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Life After Retirement: Project Continuum at Barnard College Addresses Retiring Alumnae Needs
Librado Romero/The New York Times. |
New York, NY-- As professional women of the Baby Boom generation begin to retire in larger numbers, they will face complex emotional, social and financial challenges. Barnard College, anticipating the concerns and needs of its alumnae, has developed a pioneering support program, believed to be the first-of-its-kind by a college or a university, that will help these path-breaking women navigate their retirement years through meaningful discussion, support groups, volunteer and cultural outings.
Project Continuum: Barnard Women in Transition
is part of Barnard's innovative life-stage approach
to alumnae programming. Rather than lumping alumnae together,
regardless of their different concerns, needs or ages at various
life stages, Barnard offers tailored programs that begin in
the immediate years after graduation with career-oriented
support and networking, continues with a special young mothers'
group and professional groups, and now, programs geared towards
the retirement years.
The retiring age profile of these women has
also changed from the traditional 60-to-65- year retirement
age. Barnard's program draws both younger and older alumnae,
those considering retirement, retired, or those who want to
rewire to get back to work. Project Continuum consists
of a diverse group: Wall Street brokers and business executives
in their 40s and 50s; women who have had two careers, perhaps
as a lawyer and a real estate broker in their 50s or early
60s; and older alumnae in their 60s and 70s, perhaps teachers
or doctors, some still working and others retired.
As the most selective private college for women in the nation, Barnard is also uniquely suited to bring its alumnae together in this way because nearly fifty percent live in the immediate metropolitan New York area.
"The goal of the life-cycle approach was to create meaningful programming at every important life stage of the alumnae, consisting of young alumnae initiatives, career blazers, working mothers and stay-at-home-mothers, and the latest addition, Project Continuum for women who are considering retirement or are retired," said Roberta Albert, Director of Alumnae Affairs at Barnard.
"Life stage programs like Project Continuum and Alma Maters , for mothers with young children, have been extremely successful drawing large audiences. New groups are being initiated at different parts of the country to offer localized programming to reach more alumnae."
Project Continuum aims to better serve the boomer generation who define themselves as much by their professional lives as by their family ties and to answer the question: what do I do now?
Project Continuum took shape about a year ago, when Albert was approached by a few alumnae who wanted the College to address the fact that most programming was aimed at working women. As retired professionals, they felt left out. A spearheading committee was formed by a dozen Barnard alumnae in their 50s to 70s, whose initial inquiry found overwhelmingly that women wanted programs that would better orient them towards retirement. They hoped for a support network of their peers to see how they were coping with this life stage. Some even reported that they were experiencing feelings of alienation and loss of self-worth, and were looking for professional support groups with which to network.
"We were surprised how young many of the participants are," said Wendy Reilly '63, Chair of the Project Continuum committee. "The feedback showed alumnae were pleased the College was not just interested in their financial contributions, but was now creating programming that was gratifying and caring and offered a safe place for discussions about their futures."
The committee is now in the process of creating small discussion and support groups to address some of the emotional issues, which will be launched this fall. Lectures have already been offered to cover essential retirement topics by authors and other professionals in the field. Also, social outings such as trips to museums, cultural institutions, and restaurants have been well attended.
"The programming has been hugely successful, often oversubscribed, and clearly shows that women grapple with the complex issues surrounding retirement much like men, after long, productive careers," said Albert.
A large-scale survey with a random sample of 1,000 alumnae is also underway to gauge the group's needs and get an even more comprehensive profile. It is conducted by a committee member and a market research professional, Marilyn Lieberman '52. The results will be released this fall.
This fall's programming promises a variety of interesting discussion groups dealing with topics like family illness, children, and living independently; a panel on new careers at this life stage; and lectures, such as 'Retire Smart, Retire Happy" by author Nancy Kamin Schlossberg '51. A newsletter is also in the works to reach more interested alumnae.
Contact: Petra Tuomi, Barnard Public
Affairs, 212-854-7907
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