Gerontology Program Development: The Power of Persistence or an Exercise in Alienation

Abstract

Ongoing efforts to establish a new gerontology educational program on a recently created university campus are described. The authors rely on institutional documents and their personal experiences for the observations on which this case study is based. Over a ten-year period the nominal program goes through different phases of development that are characterized by changes in leadership, activities and organizational issues. The extensive work of faculty members has kept the initiative viable; however, the lack of decision-making authority has hampered their efforts towards programmatic development. Involvement of community leaders, faculty and administrators is discussed.