Ithaca College

Partnership activities involving Ithaca College and Longview, a residential facility for older adults located on Danby Road across from campus, reached an all-time high during the past semester. Approximately 370 students, 28 faculty, and 7 staff members were involved in more than 50 Longview-related activities during spring 2003.

There are many opportunities for members of the Ithaca College community to become involved with Longview, including:

• Presentations at Longview:
  There has been an ongoing faculty speaker series at Longview since the partnership's inception. Staff members also have given presentations. There is currently a great need for volunteers for these informal talks. The topics can be academic in nature, related to areas of personal interest, hobbies, or travel experiences. Poetry readings, slide shows, and performances also are welcome. An appreciative audience is guaranteed!
  
• Involving students at Longview:
  Faculty members can involve their students at Longview in a number of ways. Intergenerational discussion groups, tours of Longview, recreational and social activities planned by students, and student presentations or performances held at Longview are all possibilities.
  
• Involving Longview residents in classes on campus:
  A number of residents are planning to audit courses this fall. Others prefer to informally attend a number of class sessions in a course. Faculty members might consider inviting residents to view films with their classes, participate in discussions, or sit in on selected lectures, student class presentations, or performances. This would be especially effective for classes that meet in the morning when the shuttle can provide transportation to campus for the residents.
  
• Volunteer at Longview:
  Students, staff, and faculty are always welcome to volunteer in any capacity at Longview. This might involve assisting in existing recreation programs, creating new ongoing activities, providing theater or music performances, planning a social event or dance, visiting individual residents, assisting with yard and garden work, and other physical plant activities.

The Longview/Ithaca College Shuttle

On days that classes are in session there is a shuttle that provides transportation between Longview and the College. It runs about every 15 minutes from approximately 8:45 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from 9:10 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with main stops at Textor and the Center for Health Sciences. This shuttle is available to both the Longview and Ithaca College communities.

For a complete listing of volunteer activities, you may view the list on the Gerontology Institute website. The shuttle schedule also will be posted on the site with copies available at the Campus Bookstore and the Campus Center prior to the start of classes. For more information, e-mail or call Chris Pogorzala, Ithaca College-Longview coordinator, at 274-1051.



Contributed by Christine Pogorzala