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Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the academic year 2020-2021! Even for those with a very long connection to the campus community this must be the most unusual beginning to the fall semester. In March the university extended its spring break and then switched to all online research, instruction, and work—an unprecedented and extremely challenging move as a way to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. All hopes for an end to the crisis in the summer have been quashed and the ongoing threat demands new, mostly virtual ways of running as complex an operation as IUPUI.
Comparably, the Senior Academy had to cancel events planned in April and May and the annual meeting was conducted by Zoom—without opportunity to enjoy the traditional conviviality over lunch. And further like the campus, all programming requires re-thinking. Building on the invaluable work of the immediate past president, Christy Tidwell, and the board, the current Senior Academy has used the summer months to explore opportunities for its members to stay in touch with each other and the campus and also to participate in events of learning and entertainment designed to keep everyone safe and healthy. At all times the Senior Academy will follow the directions of Indiana’s governor and the guidelines provided by IU and IUPUI.
While the venues and media for programs and community engagement will have to change in many cases, the mission and goals of the Senior Academy remain in place and may prove especially valuable in these times of forced isolation. I hope that you will join the board and engage actively with colleagues and friends—albeit often virtually—in presentations, discussions, and tours that can broaden horizons, are intellectually stimulating, and emotionally satisfying.
The Senior Academy’s fall program is still under construction, but its broad outlines are clear and the dates of some of the events are set (for particulars, consult the website https://senioracademy.iupui.edu/). Please note and already mark your calendars for the following:
- On September 9, 2020, 11:30 a.m., Brian Nick, Chief Investment Strategist at TIAA, will give a presentation about the 2021 economic outlook and local TIAA representatives will also talk briefly about the effects of the CARES act on retirement funds.
- Weather and COVID-19 pandemic guidelines permitting, we will meet in person for a luncheon gathering in Eagle Creek Park.
- In October, Aaron Dusso and Sheila Kennedy will give a presentation, with discussion, about the upcoming presidential elections.
- Peter Thuesen has agreed to talk about American religion and violent weather—also in October, which falls in hurricane season.
- The Last Lecture will be presented by Florence Roisman on November 6, 2020.
It is likely that most of the events will take place via Zoom, with which quite a few of us have become familiar in the past months. It is highly recommended that you create your IU Zoom account for easy and protected access to the Senior Academy’s Zoom meetings. Invitations to all such meetings will be sent to Senior Academy members, which include registration to the event and, close to the event, a reminder is sent that also contains instructions about how to log into Zoom and join the meeting.
I look forward to welcome you soon, even if the connections are only virtual, and I count on your help to make this a successful year under challenging and unprecedented circumstances.
Please contact me directly with any questions, concerns, thoughts, and suggestions you may have.
May you stay safe and be healthy! With best wishes,
Marianne
Marianne S. Wokeck
President, IUPUI Senior Academy
ude[dot]iupui[at]kcekowm
+317-332-8488
For questions and comments, contact us at ude[dot]iupui[at]ymedacas.
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