EVOLVING AGE-FRIENDLY UNIVERSITIES: ENHANCING STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND PROMOTING SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Abstract Students in higher education face numerous challenges, many of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Globally, universities have capitalized on age-friendly programs and practices to respond to rapid changes in age demographics, build more age-inclusive and intergenerational programming, and create new forms of support campus-wide. This symposium features campus leaders representing universities that have drawn on the Age-Friendly University (AFU) principles to generate new and creative forms of support and skill-building for students of all ages. These initiatives represent the diverse ways that AFU-based programs and practices can be utilized to respond to opportunities and challenges in higher education. Graf et al. will discuss how age and age-related bias impact adult learners’ experiences in the classroom, and ways to inform training programs for students, faculty, and staff. Felsted and Eaton will describe a GSA/AARP-funded grant initiative aimed at increasing access, inclusion, and support for older adult learning at the university, resulting in a partnership with Emeritus faculty to pursue the AFU designation. Hancock and Kutcher will describe how service-learning and intergenerational learning opportunities provide a meaningful space for students to develop realistic notions of their own aging experiences. Newsham et al. will discuss a virtual intergenerational mentoring project designed to improve social connectedness and well-being, to improve expectations regarding aging, and to decrease ageism. Terhune et al. will discuss campus-wide data used to assess the prevalence and impact of unpaid caregiving on students and will explore community and campus connections to better support students in caregiving roles.