SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4
(By Senator Hunter)
Requesting the University of West Virginia Board of Trustees, the
Board of Directors of the State College System and the
presidents and leaders of their respective campuses to look
with favor on the establishment of campus-related learning
in retirement types of organizations or institutes at their
respective state-supported institutions of higher education.
This measure would encourage these entities to provide lists
of qualified personnel, consistent with statutory provisions
and institutional policies, on their respective campuses who
may be contacted by interested parties to initiate
discussions on the possibility of establishing these
learning organizations and institutes.
Whereas, The community of retired and semiretired persons in
West Virginia is constantly increasing in numbers and a great
number of those persons are in good health, active, curious,
thoughtful and knowledgeable; and
Whereas, A substantial portion of this retired community
consists of persons with lifelong experiences and educational backgrounds in the professions, the arts and in business and
industry; and
Whereas, Many of these retired persons are active in the
responsibilities of concerned citizenship, in volunteering and in
contributing to their local communities; and
Whereas, This segment of the retired community has the will
and experience to manage its affairs and accordingly desires the
pursuit of educational programs that are created, designed, and
taught by volunteers who are retired members through membership- governed institutes sponsored by universities and colleges, where
the members of these institutes explore higher learning at their
own pace without the need for degrees, grades or examinations,
but simply because they want to continue learning; and
Whereas, These institutes draw on the accumulated lifetime
experience of their members; the members themselves develop and
design their own studies, participate in the necessary work of
inquiry and reading, stimulate meaningful discussion, set achievable educational objectives and carry out the planning and
governing of their own activities within, and in support of,
their sponsoring institutions; and
Whereas, Many members of existing institutes have
contributed valuable services to their respective institutions as
volunteers assisting with various activities or working with
undergraduates, as leaders for university-community programs and
as providers of financial support for institutional programs; and
Whereas, The law of West Virginia does not specifically
provide for self-directed noncredit education for the senior,
retired community; and
WhereasWhereas, It is essential to encourage support for
membership-driven institutes and their access to needed campus
facilities to ensure success and, in the process, to contribute
to the continued mental and physical health of retired senior
citizens; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Trustees of the University of West Virginia Bpoard of Trustees, the
Board of Directors of the State College System and the presidents
and leaders of their respective campuses of all state-supported
universities and colleges are encouraged to develop admission and enrollment policies to allow state residents sixty-five and older
to audit courses on a space -available basis at both undergraduate
and graduate levels for a free or reduced tuition fee of no more
than fifty dollars per course, and that a separate reduced fee
scale be implemented for those who wish to pursue or complete a
degree.