several retired faculty members are working with Rick Simpson and Nicole Olsen from Continuing Education, and Tom Gorell from the Provost's Office to begin operations of the Society.
You may look forward to a presentation series to be held once a month at the Lory Student Center. Each presentation will include a discussion led by a retired faculty member on a topic of interest. The Society has also established an email list serve to keep members of the Society connected to each other and build a sense of community. In addition, a core group of members are forming a steering committee to plan events of interest to the larger community of senior scholars living in and around Fort Collins.