ABSTRACT
Many faculty, consciously or subconsciously, fear loss after retirement—loss of identity and relationships with colleagues and students—as well as diminished intellectual stimulation and connection to their colleges and universities. Informal conversations ultimately resulted in the formation of the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE), incorporated as a nonprofit association in 2002. Three common types of retiree organizations have formed on university campuses: retired faculty or staff associations, campus-funded retiree centers, and emeriti colleges. Retiree organizations vary tremendously in structure and funding. AROHE surveys have documented the funding sources of retiree organizations. Retiree organizations offer a wide variety of programs and services to enrich the lives of academic retirees and help them to continue their connections with their academic institutions. Retiree organizations actively advocate for enhanced retiree benefits. There are likely as many approaches to starting a retiree organization as there are active groups at academic institutions.
