Activities

At monthly luncheons throughout the academic year, members renew long-standing friendships with former colleagues, make new acquaintances, and strengthen a sense of connection with the university community. Each month speakers from within and outside the university address a variety of scholarly, informative, and entertaining topics. Luncheons are currently held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Campus Club.

At a general meeting each spring, members elect association officers and conduct other business.

Each year, UMRA invites new faculty and staff retirees to join the organization and seeks ways to encourage existing members to participate in association activities. Membership Form

Designated UMRA board members provide liaison with and report monthly to the Board on the activities of the Board of Regents, the Alumni Association, the Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs, Benefits Advisory Committee, and the Campus Club.

In addition to this website, UMRA publishes a monthly newsletter reporting on association activities and providing information on health care issues, alumni activities, Regents’ decisions, and other matters of interest to the membership.

On August 20-22, 2004, UMRA hosted the annual meeting of Big Ten retirees associations. Information about these Associations can be found by clicking the above link.

UMRA actively promotes improvements in faculty and staff retirement benefits, with special attention to the needs of those entering the retirement system pre-1963. UMRA also tracks discussions of and seeks improvements in health insurance coverage for retirees. UMRA has also secured continuing email benefits for all faculty and staff retirees.

UMRA is able to provide discounted parking in the East River Road Ramp, the open lot #86 next to the Law School on the West Bank, and the Gortner Ramp on the St. Paul Campus. Just show your membership card.

An UMRA working group is exploring ways to arrange reduced rates for faculty and staff retirees at a variety of university arts, athletic, and educational venues.

In recent years, UMRA members envisioned, helped to plan, and oversaw the construction of 1666 Coffman (see photo), an independent condominium near the St. Paul campus. Direct inquires to coffman@umn.edu