ISSUED: 16 August 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Costa
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University has been designated an Age-Friendly University (AFU) and is now part of the Age-Friendly Global Network.
“We are the first higher education institution in West Virginia to become an AFU member,” said Dr. Heidi Dobish, associate professor of psychology and campus AFU champion.
The network, which is headquartered at Dublin City College in Ireland, is a platform for higher education institutions dedicated to fostering age-friendly environments worldwide. In an acceptance letter, AFU said Shepherd has demonstrated its commitment to promoting age-friendly policies, research, services, and initiatives.
Lifelong Learning students attending a cooking class
The process of joining AFU started last November when Dobish, Karen Rice, director of Lifelong Learning, and community member Carolyn Rodis, approached Dr. Stephen Spencer, provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of English, emeritus, who signed the University’s application letter. Shepherd’s membership runs through December 2028.
Dobish said being an AFU institution will help Shepherd address the educational needs and interests of the growing number of older adults, develop more opportunities for intergenerational relationships, and adapt to the shifting population demographics that mean fewer traditional college-age students.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for Shepherd to expand on its definition of ‘student,’” Dobish said. “An intergenerational approach offers so many opportunities, rewards, benefits, challenges, and successes for students and higher ed institutions alike. It’s a win-win.”
The AFU network consists of higher education institutions around the globe that endorse the 10 AFU principles and commit themselves to becoming more age-friendly in their programs and policies. The principles include encouraging the participation of older adults in all core activities, promoting personal and career development in the second half of life, recognizing the range of educational needs of older adults, promoting intergenerational learning, ensuring research is informed by the needs of an aging society, and enhancing access to health and wellness programs and cultural activities.
As of last fall, there were around 100 institutions globally accepted into the Age-Friendly Global Network.
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