WISDOM INSTITUTE

The Wisdom Institute . . . not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust. It is to solve some of the problems of life, not only theoretically, but practically. –– Thoreau Project Director & Co-Director: Craig Saper (csaper@umbc.edu) and Leslie Morgan (lmorgan@umbc.edu). The project directors will immediately recruit a steering committee, appoint a chair to that committee (from among retired faculty and administrators), and revitalize and extend the existing UMBC Association of Retired Faculty and Staff as an untapped resource for life-long learning and teaching. Purpose: The purpose of the Wisdom Institute is to 1) tap the valuable potential of UMBC’s emeritus professors by inviting and organizing their continuing association with UMBC after retirement; 2) connect the participants to the ongoing life and growth of the University; and 3) to have the participants teach in the wisdom tradition, instead of the specialized theoretical knowledge which is the focus of academic departments. We contend that emeritus faculty members, with a wide range of experiences, skills, and wisdom constitute a major, untapped resource capable of benefitting both the UMBC and the larger community. Rationale: Like many universities, UMBC is now encountering a wave of retirements, with additional, high profile retirements on the horizon, reflecting UMBC’s maturity as an institution. While a number of emeritus faculty have been involved in self-selected ways (Friends of the Library; Proposal-Writing Seminars), there is no organized way in which UMBC proactively welcomes emeritus faculty members to teach their life lessons and acquired wisdom. Given the near-term trajectory of retirements, it would be an excellent time to initiate an innovative approach to the involvement of these talented contributors, including many founding faculty, in the ongoing life of UMBC. Most institutions provide very limited engagement for emeritus faculty; the Wisdom Institute would provide another avenue to demonstrate UMBC’s innovation. This approach opposes attitudes of ageism, including that within universities, where emeritus faculty are often devalued, and their knowledge deemed outdated or lacking in current value (despite their known contributions, experiences, and wisdom). Mechanism: The Wisdom Institute will offer a series of workshops open to undergraduate and graduate students on the topic of translating experience into wisdom. The format of these workshops would be a series of creative reaction projects/papers, interview format discussions with the visitors, and all on the theme of translating experience into wisdom. Students could have the option to sign-up for a one credit interdisciplinary course or have the series connected to other existing GED courses like the common book reading program. The Wisdom Institute would also serve as a booking agency for retired faculty in coordination with Living Learning Residences, Honors College Seminars, and other existing units that currently schedule visiting lectures and workshops. The Wisdom Institute’s workshops will lead to a wider range of educational opportunities among students, emeritus faculty, and the wider community. We hope to eventually include other stakeholders at UMBC including philanthropists, community activists, and others with a life-long commitment to our culture.